Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

QUINACRINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Formerly used for the suppression and treatment of malaria but has been largely superceded
by chloroquine etc. Used in the treatment of giardiasis and for the expulsion of
tapeworms. Instillations are used in the symptomatic treatment of neoplastic effusions in
the pleura or peritoneum Intermediate

SYNONYMS

C23-H30-Cl-N3-O, 2-chloro-5-(omega-diethylamino-alpha-methylbutylamino)-7-methoxyacridine,
2-chloro-5-(omega-diethylamino-alpha-methylbutylamino)-7-methoxyacridine, hydrochloride,
"3-chloro-9-(4'-diethylamino-1'-methylbutylamino)-7-methoxyacridine 2HCl", "3-chloro-9-
(4'-diethylamino-1'-methylbutylamino)-7-methoxyacridine 2HCl", "6-chloro-9-((4-
diethylmino)-1-methylbutyl)amino)-2-methoxyacridine 2HCl", "6-chloro-9-((4-diethylmino)-1-
methylbutyl)amino)-2-methoxyacridine 2HCl", "3-chloro-7-methoxy-9-(1-methyl-4-
diethylaminobutylamino)acridine 2HCl", "3-chloro-7-methoxy-9-(1-methyl-4-
diethylaminobutylamino)acridine 2HCl", "mepacrine hydrochloride", methoquine, "quinacrine
hydrochloride", "2-methoxy-6-chloro-9-(4-diethylamino-1-methylbutylamino)acridine 2HCl",
"2-methoxy-6-chloro-9-(4-diethylamino-1-methylbutylamino)acridine 2HCl", Acrichine,
Acriquine, Arichin, Atabrine, "Atabrine Hydrochloride", Atebrin, Atebrine, Chemiochin,
Chinacrin, Crinodora, Dial, Erion, Italchin, Malaricida, Mecryl, Metochin, Metoquin,
Metoquine, Palacrin, Palusan, Pentilen, 866-R.P., SN-390, antimalarial

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
May cause SENSITIZATION by skin contact.
Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Side-effects of chloroquine and its congeners include: headache, gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea,vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps), pruritis, and macular, urticarial and purpuric skin eruptions. Occasional psychotic episodes, convulsions, hypotension and cardiovascular collapse, ECG changes, double vision and difficulty in accommodation have been reported.  Overdose is expected to produce the same effects as overdose with chloroquine viz: respiratory and cardiovascular depression, arrhythmias, shock, followed by convulsions, respiratory and cardiac arrest and death.  Acridines may cause nausea, vomiting, and digestive tract irritation.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

SKIN

  Skin contact is not thought to produce harmful health effects (as classified using animal models). Systemic harm, however, has been identified following exposure of animals by at least one other route and the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce either adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract following inhalation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other route and good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Skin contact with the material is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  Repeated exposure to quinines can result in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, ringing in the ear, deafness, visual disturbance and temporary blindness. Some people are hypersensitive to quinine, and small doses in these persons may cause swelling, asthma and other allergic phenomena. Quinine can also cause hemolytic anemia and loss of platelets.  Exposure to small quantities may induce hypersensitivity reactions characterized by acute bronchospasm, hives (urticaria), deep dermal wheals (angioneurotic edema), running nose (rhinitis) and blurred vision . Anaphylactic shock and skin rash (non-thrombocytopenic purpura) may occur. An individual may be predisposed to such anti-body mediated reaction if other chemical agents have caused prior sensitization (cross-sensitivity).  Prolonged administration of high doses of chloroquine (common in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis) and its congeners may lead to pigmented deposits and opacities in the cornea which are reversible if treatment is withdrawn. There is a risk of retinopathy with lesions, defects in colour vision, optic nerve atrophy, scotomas, field defects and blindness. Uncommon adverse effects include loss of hair, bleaching of hair pigment, bluish-black pigmentation of mucous membranes and skin, photosensitivity, lichen planus like eruptions, aural defects, neuromyopathy and myopathy. Blood disorders such as agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia have been reported on rare occasions. Aplastic anaemia may develop.  Chronic dermatoses may be lichenoid, eczemoid or exfoliative in nature.