Quinidine adverse effects

The cardiovascular adverse effects associated with quinidine therapy are hypotension and tachycardia, both of which are related to its a-adrenoceptor blocking actions. The tachycardia may be a reflex adjustment to the fall in blood pressure or may also be a direct action of the dmg on sympathetic nerve terminals leading to an increased release of NE. Quinidine also produces ringing in the ears (cinchonism) (1,2). 

The most common adverse effects associated with quinidine administration are diarrhea (35%), upper gastrointestinal distress (25%), and light-headedness... 

CNS stimulation and hallucinations are rare. The incidence of severe adverse effects in long-term therapy may be lower than those observed with quinidine or procainamide. 

L E. Quinidine. These are the classic signs of cinchon-ism and are adverse effects of quinidine and quinine, constituents of the cinchona tree. Some of these effects could be seen as toxic effects of phenytoin. However, auditory acuity is associated with cinchonism and not with phenytoin toxicity. Nausea but not the other effects could be associated with ciprofloxacin. Excessive drowsiness would be expected if diazepam were involved. These effects would not be expected with the estrogen replacement therapy. 

Nelfinavir (Viracept) is probably the most commonly used protease inhibitor because of its low incidence of serious adverse effects. Its most common side effects are diarrhea and flatulence these may resolve with continued use. In addition to the drugs contraindicated for use with all protease inhibitors, amiodarone, rifampin, and quinidine are contraindicated in patients taking nelfinavir. 

In addition, their ability to stabilize electrically excitable membranes (i.e., quinidine-like properties) through inhibition of fast sodium channels is the action most likely responsible for their most important adverse effects cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity (410). 

Quinidine Quinidine, molecular formula C20H24N2O2, is a stereoisomer of quinine found in Cinchona bark. Chemically, it is known as (2-ethenyl-4-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-yl)-(6-methoxyquinolin-4-yl)-methanol, or 6 -methoxycinchonan-9-ol. It is used as a Class 1 anti-arrhythmic agent. Intravenous injection of quinidine is also used in the treatment of P. falciparum malaria. Among the adverse effects, quinidine induces thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) and may lead to thrombocytic purpurea. 

Quinidine is readily absorbed from the GI tract and eliminated by hepatic metabolism. It is rarely used because of cardiac and extracardiac adverse effects and the availability of better-tolerated antiarrhythmic drugs. 

Propafenone has some structural similarities to propranolol and possesses weak 3-blocking activity. Its spectrum of action is very similar to that of quinidine, but it does not prolong the action potential. Its sodium channel-blocking kinetics are similar to that of flecainide. Propafenone is metabolized in the liver, with an average half-life of 5-7 hours. The usual daily dosage of propafenone is 450-900 mg in three divided doses. The drug is used primarily for supraventricular arrhythmias. The most common adverse effects are a metallic taste and constipation arrhythmia exacerbation can also occur. 

The cholinesterase inhibitors cause significant adverse effects, including nausea and vomiting, and other peripheral cholinomimetic effects. These drugs should be used with caution in patients receiving other drugs that inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes (eg, ketoconazole, quinidine see Chapter 4). Preparations available are listed in Chapter 7. 

T effects OF amiodarone, astemizole, atorvastadn, barbiturates, bepridil, bupropion, cerivastatin, cisapride, clorazepate, clozapine, clarithromycin, desipramine, diazepam, encainide, ergot alkaloids, estazolam, flecainide, flurazepam, indinavir, ketoconazole, lovastatin, meperidine, midazolam, nelfinavir, phenytoin, pimozide, piroxicam, propafenone, propoxyphene, quinidine, rifabutin, saquinavir, sildenafil, simvastatin, SSRIs, TCAs, terfenadine, triazolam, troleandomycin, zolpidem X effects W/ barbiturates, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, St. John s wort, tobacco X effects OF didanosine, hypnotics, methadone, OCPs, sedatives, theophylline, warfarin EMS T Effects of amiodarone, diazepam, midazolam and BBs, may need X- doses concurrent use of Viagra-type drugs can lead to hypotension X- effects of warfarin concurrent EtOH use can T adverse effects T glucose ODs May cause an extension of adverse SEs symptomatic and supportive Rivasrigmine (Exelon) [Cholinesterase Inhibitor/Anri ... 

Adverse effects With chronic use, procainamide causes a high incidence of side effects, including a reversible lupus erythe-matosus-like syndrome that develops in 25 to 30% of patients. Toxic concentrations of procainamide may cause asystole or induction of ventricular arrhythmias. Central nervious system (CNS) side effects include depression, hallucination and psychosis. With this drug, gastrointestinal intolerance is less frequent than with quinidine. 

The adverse effects of most serious concern relate to the cardiovascular system and seizure threshold. Actions on the adrenergic and cholinergic systems probably contribute to both hypotensive and direct cardiac effects, including alterations in heart rate, quinidine-like delays in conduction, and reduced myocardial contractility. The seizure threshold is lowered, increasing the frequency of epileptic seizures. All of these adverse effects can occur at therapeutic dosages in susceptible populations, such as elderly people, children, and people with cardiac problems or epilepsy, but are also a major cause of morbidity and mortality in accidental or intentional overdosage. Doses in excess of 500 mg can be seriously toxic, and death is fairly common when doses of 2 g or more are taken. 

Adverse effects include tinnitus, diminished auditory acuity, headache, blurred vision, nausea and diarrhoea (common to quinine, quinidine, salicylates and called cinchonism). Idiosyncratic reactions include pruritus, urticaria and rashes. H)qjogly-caemia may be significant when quinine is given by i.v. infusion and supplementary glucose may be required. 

Antidysrhythmic dmgs can themselves cause cardiac dysrhythmias, their major adverse effect. The risk of antidysrhythmic-induced cardiac dysrhythmias (prodys-rhythmic effects) has been estimated at about 11-13% in non-invasive studies (18,19) and at up to 20% in invasive electrophysiological studies. However, the risk varies from dmg to drug and is particularly low with class III drugs. In one study the quoted risks of dysrhythmias were flecainide 30%, quinidine 18%, propafenone 7%, sotalol 6%, and amiodar-one 0% (20). However, amiodarone does cause dysrhythmias, especially when the QT interval is over 600 ms. 

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