Chloroquine
About Chloroquine
Chloroquine is an oral prescription medicine primarily used to prevent and treat malaria, a serious infection spread by mosquitoes. It is also prescribed to treat certain auto-immune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, as well as liver infections caused by amoebas. This medicine works by targeting the specific parasites or immune responses causing these health issues.
To get the best results, you must take Chloroquine consistently at the exact times prescribed by your doctor, whether that is on a daily or weekly schedule. Taking this medicine with food or a glass of milk can significantly help prevent stomach upset. While taking this medicine, staying well-hydrated and protecting yourself from mosquito bites are key lifestyle steps to support your recovery.
Most people tolerate this medicine well, but it can cause mild side effects like nausea, stomach cramps, or mild headaches. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious symptoms, such as changes in your vision, hearing loss, or unusual muscle weakness.
Do not take this if you have a history of vision changes caused by similar medicines or if you have certain eye disorders affecting your retina. Before starting Chloroquine, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney problems, a blood disorder called G6PD deficiency, or a history of seizures.
This medicine can interact with antacids, which lower its absorption in your stomach, and alcohol, which can increase the strain on your liver. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or an older adult, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Chloroquine to ensure it is safe for your specific situation.
Uses of Chloroquine
• Treatment of Malaria: Chloroquine is commonly used to prevent and treat malaria caused by Plasmodium parasites sensitive to this drug.
• Manages Intestinal Amoebiasis: It is used as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of intestinal amoebiasis to help clear the infection.
• Relieves Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms: Chloroquine helps reduce joint pain, swelling, and stiffness in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Treatment of Lupus: It is effective in managing systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus by controlling inflammation and autoimmune activity.
• Used in Sarcoidosis: Chloroquine may be used to treat sarcoidosis by reducing inflammation in affected organs.
• Manages Porphyria Cutanea Tarda: It is also used in the treatment of porphyria cutanea tarda, a disorder that affects the skin and liver.
Medicinal Benefits
Chloroquine helps protect against and treat malaria while also supporting the management of certain autoimmune conditions. By targeting the underlying causes of these conditions, it helps improve health outcomes and supports better day-to-day functioning.
- Helps Prevent and Treat Malaria: Chloroquine works to prevent malaria infection in travellers and helps treat existing malaria infections. This supports faster recovery, reduces the risk of complications, and provides added confidence when travelling to malaria-endemic regions.
- Supports Management of Autoimmune Conditions: For conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, Chloroquine helps regulate immune system activity, contributing to better long-term disease control and symptom management.
- Helps Reduce Joint Pain and Inflammation: By decreasing inflammation associated with autoimmune disorders, Chloroquine helps relieve joint swelling, stiffness, and discomfort. This can improve mobility, support daily activities, and enhance overall physical function and quality of life.
Directions for Use
Take Chloroquine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow these steps for safe and effective use:
- Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water or milk.
- Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet, as it has a very bitter taste.
- Take this medicine with food to reduce the chance of an upset stomach.
- If you are taking this for malaria prevention, start the medicine before your trip, continue it during your stay, and keep taking it for the specified weeks after you return as instructed.
- Always complete the full course of treatment, even if you start to feel better.
- Always follow your doctor's exact instructions regarding how and when to take this medicine.
Storage
Side Effects of Chloroquine
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach cramps
- Loss of appetite
- Mild headache or dizziness
- Mild itching or temporary skin rash
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Changes in your vision, such as blurriness, seeing halos around lights, or difficulty reading
- Ringing in your ears or sudden difficulty hearing
- Severe muscle weakness, loss of coordination, or tingling in your hands and feet
- Irregular, slow, or unusually fast heartbeat
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as a severe skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, and trouble breathing
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Drug Warnings
- Schedule regular eye exams: If you are taking Chloroquine for a long time, you must have regular eye checkups to monitor your vision, as long-term use can cause permanent eye damage.
- Do not share your medicine: This medicine is prescribed specifically for you. Sharing it with others, especially children, can be extremely dangerous.
- Check for skin changes: Monitor your skin for any unusual changes or worsening rashes, and report them to your doctor immediately.
- Monitor blood sugar: If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar levels regularly, as this medicine can lower blood sugar levels and increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
- Watch for mood changes: Alert your doctor if you experience sudden mood swings, anxiety, depression, or unusual thoughts while taking this medicine
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions
- Antacids and Kaolin: Can decrease the absorption of Chloroquine in your body, making it less effective. Take these at least 4 hours apart from this medicine.
- Cimetidine: May increase the levels of this medicine in your blood, raising the risk of side effects.
- Medicines that affect heart rhythm (such as amiodarone or haloperidol): Combining these with Chloroquine can increase the risk of serious, irregular heart rhythms.
- Diabetes medicines (such as insulin or metformin): This medicine may lower blood sugar levels further, increasing the risk of low blood sugar.
