SUMMARY CMI
QUINATE tablets
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I using QUINATE?
QUINATE contains the active ingredient quinine (as quinine sulfate).
QUINATE is used to treat malaria, an infectious disease spread by female mosquitoes. It belongs to a group of medicines called antimalarials. This medicine works by stopping the growth of the organisms which cause malaria.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using QUINATE? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I use QUINATE?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to quinine sulfate, tonic water or bitter lemon drinks which contain quinine, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use QUINATE? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with QUINATE and affect how it works. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How do I use QUINATE?
- Your doctor will tell you how much QUINATE to take.
- QUINATE tablets must be swallowed whole with a full glass of water. Do not chew the tablets.
- More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use QUINATE? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while using QUINATE?
Things you should do |
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Things you should not do |
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Driving or using machines |
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Looking after your medicine |
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while using QUINATE? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
There are a number of side effects associated with this medicine. It is important to be aware of them so that you can identify any symptoms if they occur (see the full CMI for more details). The serious side effects are: signs of allergy; severely disturbed vision; chest pain; changes in heartbeats; diarrhoea; reduction in the amount of urine or reddish colour in urine; bruising or bleeding more easily than normal; symptoms of liver disease with yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice) and dark urine; confusion; loss of consciousness, coma, death.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
FULL CMI
QUINATE tablets
Active ingredient(s): Quinine Sulfate Dihydrate
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet answers some common questions about Quinate. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor or pharmacist has weighed the risks of you taking Quinate against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using QUINATE?
2. What should I know before I use QUINATE?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use QUINATE?
5. What should I know while using QUINATE?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I using QUINATE?
Quinate contains quinine (as quinine sulfate) as the active ingredient.
Quinate is used to treat malaria, an infectious disease spread by female mosquitoes. It belongs to a group of medicines called antimalarials.
This medicine works by stopping the growth of the organisms which cause malaria.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Quinate has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
There is no evidence that it is addictive.
2. What should I know before I use QUINATE?
Warnings
Do not take Quinate if you have ever had an allergic reaction to:
- quinine sulfate
- tonic water or bitter lemon drinks which contain quinine
- Any of the tablet ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing, or difficulty in breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or any other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take Quinate if you have had a reaction to it before.
Highly sensitive reactions to quinine can include bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, bloody diarrhoea and stomach pains.
Do not take Quinate if you have:
- myasthenia gravis, a disease of the muscles.
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a genetic disorder mainly affecting red blood cells
- Tinnitus, ringing in the ears
- Optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve
- A history of blackwater fever, a form of malaria characterized by kidney damage resulting in dark urine
- a disorder affecting the red blood
- cells (haemolysis)
- a rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactose deficiency or glucose-galactose
- malabsorption.
Do not take Quinate after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the label.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not take it if the bottle shows signs of tampering, or if the tablets don't look quite right.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- are allergic to any other medicines or any foods, dyes or preservatives.
- have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following: Heart problems; Blood problems including anaemia and haemophilia; Nervous system disorder.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you take Quinate.
You should not take more than the prescribed dose as a condition called ‘cinchonism’ may occur, even with normal doses. Symptoms of cinchonism include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, disturbed vision (blurred vision, changes in colour perception or field of vision, total blindness), headache, feeling or being sick, ringing in the ears or impaired hearing, rashes, loss of consciousness, fits, shock due to heart problems, irregular heartbeats, death. Tell your doctor if you experience any of them.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Do not take Quinate if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
Quinine sulphate should not be used during pregnancy to treat leg cramps.
Do not take it if you are breast feeding or plan to breast feed.
It is not recommended for use while breastfeeding as it is found in breast milk.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with QUINATE. These include:
- glycosides (e.g. digoxin and digitoxin), medicines used to heart failure.
It is recommended that regular bold tests be performed when glycosides and Quinate are taken at the same time. - antacids containing aluminium
- warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots
- pancuronium, succinylcholine, and tubocurarine, medicines used for anaesthesia
- mefloquine, a medicine used for treating malaria
- cimetidine, a medicine used for ulcers
- muscle relaxant drugs
- flecainide, quinidine or amiodarone (used to treat irregular heartbeats)
- ciclosporin (used as an immunosuppressant medication)
- urinary alkalinisers (e.g. sodium bicarbonate and acetazolamide), medicines used for bladder infections
- quinine-containing beverages eg. tonic water, bitter lemon.
- barbiturates, carbamazepine or phenytoin (medicines to treat epilepsy)
- amantadine (to treat Parkinsons Disease or some viral infections)
- medicines to treat diabetes
- moxifloxacin, rifampicin or antifungals (used to treat infections)
- astemizole or terfenadine (for allergic reactions)
- pimozide or thioridazine (used to treat some mental disorders)
- levacetylmethadol (a pain killer).
These medicines may be affected by Quinate or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist has a more complete list of medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking QUINATE.
4. How do I use QUINATE?
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much Quinate to take.
The dose will depend on the condition being treated and your response to the treatment.
When to take / use QUINATE
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.
These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How to take QUINATE?
Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water.
Do not chew the tablets.
Quinate has a special coating to mask the bitter taste of the tablet.
Continue taking Quinate for as long as your doctor tells you.
Do not stop taking it, or lower the dosage, even if you are feeling better, without first checking with your doctor.
If you forget to use QUINATE
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you use too much QUINATE
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Quinate. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include:
- tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- deafness
- disturbed vision
- Dizziness
- Skin rash
- Intestinal cramping and
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Fever
- apprehension and confusion
- Convulsions.
5. What should I know while using QUINATE?
Things you should do
Take Quinate exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Quinate, especially if you are being started on any new medicine.
Tell your doctor, surgeon or dentist that you are taking Quinate if you are about to undergo surgery or an operation requiring a general anaesthetic.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Quinate.
Things you should not do
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take Quinate to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not stop taking it, or lower the dosage, even if you are feeling better, without first checking with your doctor.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how QUINATE affects you.
Looking after your medicine
Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep as well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place, protected from light, where the temperature stays below 30°C.Do not store QUINATE, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave medicines in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your medicines where children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres (1.5 m) above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Less serious side effects
Less serious side effects | What to do |
| Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you. These side effects are usually mild and short-lived. |
Serious side effects
Serious side effects | What to do |
| Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects. Stop taking QUINATE and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any unexplained signs of bruising or swelling. |
Some side effects can only be detected by your doctor. So it is important to visit your doctor for regular check-ups.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is available with a doctor's prescription.
What QUINATE contains
Active ingredient (main ingredient) | quinine sulfate dihydrate |
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) | QUINATE tablets contain:
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Potential allergens | The tablets contain sugars as lactose. |
Quinate tablets do not contain gluten, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What QUINATE looks like
Quinate tablets are plain white, round, biconvex and film coated.
Available in bottles of 50 tablets. (AUST R 50707).
Who distributes QUINATE
Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
15-17 Chapel St
Cremorne VIC 3121
www.arrotex.com.au
This leaflet was prepared in June 2024
Published by MIMS August 2024