Quinidex ExtentabsOral - Drug Information and Side Effects on Drug3k.com


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Quinidex Extentabs images:

Overview

Photos

How To Use

Side Effects

Precautions

Missed Dose

Drug Interactions

Quinidex Extentabs

Uses
This medication is used to treat or prevent many types of irregular heartbeats (heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation). Quinidine can greatly improve your ability to perform normal activities by decreasing the number of irregular heartbeats you have. However, it may not stop all your irregular heartbeats completely. It works by blocking abnormal heartbeat signals.Before and while you are using quinidine, your doctor may prescribe other medications (e.g., "blood thinners"/anticoagulants such as warfarin, beta blockers such as metoprolol) to shrink any blood clots in the heart and to slow your pulse.Quinidine may also be used to treat malaria.
Notes

Do not share this medication with others.Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood count, liver/kidney function tests, quinidine blood levels, EKG) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
Consult your doctor for more details.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom.
Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Overdose

Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness/fainting, hallucinations, seizures.

How To Use

Before starting this drug, the manufacturer recommends that you take a test dose (usually a smaller amount than your regular dose) to determine whether you are allergic to it.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.Take this medication by mouth with or without food with a full glass of liquid (8 ounces/240 milliliters) as directed by your doctor.
This medication is best taken on an empty stomach, but taking it with food may help decrease stomach upset.
Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking this medication.If you are taking a long-acting (extended-release) form of quinidine called quinidine gluconate, you should swallow it whole.
Do not crush or chew the tablets.
Doing so can destroy the long action of the drug and may increase side effects.
Some long-acting tablets can be broken in half, so ask your pharmacist whether your brand may be broken.There are different brands and forms of this medication available.
Not all have identical effects.
Do not change quinidine products without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
If you are taking regular-release quinidine for an irregular heartbeat, the manufacturer recommends that you take no more than 4 grams daily.Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream, including quinidine.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.Avoid large changes in your dietary salt intake while being treated with this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
The amount of salt in your diet may affect the amount of quinidine absorbed by your system.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it.
To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day.Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

Side Effects

Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain/cramps, or a burning feeling in throat or chest (e.g., heartburn) may occur.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Seek immediate medical attention if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe dizziness, fainting, sudden change in heartbeat (faster/slower/more irregular).Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: vision changes, eye pain, muscle pain, unusual sweating or shakiness (signs of low blood sugar).Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: unexplained fever/signs of infection (e.g., persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding, extreme tiredness, dark urine, persistent nausea/vomiting, yellowing eyes/skin, lupus-like symptoms (joint/muscle pain, chest pain, change in the amount of urine).A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.One type of reaction (cinchonism) can occur after even a single dose of this drug.
Contact your doctor of pharmacist promptly if you notice symptoms such as ringing in the ears, sudden hearing problems, headache, blurred vision, confusion.
Your dosage may need to be adjusted.Certain long-acting brands of quinidine may appear as a whole tablet in the stool.
This is the empty shell left after the medicine has been absorbed by the body.
It is harmless.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

Before taking quinidine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to quinine; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: certain types of heart disease (e.g., incomplete or complete heart block without an artificial pacemaker, torsades-type irregular heartbeats, QT prolongation in the EKG, severe heart failure, digitalis toxicity), very low blood pressure, history of easy bruising/bleeding (thrombocytopenic purpura) with use of quinine or quinidine, severe muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis).Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, a certain blood disorder (G6PD deficiency), asthma, current infection with fever, very slow heartbeat, low blood potassium/magnesium.This drug may make you dizzy.
Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness.
Limit alcoholic beverages.Before having surgery, tell your doctor that you are using this medication.Kidney function declines as you grow older.
This medication is removed by the kidneys.
Therefore, elderly people may be at greater risk for serious side effects (such as dizziness) while using this drug.During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed.
Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.This drug passes into breast milk.
Due to the possible risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
Do not double the dose to catch up.

Drug Interactions

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.
Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
See also How to Use section.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious (possibly fatal) interactions may occur: certain HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir), certain azole antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole), propafenone, cisapride, arbutamine, mefloquine, drugs that may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolonging drugs such as amiodarone, sparfloxacin, grepafloxacin, disopyramide, dofetilide, ibutilide, halofantrine, pimozide, droperidol, levomethadyl, bepridil).If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting quinidine.Other drugs besides quinidine and those listed above that may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in the EKG) include sotalol, ziprasidone, mesoridazine, thioridazine and "water pills"/diuretics (e.g., furosemide), among others.
QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious (rarely fatal) irregular heartbeats.
Consult your doctor of pharmacist for more details and for instructions on how you may reduce the risk of this effect.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially: large amounts of antacids (e.g., sodium bicarbonate), barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital), carbamazepine, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin, rifabutin), phenytoin, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., acetazolamide), aripiprazole, atomoxetine, codeine, hydrocodone, loperamide, medication for high blood pressure (e.g., nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem), certain macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin), quinupristin/dalfopristin, amprenavir/fosamprenavir.

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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.