Patient leaflet - Quinine Sulphate 300 mg tablets
1. What Quinine Sulfate tablets are and what they are used for
Quinine Sulfate belongs to a group of medicines called anti-malarials. It is used in the treatment of a type of malaria known as falciparum malaria. It is also used in the treatment of night leg cramps in adults and the elderly.
2. What you need to know before you take Quinine Sulfate tablets
Do not take Quinine Sulfate tablets if you:
- are allergic to quinine or any other of the ingredients used in the tablets (these are listed in section 6. Further Information)
- suffer from myasthenia gravis (symptoms are abnormal muscle fatigue)
- suffer from optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve which may result in partial loss of vision and pain)
- suffer from the blood disorder haemoglobinuria (symptoms are dark red or brown urine)
- suffer from tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sound in the ears)
- are pregnant or breastfeeding (unless considered absolutely essential by a doctor).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Quinine Sulfate Tablets if you:
- suffer from an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation). Tell your doctor if you were born with or have any condition that causes an abnormal heart rhythm
- have heart disease
- suffer from severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD), this can cause episodes of anaemia after eating certain foods such as fava beans (favism) or certain drugs including drugs to prevent malaria and dapsone
- have had malaria for a long time
- you should not take more than the prescribed dose as a condition called 'cinchonism' may occur even with normal doses. Please see section 4, 'Possible side effects' for symptoms of cinchonism and tell your doctor if you experience any of them.
Other medicines and Quinine Sulfate tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines especially:
- anticoagulants such as Warfarin (used to stop your blood clotting)
- chloroquine, mefloquine or halofantrine (used to treat malaria)
- cimetidine (to treat stomach ulcers or acid reflux and indigestion)
- amantadine (to treat Parkinson’s Disease or some viral infections)
- flecainide, digoxin, quinidine or amiodarone (used to treat heart conditions)
- astemizole or terfenadine (for allergic reactions)
- medicines which are known to cause disturbances in heart rhythm
- pimozide or thioridazine (used to treat some mental disorders)
- rifampicin or moxifloxacin (antibiotics)
- barbiturates, carbamazepine or phenytoin (medicines to treat epilepsy)
- drugs to treat diabetes
- ciclosporin (used following transplant surgery and to treat various inflammatory diseases)
- drugs to treat HIV infection such as ritonavir
- suxamethonium (a muscle relaxant used in surgery, tell the anaesthetist you are taking quinine tablets)
- drugs to treat fungal infections such as ketoconazole.• levacetylmethadol (a pain killer).
If you see another doctor or go into hospital, let them know what medicines you are taking.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. You should not take quinine sulfate when you are pregnant or breast-feeding, unless the benefits outweigh the risks. This medicine should not be used to treat cramps during pregnancy.
Large doses of quinine can cause foetal abnormalities or induce abortion. You should not breast-feed a baby that might have glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience any problems with your vision while you are taking this medicine.
Quinine Sulfate tablets contain lactose, sucrose and sodium
The tablets contain lactose and sucrose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially "sodium- free".
3. How to take Quinine Sulfate tablets
- Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
- The dose your doctor has prescribed may be slightly different from the usual doses stated below.
- The tablets should be swallowed with a drink of water.
The recommended dose is:
For the treatment of malaria
Adults, the elderly and children over 12 years: The usual dose is 2 tablets every eight hours for 7 days.
Children under 12 years of age: The dosage will be determined by your doctor according to the bodyweight of the child; this dosage should be taken every eight hours for 7 days.
For the treatment of night cramps
Adults and the elderly: Take 1 tablet at night.
If you take more Quinine Sulfate tablets than you should:
Emergency help is required as an overdose is very dangerous. Contact your doctor or nearest A & E department immediately, as further medical treatment is essential.
Take your medicine in its original packaging with you in order to enable the doctor to identify your medication easily. Signs of overdose include convulsions, sickness, nausea, headache, ringing in the ears, deafness, effects on eyesight, rashes, abdominal pain and confusion.
If you forget to take Quinine Sulfate tablets:
If you forget to take a dose, take another dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose then do not take the missed dose. Never double the dose to make up for the missed dose.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Contact your doctor immediately if the following effects occur:• allergic reactions - itchy skin rash, wheezing, asthma, generalised swelling or swelling of the lips, face or tongue or sensitivity to light. These are signs of an allergic reaction to quinine
- sores in the mouth, nose, and eyes, a skin rash, blistering Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
- changes to blood cells as seen in blood or urine tests. If you are bruising easily, have frequent nose bleeds or other unusual bleeding, notice a reddish or brown discolouration of your urine, appear paler than usual or feel weak, or have more sore throats and infections than usual. Your doctor may want to take a blood test
- cinchonism - symptoms 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
heart beats, death. If these occur while taking Quinine sulfate tablets for leg cramps, treatment should be stopped and a doctor contacted straight away. This side effect can be fatal.
- muscle weakness, excitement, agitation, ‘spinning’ sensation, confusion, loss of consciousness. This can lead to coma, and may be fatal.
If you are particularly sensitive to quinine you may experience any of the following symptoms. Consult your doctor if these effects are troublesome or continue:
- ringing in the ears, deafness
- headache, dizziness
- feeling sick or being sick, diarrhoea, abdominal pain
- visual disturbances
- feeling confused or agitated
- fever
- flushed skin
- aggravation of Myasthenia gravis (disorder characterised by muscle weakness, difficulty chewing or swallowing and slurred speech).
Other side effects include:
- low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, changes in heart rhythm and the way the heart beats
- low blood glucose levels
- muscle weakness
- a reduction in the function of the kidneys, decreased urine production
- difficulty breathing, tightness in chest or wheezing
- excitement, loss of consciousness, coma, death
- miscarriage (at very high doses).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Quinine Sulfate tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label or carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Tablet Containers: Do not store above 25ºC. Store in the original container. Keep the container tightly closed.
Blister cartons: Do not store above 25ºC. Store in the original package. Keep the blister in the outer carton.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Quinine Sulfate tablets contain
- Each tablet contains 300 mg Quinine Sulfate as the active substance.
- The other ingredients are Lactose, Colloidal Anhydrous Silica, Potato Starch, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Starch Glycollate (Type A), Sodium Laurilsulfate, Gelatin, Talc, Sucrose and Titanium Dioxide (E171) and Carnauba Wax.
What Quinine Sulfate tablets look like and the contents of the pack
- The tablets are bi-convex, white and sugar coated.
- The tablets are supplied to your pharmacist in packs containing 28, 56 or 500 tablets, who will then provide you with the required number of tablets as prescribed by your doctor. (Not all packs may be marketed).
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The Marketing Authorisation Holder is Kent Pharma UK Limited, 2nd Floor, Connect 38, 1 Dover Place, Ashford, Kent, England, TN23 1FB.
The Manufacturer is Bristol Laboratories Ltd., Unit 3, Canalside, Northbridge Road, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 1EG.
This leaflet was last revised in August 2025.