Drug-Food Interactions
- Grapefruit juice: May increase the levels of chloroquine in your body, which can increase the risk of side effects. Avoid consuming large amounts of grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.
Drug-Disease Interactions
- G6PD Deficiency: Can trigger the destruction of red blood cells (haemolysis), leading to severe anaemia.
Psoriasis: May worsen skin flares and severe skin reactions in people with this condition. - Porphyria: Can trigger an acute attack of this rare metabolic disorder, causing severe abdominal pain or nerve issues.
- Liver or Kidney Disease: Your body may process this medicine more slowly, leading to a build-up of the drug and increased side effects.
- Myasthenia Gravis: May worsen muscle weakness and fatigue.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionChloroquine may cause interaction with alcohol. Therefore, it is advised to avoid the consumption of alcohol while taking Chloroquine.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult the doctor if you are pregnant before taking Chloroquine. The doctor may prescribe this medication only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionChloroquine should be used with caution during breastfeeding, and only after consulting a doctor, as it may pass into breast milk and potentially harm the nursing infant.
Driving
cautionChloroquine may cause dizziness in some individuals. Therefore, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.
Liver
cautionChloroquine should be taken with caution if you have any history of liver diseases. Please consult the doctor before taking Chloroquine.
Kidney
cautionChloroquine should be taken with caution if you have any history of kidney diseases. Please consult the doctor before taking Chloroquine.
Children
cautionChloroquine should be given to children only if prescribed by the doctor. However, it should not be given to children under 6 years of age due to the risk of overdose and serious toxicity.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Protect against mosquito bites: When taking this for malaria prevention, use insect repellent, sleep under treated bed nets, and wear long sleeves and pants to minimise mosquito exposure.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure: This medicine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear protective clothing and hats and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors, especially if you are taking this for lupus.
- Manage stomach discomfort: Eat small, frequent meals and avoid highly spiced or greasy foods if you experience nausea or stomach upset.
- Limit alcohol intake: Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine to reduce strain on your liver and prevent increased dizziness.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to support your body's recovery process.
Special Advise
Do not receive any vaccinations without talking to your doctor while taking Chloroquine.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Malaria: Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It typically causes high fever, chills, sweating, and body aches. Without timely treatment, malaria can lead to serious complications, including organ failure and death.
FAQs
Chloroquine is used to treat malaria. It is occasionally used to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and to treat conditions such as systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, and porphyria cutanea tarda.
Chloroquine contains chloroquine. Chloroquine targets malaria parasites inside red blood cells and disrupts their process of breaking down haemoglobin. This leads to the accumulation of toxic substances, which destroy the parasites and clear the infection.
There may be a risk of hemolysis in patients with G6PD deficiency while using Chloroquine. Doctor's consultation is mandatory before you start this medication.
The common side effects of Chloroquine include vomiting, nausea, hair loss, stomach pain, stomach upset, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and itchy skin. Most of these side effects are temporary and gradually resolve over time. However, please consult the doctor if any of these symptoms persist or worsen.
Malaria can be very dangerous for both a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. While chloroquine is sometimes used during pregnancy if the benefits outweigh the risks, you must discuss your travel plans and treatment options carefully with your healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor to understand what is safest for you.
When used to treat malaria, it typically starts working within a few days to lower your fever and clear the parasites. However, if you are taking it for rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, it may take several weeks or even months of consistent use before you notice an improvement in your joint pain and swelling. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.
You should contact your doctor immediately and stop taking the medicine if you notice any changes in your vision, such as blurriness or trouble reading. Long-term use of this medicine can sometimes cause changes in the retina of the eye. Regular eye exams are highly recommended. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
It is highly recommended to avoid or strictly limit alcohol while taking this medicine. Both alcohol and this medicine are processed by your liver, and combining them can increase the risk of liver strain and make side effects like dizziness worse. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for personalised advice.
No, you should not take antacids at the same time as this medicine. Antacids containing aluminium or magnesium can stop your body from absorbing the medicine properly, making it less effective. If you must take an antacid, space it at least 4 hours before or after your dose of Chloroquine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
No, it does not prevent all types of malaria. In many parts of the world, the parasites that cause malaria have become resistant to chloroquine, meaning the medicine may not protect you in those areas. Your doctor will choose the right preventive medicine based on your specific travel destination. Talk to your doctor before travelling.
Taking this medicine with a meal or a glass of milk helps coat your stomach and prevents common digestive side effects like nausea, stomach pain, and cramps. It does not affect how well the medicine is absorbed, but it makes the treatment much more comfortable. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if stomach upset continues.
Yes, children can take this medicine for malaria prevention or treatment, but the dose must be carefully calculated by a doctor based on the child's weight. Chloroquine is highly toxic to children even in very small accidental overdoses, so it must be kept strictly out of their reach. Talk to your doctor for the correct child dosing instructions.
