How It Works
Quinine sulfate inhibits or destroys the parasites in blood that cause malaria. Quinine sulfate is also used to treat malaria.

To treat malaria, quinine sulfate can be taken alone for three days but is more commonly used in one of three different combinations:

Quinine sulfate plus doxycycline or tetracycline is taken for 7 days.
Quinine sulfate plus pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine is taken as a single dose of three tablets.
Quinine sulfate plus clindamycin is taken for 3 days.
Quinine sulfate is usually taken as a tablet (orally).

Why It Is Used
Quinine sulfate plus another medication is the medication of choice for chloroquine-resistant malaria (where chloroquine is no longer effective against the malaria parasite).

How Well It Works
Quinine sulfate has been used for centuries for the treatment of malaria and is effective against all species of Plasmodium.

Side Effects
Side effects of quinine sulfate include:
Nausea.
Blurred vision.
Headache.
Ringing in the ears.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About
Quinine sulfate given through a needle directly into a vein (intravenously, or IV) is not available in the United States, but intravenous quinidine gluconate is an equally effective substitute.