Mefloquine/Chloroquine; Quinidine; Quinine
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Severe. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
The cause of the interaction is not known. When these two medicines are taken together, your body may not process mefloquine properly.
What might happen:
You may experience an irregular heartbeat that may be life threatening. You may also experience an increased chance for seizures.
What you should do about this interaction:
Contact your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) as soon as possible about taking these two medicines together. They may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Lariam (mefloquine hydrochloride) US prescribing information. Roche Pharmaceuticals August, 2009.
2.Bangchang KN, Karbwang J, Back DJ. Mefloquine metabolism by human liver microsomes. Effect of other antimalarial drugs. Biochem Pharmacol 1992 May 8;43(9):1957-61.
