Some users of the drug quinine sulfate—sold under the brand name Qualaquin—have developed blood diseases and other harmful side effects. If you have taken Qualiquin and you believe it caused you to develop heart disease, a blood disease, or some other negative side effect, you need a sympathetic advocate who will represent only your interests—and who will make the process of obtaining compensation for your injuries as painless as possible. The Rottenstein Law Group knows this, and we want you to believe it. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation. We might be the Qualaquin law firm you are looking for.
What Is Qualaquin, and What Is It Prescribed For?
Qualaquin is the brand name for the drug quinine sulfate. Made and sold by AR Scientific, a unit of URL Pharma, this prescription medication is sold in capsules containing 324mg of quinine. In August 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Qualaquin “orphan drug” status, meaning AR Scientific received a monopoly to sell the drug exclusively for seven years.
Quinine has a 400-year history as an anti-malarial drug. How it works is still not understood, but it is believed to be toxic to the parasites that cause malaria. Importantly, it reduces the intense, debilitating shivering that malaria causes. Quinine also reduces fevers, and is a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory. Since the mid-20th century, more sophisticated drugs have replaced quinine as anti-malarials.
In recent years, doctors have prescribed Qualaquin to reduce Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), also known as nocturnal leg cramps, because of the medication’s muscle-relaxing effects.
Qualaquin Might Cause Life-Threatening Side Effects
Prescribing Qualaquin for RLS qualifies as an “off-label” use, meaning the FDA has not approved Qualaquin as a treatment for that specific disorder. Doctors may legally write prescriptions for off-label uses, but such prescriptions arguably put patients at greater risk than prescriptions for the treatment of disorders indicated on a drug’s label. That’s because the safety and efficacy of off-label uses have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Quinine use has been linked to severe side-effects. In particular, it is a possible cause of dangerous blood disorders, including thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets) and hemolytic uremic syndrome/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (HUS/TTP).
Thrombocytopenia is a disease in which the amount of coagulating agents in the blood (platelets) drops. Platelets clot blood to stop bleeding when a person is injured. Symptoms include low clotting when injured, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and spontaneous bruising. HUS and TTP are different diseases with very similar symptoms. They begin with diarrhea but are medical emergencies. Five to ten percent of people who develop either disease die, and some who survive develop permanent kidney problems requiring renal replacement therapy.
According to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System, between 2005 and 2008 people reported 38 cases of negative reactions to quinine. Twenty-four were cases of blood-related illnesses, four were cases involving cardiovascular problems, and ten were cases involving miscellaneous symptoms. Eighteen patients required hospitalization and two of the people with blood diseases died.
RLG’s Lawyers Will Make Things Easier
The process of demanding compensation for the harm you’ve suffered can be complicated, even if it doesn’t seem fair that you should have to go through even more trouble to be made whole again. The lawyers at the Rottenstein Law Group do everything they can to streamline the process of helping you to obtain justice.
If you believe you have experienced adverse side effects as a result of taking Qualaquin, submit this simple secure form for a free and confidential evaluation of your eligibility to file a Qualoquin lawsuit.