Drug interactions
Heparin + Quinine
Severity: Moderate
Heparin and Quinine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Quinine can cause drug-induced thrombocytopenia, and heparin carries its own risks of thrombocytopenia and bleeding. Concurrent use makes interpreting falling platelet counts harder and may raise bleeding risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Heparin and Quinine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Heparin belongs to Cardiovascular; Quinine belongs to Anti Parasitic.
Why it happens
Additive thrombocytopenia and bleeding risk; no direct pharmacokinetic mechanism is established.
What to do
Monitor platelet counts regularly and assess for bleeding. If platelets drop, evaluate both quinine-induced and heparin-induced causes and stop the likely culprit.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Quinine
- Arsenic trioxide + Quinine Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Quinine Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Quinine Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Quinine Contraindicated
- Mefloquine + Quinine Contraindicated
- Nilotinib + Quinine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Heparin
- Defibrotide + Heparin Contraindicated
- Heparin + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Heparin + Oritavancin Contraindicated
- Acemetacin + Heparin Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Heparin Major
- Alteplase + Heparin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Heparin with Quinine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Heparin and Quinine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Quinine can cause drug-induced thrombocytopenia, and heparin carries its own risks of thrombocytopenia and bleeding. Concurrent use makes interpreting falling platelet counts harder and may raise bleeding risk.
How serious is the interaction between Heparin and Quinine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor platelet counts regularly and assess for bleeding. If platelets drop, evaluate both quinine-induced and heparin-induced causes and stop the likely culprit.
What other medicines interact with Quinine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Quinine with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Dofetilide, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Quinine page.
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