What is the most important information I should know about dextromethorphan and quinidine?
You should not use this medicine if you have heart failure, a serious heart condition called "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker), or a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder.
You also should not take dextromethorphan and quinidine if you are also taking mefloquine, quinidine, or quinine, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction or serious medical problem caused by taking any of these medications.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.
What is dextromethorphan and quinidine?
Dextromethorphan and quinidine is a combination medicine used to treat involuntary outbursts of crying or laughing in people with certain neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease).
Dextromethorphan and quinidine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dextromethorphan and quinidine?
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to dextromethorphan or quinidine, or if you have:
- heart failure;
- a history of life-threatening heart rhythm disorder;
- long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);
- a serious heart condition called "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker); or
- if you also use mefloquine, quinidine, or quinine.
You also should not take dextromethorphan and quinidine if you have ever had any of the following problems caused by taking mefloquine, quinidine, or quinine:
- bruising or bleeding;
- hepatitis;
- an allergic reaction; or
- lupus-like symptoms (joint pain, fever, skin rash on your cheeks).
Do not use dextromethorphan and quinidine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others. After you stop taking dextromethorphan and quinidine, you must wait at least 14 days before you start taking an MAOI.
Dextromethorphan and quinidine can cause a serious heart problem. You should not take dextromethorphan and quinidine if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV.
Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. These medicines may interact with dextromethorphan and quinidine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart disease, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease;
- slow heartbeats or any type of heart rhythm disorder;
- an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);
- myasthenia gravis; or
- trouble with balance or walking.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Dextromethorphan and quinidine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I take dextromethorphan and quinidine?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Dextromethorphan and quinidine is usually taken once per day for 7 days, and then once every 12 hours. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
You may take dextromethorphan and quinidine with or without food.
Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. You may need medical tests to help your doctor determine how long to treat you with dextromethorphan and quinidine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
Do not take more than 2 capsules in a 24-hour period.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose can cause severe dizziness, confusion, double vision, ringing in your ears, hearing loss, vomiting, fast or irregular heart rate, weak or shallow breathing, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking dextromethorphan and quinidine?
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Dizziness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.
Grapefruit may interact with dextromethorphan and quinidine and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any cough or cold medication that may contain dextromethorphan. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much dextromethorphan. Check the label of medicines such as Delsym, Robitussin Maximum Strength, Vicks 44, and others.
What are the possible side effects of dextromethorphan and quinidine?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:
- fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);
- easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums);
- pain or burning when you urinate;
-
liver problems --fever, right-sided upper stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, yellowing of your skin or eyes, and not feeling well; or
-
lupus-like symptoms --muscle or joint pain, flu symptoms, chest pain, and a rash or patchy skin color that worsens in sunlight.
Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Common side effects may include:
- dizziness, weakness;
- diarrhea, gas, vomiting;
- swelling in your hands or feet;
- flu symptoms, cough; or
- abnormal liver function tests.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect dextromethorphan and quinidine?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Dextromethorphan and quinidine can cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV.
Many drugs can affect dextromethorphan and quinidine, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about dextromethorphan and quinidine.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.01. Revision date: 8/21/2019.
