Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

QUINIDINE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Alkaloid extracted from the bark of most varieties of Cinchona at concentrations of 0.25-
3.0%. Dextrarotatory stereoisomer of quinine. Used as a cardiac depressant (anti-
arrhythmic). Acts on ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. Classified as Class I
antiarrhythmic because it directly interferes with the depolarisation of the cardiac
membrane. Also has local anaesthetic properties.

SYNONYMS

C20-H24-N2-O2, "cinchonan-9-ol, 6'-methoxy-, (9S)-", "cinchonan-9-ol, 6'-methoxy-,
(9S)-", conchinin, conquinine, 6'-methoxycinchonan-9-ol, 6'-methoxycinchonan-9-ol, alpha-
(6-methoxy-4-quinolyl)-5-vinyl-2-quinuclidinemethanol, alpha-(6-methoxy-4-quinolyl)-5-
vinyl-2-quinuclidinemethanol, 6-methoxy-alpha-(5-vinyl-2-quinuclidinyl)-4-
quinolinemethanol, 6-methoxy-alpha-(5-vinyl-2-quinuclidinyl)-4-quinolinemethanol, NCI-
C56246, (+)-quinidine, beta-quinine, "2-quinuclidinemethanol, alpha-(6-methoxy-4-
quinolyl)-5-vinyl-", "2-quinuclidinemethanol, alpha-(6-methoxy-4-quinolyl)-5-vinyl-",
Pitayine, Quinicardine, Cin-Quin, Quinidex, "cinchona alkaloid", "anti-arrhythmic/ anti-
dysrhythmic/ cardiac depressant"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.

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.  Large doses of quinine and its derivatives may produce severe poisoning characterized by headache, fever, vomiting, muscle weakness, excitement, confusion, blindness (possibly permanent), deafness and loss of consciousness; blood pressure falls and a feeble pulse results. Occasionally, renal failure ensues; death may occur, usually in coma, from respiratory failure.  Large doses of quinine and its derivatives may produce severe poisoning characterized by headache, fever, vomiting, muscle weakness, excitement, confusion, blindness (possibly permanent), deafness and loss of consciousness; blood pressure falls and a feeble pulse results. Occasionally, renal failure ensues; death may occur, usually in coma, from respiratory failure.  Anti-arrhythmic agents have cardiac depressant properties and may, particularly in excessive dosages, induce cardiac arrhythmias (including ventricular tachycardia), heart failure and hypotension.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may produce transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn).  The dust may produce eye discomfort causing smarting, pain and redness.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  This material is a photosensitizer. Certain individuals working with this substance may show allergic reaction of the skin under sunlight. This results in sensitivity to sunburn (may be severe) unless protective covering and 15+PF sunscreen are used. Responses may vary from sunburn-like effects to swelling and blistering lesions.  The material may cause skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, 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

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Quinidines are cumulative in action and inappropriately high plasma concentrations may cause heart block, extrasystoles, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and sometimes, death.  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.