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What is Quinacrine
NOTE: This drug is discontinued in the US.
Quinacrine is an oral antiprotozoal agent used most commonly in the treatment of giardiasis. During World War II, quinacrine was effectively and widely used as an antimalarial agent. It also has been used in the treatment of cestodiasis.
More recently, quinacrine has been replaced by other agents, such as praziquantel and chloroquine, in the treatment of malaria and cestodiasis.
Cross-resistance can occur between quinacrine and chloroquine. Quinacrine was introduced as an antimalarial in 1930.
FDA approval is recorded in 1964. Production of quinacrine tablets was discontinued by the sole manufacturer in 1991, however, some pharmacies may compound quinacrine capsules from supplies of bulk powder.
Indications
- cestodiasis
- Diphyllobothrium latum
- Dipylidium caninum
- Giardia lamblia
- giardiasis
- Hymenolepis diminuta
- Hymenolepis nana
- malaria
- Plasmodium falciparum
- Plasmodium malariae
- Plasmodium vivax
- Taenia saginata
- Taenia solium
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- anxiety
- aplastic anemia
- contact dermatitis
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- euphoria
- exfoliative dermatitis
- headache
- hepatitis
- lichen planus-like eruption
- nail discoloration
- nausea
- nightmares
- pancytopenia
- psychosis
- restlessness
- retinopathy
- secondary malignancy
- seizures
- skin discoloration
- urine discoloration
- urticaria
- vomiting
Monitoring Parameters
- CBC
- ophthalmologic exam
- stool exam
Contraindications
- alcoholism
- breast-feeding
- cardiac disease
- driving or operating machinery
- G6PD deficiency
- geriatric
- hepatic disease
- infants
- porphyria
- pregnancy
- psoriasis
- psychosis
- renal disease
- renal impairment
Interactions
No information is available regarding drug interactions associated with Quinacrine
