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Qualaquin
If you have uncomplicated (mild) malaria, a healthcare provider may prescribe Qualaquin. This medication comes in the form of a capsule and is taken every eight hours for seven days. It works by killing a specific parasite that is responsible for causing this blood infection. Some of the possible side effects include dizziness, headaches, and sweating.
Qualaquin® (quinine sulfate) is a prescription medication licensed to treat uncomplicated (or mild) malaria.
(Click Qualaquin Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
This medication is made by Mutual Pharmaceutical Company, Inc., for AR Scientific, Inc.
Qualaquin belongs to a class of drugs called antimalarials. Malaria is a blood infection caused by tiny parasites called Plasmodium. Qualaquin treats malaria by killing the Plasmodium parasites.
Although it is not entirely known how Qualaquin works, it is thought that the medication prevents Plasmodium from using blood glucose for energy and from making proteins and nucleic acid, which are essential for the parasite to live.
The main active ingredient in Qualaquin is quinine. Clinical studies have shown that quinine can cure malaria when given alone or in combination with clindamycin or tetracycline.
In these studies, 80 to 100 percent of people with uncomplicated (mild) malaria were free from infection after receiving quinine for seven days. They remained infection-free for the entire study period (28 days).
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD