Alternative treatment for severe malaria (if artesunate is not available).
Oral preparation sometimes used to treat uncomplicated malaria as an alternative to artemisinin-based combination therapies.
Bolus injections of quinine are associated with dangerous hypotension
Pregnancy category: Used in the first trimester of pregnancy to treat uncomplicated falciparum malaria (combined with clindamycin)
Average serum half life: 9 to 18 hours
Metabolism: Quinine undergoes hepatic biotransformation to 3-hydroxyquinine and dihydroquinine. Unchanged drug is excreted via the kidney. Metabolism to the biologically active 3-hydroxyquinine increases with recovery from acute malaria.