What is Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)?
Hydroxychloroquine is a very effective medication that is used to treat autoimmune diseases like Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis and certain varieties of Malaria. It belongs to a class of medications commonly known as Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, i.e., DMARDs. These types of drugs help you calm your immune system and improve your immunity to fight against certain diseases. This group of drugs, i.e., DMARDs, also helps block certain functions that a malaria parasite requires to grow.
Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a quinoline medicine and is majorly used to prevent and treat Malaria. Malaria is a disease caused by certain parasites which enter a person’s body through a mosquito bite. Malaria is commonly found in areas such as Southern Asia, Southern America, and Africa. It’s ineffective against all the strains of Malaria or in areas where the infection has become resistant to similar drugs like chloroquine.
Uses of Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine is an oral prescribed Malaria drug which means that it’s available only on pharmacy shelves as generic and name-brand tablets.
- Malaria treatment and its prevention, if you’re travelling to an area where Malaria is common, like Southern Asia, Southern America, and Africa.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive disease that causes joint inflammation, resulting in painful deformity and immobility, especially in the fingers, wrists, feet, and ankles. (Hydroxychloroquine is only used to treat adults).
- Systemic lupus erythematosus is one of the most common varieties of Lupus. SLE is an autoimmune disease wherein the immune system strikes its tissues, which causes inflammation all over the body and damages the tissues of the affected organs. It can also affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. (Hydroxychloroquine is only used to treat adults)
- Chronic Discoid lupus erythematosus is less common but a chronic autoimmune disease impacting the skin. DLE gets its term from the coin-shaped lesions it creates on the skin. This condition causes a severe rash that worsens when exposed to sunlight. (Hydroxychloroquine is only used to treat adults)
Along with the above-stated uses, Plaquenil is also prescribed to treat the following conditions :
- Sarcoidosis – It is an inflammatory condition/disease that causes lumps all over your body.
- Q fever – It is a bacterial illness.
- Sjögren syndrome – It is an autoimmune condition, and it’s known for causing dry mouth and dry eye in people suffering from it.
- Porphyria cutanea tarda – It is a rare skin disorder.
- Dermatomyositis – It is an inflammatory muscle and skin condition.
How is Hydroxychloroquine used and taken?
Take this medication only as mandated by your physician. Please don’t take more of it, don’t take it more often, and also not for longer than prescribed by your doctor.
Consume the tablet as a whole. It’s recommended that you don’t break, crush or chew it. Take your medicine with meals or milk to reduce the side effects like stomach upset unless your doctor says otherwise.
Maintain the medicine dosage for the entire treatment, even if you feel healthy after the first few doses. If you stop taking medicine too soon, your infection may worsen as it has not cleared up entirely.
For patients taking Hydroxychloroquine to prevent Malaria:
- Your medic may want you to take this medicine two weeks before you travel to a place with a chance of contracting Malaria. It will allow you to check how you react to the drug. It will also give your doctor some time to change to another treatment if you react to this medicine.
- Also, it would help if you kept taking this medicine while in the area and for four weeks after leaving it. No treatment will protect you completely from Malaria. However, to prevent and protect you as thoroughly as feasible, it is essential to keep taking this medicine the whole time your doctor orders. Also, if a fever develops during your trips or within two months after you have left the area, check with your doctor instantly.
If you also take kaolin or antacids, take them at least four hours before or after any quinolone class medication, most importantly Hydroxychloroquine.
Dosage Instructions
Malaria Treatment
- Dosage in adults – First dose:- 800 mg, Second dose:- 400 mg, Third dose:- 400 mg, and Fourth dose:- 400 mg.
- Treatment duration – Four doses within 48 hours
Malaria prevention
- Dosage in adults – 400 mg once weekly
- Treatment duration – Start two weeks before travelling; continue taking four weeks after returning home
Rheumatoid arthritis
- Dosage in adults – 400–600 mg initially, followed by 200–400 mg once or twice daily
- Treatment duration – Indefinitely
Lupus
- Dosage in adults – 200–400 mg once or twice daily
- Treatment duration – Indefinitely
Side Effects of Hydroxychloroquine
Seek emergency help if you have allergic reactions to Hydroxychloroquine, such as difficulty breathing, swelling in your throat or face, or a severe reaction to the skin, like skin rash with peeling and blistering.
Severe side effects of Hydroxychloroquine
- Yellowing of eyes
- Seizure
- Unusual mood changes
- Trouble hearing or ringing in ears
- Sudden change in mood or behaviour
- Suicidal thoughts
- Muscle weakness and loss of coordination
- Low blood sugar
- Low blood cell counts
Common Side Effects of Hydroxychloroquine
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Hair loss
- Feeling nervous
- Loss of Appetite
The Bottom line is that Hydroxychloroquine is a very safe FDA-approved medication used to treat and prevent Malaria. It also helps in treating two types of Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. It’s available in pharmacies all across the world. You can Buy Hydroxychloroquine Online from our pharmacy, Daynightdrugs.com, and avail of benefits like doorstep delivery and free shipping.
