SUMMARY CMI
QUINBISUL 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 QUINBISUL?
QUINBISUL contains the active ingredient quinine bisulfate heptahydrate.
QUINBISUL is used treat malaria, together with other medicines.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using QUINBISUL? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I use QUINBISUL?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to QUINBISUL, medicines containing quinine, 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 QUINBISUL? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with QUINBISUL 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 QUINBISUL?
- QUINBISUL is taken together with other anti-malarial medicines.
- The dose varies from person to person.
- More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use QUINBISUL? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while using QUINBISUL?
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 QUINBISUL? 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; sweating; bruising or bleeding more easily than normal; decreased or no urine production, signs of frequent infections such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers; chest pain, irregular heart beats, symptoms of liver disease with yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice) and dark urine, 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
QUINBISUL Tablets
Active ingredient(s): Quinine bisulfate heptahydrate
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using QUINBISUL tablets. 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 has weighed the risks of you taking QUINBISUL against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using QUINBISUL.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using QUINBISUL?
2. What should I know before I use QUINBISUL?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use QUINBISUL?
5. What should I know while using QUINBISUL?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I using QUINBISUL?
QUINBISUL is used to treat malaria, together with other medicines. It works by interfering with the growth of the parasite that causes malaria.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why QUINBISUL has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor, may have prescribed it for another purpose.
QUINBISUL is only available with a doctor's prescription.
There is no evidence that it is addictive.
2. What should I know before I use QUINBISUL?
Warnings
Do not take QUINBISUL if you are allergic to:
- medicines containing quinine (e.g. Quinate)
- tonic water or bitter lemon drinks which contain quinine
- any of the ingredients at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching, flushing of the skin, swelling of the face, fever, shortness of breath, ringing in the ears and changes in vision.
Do not take QUINBISUL if you have or have ever had:
- a severe side effect caused by quinine (such as unusual bruising or bleeding or kidney problems)
- myasthenia gravis - a condition causing muscle weakness
- tinnitus - ringing in the ears
- optic neuritis - a disease of the nerves of the eye, causing blindness
- glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency - an inherited condition
- blackwater fever.
- haemoglobinuria - presence of excess haemoglobin in the urine.
Do not take QUINBISUL if the expiry date (Exp.) printed on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date, it may not work as well.
Do not take QUINBISUL if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the tablets do not look quite right.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
- have any medical conditions, including an irregular heart beat. Your doctor may want to take special care.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking or are given QUINBISUL.
Your doctor will advise you whether or not to take QUINBISUL or if you need to adjust the dose or adapt your treatment.
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
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking QUINBISUL during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed.
Small amounts of QUINBISUL passes into breast milk. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking QUINBISUL when breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor 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 be affected by QUINBISUL or may affect how well it works. These medicines include:
- warfarin; used to prevent blood clots (e.g. Coumadin, Marevan)
- digoxin; used for heart conditions (e.g. Lanoxin)
- flecainide; used to treat irregular heartbeats
- other medicines for malaria, such as mefloquine (e.g. Lariam) and pyrimethamine (e.g. Daraprim)
- medicines used to relieve the symptoms of urinary tract disorders and infections (e.g. Ural, Citralite)
- cimetidine; commonly used to treat reflux and ulcers (e.g. Tagamet, Magicul)
- antacids containing aluminium, which may reduce the absorption of Quinbisul (e.g. Mylanta, Gaviscon).
- pimozide or thioridazine (to treat some mental disorders)
- moxifloxacin, rifampicin or antifungals (to treat infections)
- barbiturates, carbamazepine or phenytoin (medicines to treat epilepsy)
- HIV medicines
- suxamethonium (muscle relaxant)
- terfenadine; used for allergic reactions
- medicines to treat diabetes
To make sure there is no problem with absorption, QUINBISUL is best taken at least one hour before or one hour after taking antacids.
Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking QUINBISUL.
4. How do I use QUINBISUL?
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
How much to take
QUINBISUL is taken together with other anti-malarial medicines.
The dose varies from person to person.
The usual dose of Quinbisul for adults is 2 tablets three times a day after meals, for 7 to 14 days.
Elderly people and children may need smaller doses.
When to take / use QUINBISUL
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
How to take QUINBISUL?
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
If you forget to use QUINBISUL
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 the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you are not sure what to do ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you use too much QUINBISUL
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 you or anyone else may have taken too much QUINBISUL. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you take too much QUINBISUL, you may experience dizziness, ringing in the ears, stomach cramps, skin rash and impaired vision. You may also vomit, have a headache or fever, feel nervous or confused, or have fits.
5. What should I know while using QUINBISUL?
Things you should do
Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking QUINBISUL.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking QUINBISUL.
Keep taking QUINBISUL for as long as your doctor recommends.
If you become pregnant while taking QUINBISUL, tell your doctor.
If you need to have any tests on your urine, tell your doctor you are taking QUINBISUL.
It may affect the results of some tests.
If you plan to have surgery that requires the use of muscle relaxants (e.g. suxamethonium, pancuronium) tell your doctor, anaesthetist or dentist that you are taking QUINBISUL.
Things you should not do
- Do not take QUINBISUL to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
- Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how QUINBISUL affects you.
QUINBISUL may cause dizziness and affect vision in some people. If this occurs, do not drive or operate machinery or do anything else which could be dangerous.
Effects of food
Avoid drinking large amounts of tonic water and bitter lemon drinks while you are taking QUINBISUL.
Tonic water and bitter lemon drinks contain quinine and may increase the risk of side effects of QUINBISUL.
Things to be careful of
Treatment for night cramps should be stopped if symptoms of cinchonism emerge.
Serious hypersensitivity reactions including Stevens Johnson syndrome have been reported with quinine.
Quinine should be used with caution in patients with atrial fibrillation, conduction defects and heart blocks, or other serious heart disease. It may cause hypoprothrombinaemia.
Quinine has dose dependant QT-prolonging effects. Caution is recommended in patients with conditions which predispose to QT-prolongation and in patients with atrioventricular block.
Looking after your medicine
Keep QUINBISUL tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature is below 25°C.
Do not store QUINBISUL, 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?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking QUINBISUL.
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. |
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. |
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.
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 QUINBISUL contains
Active ingredient (main ingredient) | quinine bisulfate heptahydrate |
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) | QUINBISUL tablets contain:
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Potential allergens | Contains sugars as lactose. |
QUINBISUL does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What QUINBISUL looks like
QUINBISUL is a round, plain, white film coated, unscored, convex tablet. Each bottle contains 50 tablets. (Aust R 116545).
Who distributes QUINBISUL
Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
15-17 Chapel St
Cremorne VIC 3121
www.arrotex.com.au
This leaflet was prepared in April 2024
Published by MIMS July 2024