Uses
Its main effects are as an antiprotozoal, antirheumatic and an intrapleural sclerosing agent.
Antiprotozoal use include targeting Giardiasis, where quinacrine is indicated as a primary agent for patients with metronidazole-resistant giardiasis and patients who should not receive or can not tolerate metronidazole. Giardiasis that is very resistant may even require a combination of quinacrine and metronidazole.
Quinacrine is also used "off-label" for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, indicated in the treatment of discoid and subcutaneous lupus erythematosus, particularly in patients unable to take chloroquine derivatives.
As an intrapleural sclerosing agent, it is used as pneumothorax prophylaxis in patients at high risk of recurrence, e.g., cystic fibrosis patients.
Quinacrine is not the drug of choice because side effects are common, including toxic psychosis, and may cause permanent damage. View Mefloquine page for more information.
In addition to medical applications, quinacrine is an effective in vitro research tool for the epifluorescent visualization of cells, especially platelets. Quinacrine is a green fluorescent dye taken up by most cells. Platelets store quinacrine in dense granules.
Read more about this topic: Quinacrine