Calcidin 300mg Tablets

Quinine sulfate is an antimalarial medicine used to treat malaria, either on its own or with other medicines. It is not used to prevent malaria.

It is sometimes used for other infections, such as babesiosis, if your doctor decides it is right for you.

Take it exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, at about the same times each day.

• Take it with food. Swallow capsules whole; do not open, crush or chew them, as they taste very bitter.
• Finish the whole course even if you feel better, so the infection is fully cleared.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If more than 4 hours have passed, skip it and carry on as normal. Never take a double dose.
• Do not take antacids containing aluminium or magnesium at the same time; ask how long to leave between them.
• Contact your doctor if you do not feel better within 1–2 days, or if fever returns after the course.

Common side effects include:

• feeling sick
• restlessness or confusion
• ringing in the ears or reduced hearing

Get medical help straight away if you have:

• unusual bruising or bleeding, blood in urine, dark stools or red or purple spots on the skin
• a fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness or fainting
• changes in vision or hearing, including loss of sight or hearing
• rash, hives, blisters, swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing
• fever, sore throat, severe stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhoea
• signs of low blood sugar, such as shaking, sweating or confusion

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:

• are allergic to quinine, quinidine or mefloquine, or had a serious reaction to quinine before
• have a heart rhythm problem (such as long QT), a slow heartbeat or low potassium
• have G6PD deficiency, myasthenia gravis or optic neuritis
• have heart, kidney or liver disease
• smoke, as this may make it work less well
• take other medicines, including cimetidine, dextromethorphan or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Keep in the original tightly closed container at room temperature, away from heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not refrigerate or freeze. Keep out of the reach of children.

Leg cramps: do not use quinine to treat or prevent night-time leg cramps. It has not been shown to help and can cause serious bleeding, kidney, heart rhythm and allergic problems.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a baby or breastfeeding.

Overdose: quinine can be very dangerous in overdose. Keep it well away from children and get emergency help if too much is taken.