Drug interactions
Olanzapine + Quinidine
Severity: Moderate
Olanzapine and Quinidine: 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
Olanzapine has a small effect on QT interval, and combining it with quinidine may add to the risk of arrhythmia. The clinical risk is generally lower than with other antipsychotics but rises with other risk factors.
What this interaction means in plain words
Olanzapine and Quinidine 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.
Olanzapine belongs to Central Nervous System; Quinidine belongs to Anti Parasitic.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic QT prolongation.
What to do
Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor QTc, and correct electrolyte abnormalities. Avoid adding further QT-prolonging drugs.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Olanzapine and Quinidine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Quinidine
- Adagrasib + Quinidine Contraindicated
- Arsenic trioxide + Quinidine Contraindicated
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Quinidine Contraindicated
- Chloroquine + Quinidine Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Quinidine Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Quinidine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Olanzapine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Olanzapine with Quinidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Olanzapine and Quinidine 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. Olanzapine has a small effect on QT interval, and combining it with quinidine may add to the risk of arrhythmia. The clinical risk is generally lower than with other antipsychotics but rises with other risk factors.
How serious is the interaction between Olanzapine and Quinidine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor QTc, and correct electrolyte abnormalities. Avoid adding further QT-prolonging drugs.
What other medicines interact with Quinidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Quinidine with, for example, Adagrasib, Arsenic trioxide, Artemether / lumefantrine. The full list is on the Quinidine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
