Drug interactions
Quinine + Succinylcholine
Severity: Major
Quinine and Succinylcholine: major 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 has weak neuromuscular blocking activity and can potentiate and prolong the paralysis produced by depolarizing blockers such as succinylcholine. This may lead to prolonged apnea and delayed recovery of respiratory function after anesthesia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Quinine and Succinylcholine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Quinine belongs to Anti Parasitic; Succinylcholine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic neuromuscular blockade, with quinine reducing motor end-plate sensitivity to acetylcholine.
What to do
Avoid giving quinine around the time of succinylcholine use where possible; if combined, monitor neuromuscular function with a nerve stimulator and ensure ventilatory support is available until full recovery.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Quinine and Succinylcholine, 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 Succinylcholine
Other interactions of Quinine
- Arsenic trioxide + Quinine Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Quinine Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Quinine Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Quinine Contraindicated
- Mefloquine + Quinine Contraindicated
- Nilotinib + Quinine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Quinine with Succinylcholine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Quinine and Succinylcholine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Quinine has weak neuromuscular blocking activity and can potentiate and prolong the paralysis produced by depolarizing blockers such as succinylcholine. This may lead to prolonged apnea and delayed recovery of respiratory function after anesthesia.
How serious is the interaction between Quinine and Succinylcholine?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid giving quinine around the time of succinylcholine use where possible; if combined, monitor neuromuscular function with a nerve stimulator and ensure ventilatory support is available until full recovery.
What other medicines interact with Succinylcholine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Succinylcholine with, for example, Amikacin, Bacitracin-neomycin-polymyxin, Capreomycin. The full list is on the Succinylcholine 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.
