Chloroquine (By mouth)
KLOR-oh-kwin
Prevents and treats malaria. Also treats the liver infection extraintestinal amebiasis.
Drug classes
Amebicide, Extraintestinal, Antimalarial, Antirheumatic (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Chloroquine is used to prevent and treat malaria. It is also used to treat liver infection caused by protozoa (extraintestinal amebiasis).
Chloroquine belongs to a group of medicines known as antimalarials. It works by preventing or treating malaria, a red blood cell infection transmitted by the bite of a mosquito.
Malaria transmission occurs in large areas of Central and South America, Hispaniola, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. Country-specific information on malaria can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or from the CDC’s web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbk.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, chloroquine is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Arthritis in children.
High levels of calcium in the blood associated with sarcoidosis.
Various skin disorders.
For patients taking chloroquine for arthritis or lupus:
This medicine must be taken regularly as ordered by your doctor in order for it to help you. It may take up to several weeks before you begin to feel better. It may take up to 6 months before you feel the full benefit of this medicine.
If your symptoms of arthritis do not improve within a few weeks or months, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed. If you take this medicine only once a week, always take it on the same day of each week.
Malaria prevention while traveling: You may need to start using this medicine 2 weeks before you start your trip. You may also need to keep using this medicine for 8 weeks after you get home. Ask your doctor about your schedule.
Take all of the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses.
Missed dose:
If you take your medicine once every 7 days, take the missed dose as soon as you can, then wait 7 days before taking another dose. If you take your medicine every day, take the missed dose as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next regular dose, wait until then to take your medicine and skip the missed dose.Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Some foods and medicines can affect how chloroquine works. Tell your doctor if you are using cimetidine, cyclosporine, or mefloquine, or if you need a rabies vaccine.
Antacid or kaolin: Take at least 4 hours before or after chloroquine.
Ampicillin: Take at least 2 hours before or after chloroquine.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use if you had an allergic reaction to chloroquine or similar medicines.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, porphyria, psoriasis, hearing problems, G6PD deficiency, or a history of epilepsy. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Tell your doctor if you have had eye or vision problems caused by chloroquine or similar drugs.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Changes in vision, eye damage Extrapyramidal disorders, muscle weaknessCall your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments. Your may need to have your eyes, ears, and reflexes tested.
Children are very sensitive to this medicine. Accidental overdoses have occurred with small amounts of chloroquine.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Changes in vision, trouble seeing, light flashes
Trouble hearing, ringing in the ears
Twitching or muscle movements you cannot control, problems with balance or walking, muscle weakness
Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Aralen Phosphate
There may be other brand names for this medicine.