Adult

Quinine Sulfate (Oral Quinine)

General Information

Formulary antimicrobial: Use in accordance with Trust guidelines 

  • Quinine sulphate is only available as a oral (tablet) formulation. 

For all information regarding contra-indications, interactions, contraception, pregnancy and breastfeeding and additional information, see BNF and Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC).

Dosing

Indication

Oral dose

Malaria – uncomplicated

600mg tds

Malaria – severe (oral switch following IV treatment)

600mg tds

Renal and hepatic impairment

Dose in renal impairment

eGFR (ml/min/1.73m2)

Oral dose for malaria

10 and over

Dose as in normal renal function

less than 10

Loading dose of 600 mg followed 12 hours later by maintenance doses of 300 mg bd

HD/HDF/High Flux/PD

Dialysed; give doses after haemodialysis on dialysis days

Dose as in eGFR less than 10ml/min/1.73m2

Note: Doses are based on Renal Drug Database

Use in hepatic impairment

Caution, risk of prolonged half-life. Dose reduction may be needed in hepatic disease. Discuss with Micro/ID.

MHRA Drug Safety Updates

MHRA Drug Safety Update (November 2017) Quinine: reminder of dose-dependent QT-prolonging effects; updated medicine interactions 

References

  1. Strides Pharma UK Ltd. Quinine Sulfate 200mg Tablets summary of product characteristics. Electronic medicines compendium. Last revision of the text 14/10/25. Accessed via www.medicines.org.uk Accessed 29/9/26
  2. The Renal Drug Database. Quinine. Last updated 23/11/17. Accessed via https://renaldrugdatabase.com Accessed 29/9/26.
  3. British National Formulary. Quinine. BNF online, accessed via www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 29/9/26.
  4. MHRA. Drug Safety update (November 2017) Quinine: reminder of dose-dependent QT-prolonging effects; updated medicine interactions. Accessed at https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/quinine-reminder-of-dose-dependent-qt-prolonging-effects-updated-medicine-interactions Accessed 29/9/26
  5. Sanford Guide [online]. Quinine sulfate. Last updated 1/7/26. Accessed via https://webedition.sanfordguide.com Accessed 29/9/26

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 29 Sept 2026

Next review date: 19 Sept 2029

Author(s): AMST.