Lack of a significant adverse cardiovascular effect of combined quinine and mefloquine therapy for uncomplicated malaria

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1997 Nov-Dec;91(6):694-6. doi: 10.1016/s0035-9203(97)90528-9.

Abstract

Quinine dihydrochloride (10 mg salt/kg infused over one hour) and mefloquine (15 mg base/kg) were given simultaneously to 13 adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Supine and standing blood pressures were recorded and the electrocardiogram monitored. Plasma concentrations of the 2 drugs were similar to those reported previously for the 2 compounds given individually to a similar group of patients. Although postural hypotension was common (6 cases before treatment and 7 after) and the electrocardiogram QTc interval was prolonged by a mean of 12% (SD = 8) following drug treatment, there was no evidence of a clinically significant cardiovascular pharmacodynamic interaction between these 2 structurally related antimalarial compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antimalarials / blood
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Drug Interactions
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart / drug effects
  • Heart / physiology
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / blood
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Mefloquine / blood
  • Mefloquine / pharmacology
  • Mefloquine / therapeutic use*
  • Quinine / blood
  • Quinine / pharmacology
  • Quinine / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Quinine
  • Mefloquine