drug-information.ru

|Quinacrine

QUINACRINE (Systemic) *†

Other commonly used names are:

*† Not commercially available in the U.S. and Canada.

Category

• Antiprotozoal;
• antirheumatic;
• intrapleural sclerosing agent

Description

Quinacrine (KWIN-a-kreen)is used to treat giardiasis((jee-ar-DYE-a-siss)), a protozoal infection of the intestinal tract, and certain types of lupus erythematosus((e-ri-thi-ma-TOE-sus)), an inflammatory disease that affects the joints, tendons, and other connective tissues and organs. Quinacrine may be injected into the space surrounding the lungs to prevent reoccurrence of pneumothorax. This medicine also may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Quinacrine is available only with your doctor"s prescription.

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For Quinacrine], the following should be considered:

Allergies- Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to quinacrine. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy- Quinacrine crosses the placenta, and its use in pregnant women is generally not recommended.

Breast-feeding- Quinacrine passes into breast milk. However, quinacrine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children- Children tolerate the oral dosage form of quinacrine less well than do adults, and it may cause vomiting in children due to its bitter taste.

Older adults- Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of quinacrine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines- Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking quinacrine, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Alcohol or alcohol-containing medicines-Use with quinacrine may increase the chance of side effects of alcohol.

• Primaquine-Use with quinacrine may increase the chance of serious side effects of primaquine; primaquine should not be taken when you are taking quinacrine.

Other medical problems- The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of quinacrine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcoholism (or history of) or

• Liver disease-Quinacrine may cause additional liver problems

• Mental illness (severe) (history of)-Quinacrine may cause mood or other mental changes in some patients.
• Porphyria-Quinacrine may make porphyria worse.
• Psoriasis-Quinacrine may cause an attack of psoriasis or make psoriasis worse; patients with psoriasis should not take quinacrine.

Proper Use of This Medicine

Quinacrine is best taken after meals with a full glass (8 ounces) of water, tea, or fruit juice, unless directed by your doctor.

For patients unable to swallow tablets or capsules or unable to tolerate bitter taste :

• The tablets may be crushed and mixed with jam, honey, or chocolate syrup so that you get the full dose of the medicine.

For patients taking quinacrine for giardiasis:

• To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking quinacrine for the full time of treatment , even if you feel better after a few days. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, you symptoms may return. Do not miss any doses

Dosing- The dose of Quinacrine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor"s orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of quinacrine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For oral dosage forms:
  • For giardiasis:
    • Adults and teenagers-100 milligrams (mg) thee times a day for five to seven days.
    • Children- 2 mg per kilogram (0.9 mg per pound) of body weight three times a day for seven days.
  • For lupus erythematosus:
    • Adults and teenagers- 100 milligrams (mg) once a day for one or two months. After this time, the dose may be decreased by your doctor.
    • Children-1 to 2 mg per kilogram (0.45 to 0.9 mg per pound) of body weight once a day.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For pneumothorax:
    • Adults and teenagers-100 milligrams, injected into the space surrounding the lungs, once a day for three or four days in a row.
    • Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose- If you do miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage- To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at different times. This is to check whether or not the infection is cleared up completely.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Quinacrine may cause some people to become dizzy. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert . If this reaction is especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. When this medicine is used for a short time, side effects are not generally serious. However, if this medicine is used for a long time and/or in high doses, other more serious side effects may occur.

Revised: 07/29/2002

The information contained in the Thomson Healthcare (Micromedex) products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.

The use of the Thomson Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Healthcare products.