Malaria is a disease which is passed on to humans by infected mosquitoes.

A parasite called plasmodium lives

inside the stomachs of infected female mosquitoes and is passed on to humans by a bite. There are four types of
plasmodium that cause malaria. Of the four, Plasmodium falciparum is usually the most serious, so this type of
malaria is likely to be treated in hospital.

Quinine works by killing the parasites passed into your body from the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is thought to
do this by interfering with the way the parasite reproduces.

overdose
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In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not
breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
blurriness or changes in color vision
symptoms of low blood sugar
changes in heartbeat
headache
nausea
vomiting
stomach pain
diarrhea
ringing in the ears or difficulty hearing
seizures
slow or difficult breathing
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic, anti-malarial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties
and a bitter taste. Quinine occurs naturally in the bark of the cinchona treethough it has also been synthesized in the
laboratoryQuinine was the first effective Western treatment for malaria

Quinine is used for:
Treating malaria. It is usually used with other antimalarial medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as
determined by your doctor.
Quinine is an antimalarial. It works by killing the malaria parasite.
How to use quinine:
Use quinine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Quinine comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it
again each time you get quinine refilled.
Take quinine by mouth with food to reduce the risk of stomach upset.
Do not take an antacid that has aluminum or magnesium in it within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take
quinine.
Do not take more than 2 capsules at 1 time or more than 3 doses in 1 day.
Take quinine for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days. Do not miss
any doses.
If you miss a dose of quinine, take it as soon as possible. If it has been more than 4 hours since the missed
dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use quinine.
Possible side effects of quinine:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if
any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Dizziness; flushing; headache; nausea; sweating.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth,
face, lips, or tongue, unusual hoarseness); black, tarry, or bloody stools; blurred vision, changes in how you see
color, double vision, light sensitivity, blindness, or other unusual vision changes; chest pain; confusion; dark or
bloody urine; decreased amount of urine or trouble urinating; decreased hearing, hearing loss, or ringing in the
ears; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fatigue; fever, chills, or sore throat; loss of appetite; low blood sugar
symptoms (eg, anxiety, dizziness, fast heartbeat, headache, tremors, unusual sweating); mood or mental
problems; muscle weakness; nervousness; pale skin; personality changes; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin;
seizures; severe dizziness, light-headedness, or flushing; severe nosebleed; severe or persistent nausea,
vomiting, or diarrhea; speech problems; stomach or back pain; sudden onset of cold sweat; unusual purple,
brown, or red spots on your skin; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the
eyes or skin.


quinine, drug obtained from cinchona bark that is used chiefly in the treatment of malaria, an infection caused by
the protozoan parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of various species of mosquitoes.
During the 300 years between its introduction into Western medicine and World War I, quinine was the only
effective remedy for malaria. As a specific treatment for this disease, quinine has benefited more people than any
other drug used thus far to fight infectious diseases. The treatment of malaria with quinine marked the first
successful use of achemical compound in combating an infectious disease. Quinine was first synthesized in a
laboratory in 1944; however, synthesis of the drug on a commercial scale is not economically feasible.