Hydroxychloroquine

Administration

  • Type: Antimalarial, anti-inflammatory
  • Dosage Forms:
  • Routes of Administration: Oral
  • Common Trade Names: Plaquenil

Adult Dosing

Malaria

Most malaria-endemic areas have high rates of chloroquine resistance. Per the CDC, chloroquine-sensitive areas include: Central America west of the Panama Canal, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and most of the Middle East. See [CDC malaria information by country] for details

  • Malaria treatment: 800 mg PO, then 400 mg PO at 6, 24, and 48 hours after initial dose
  • Malaria prophylaxis: 400 mg PO weekly beginning 1 to 2 weeks prior to travel to malarious area through 4 weeks after departure

Other indications

Pediatric Dosing

  • Malaria treatment: 12.9 mg/kg (max 800mg) PO, then 6.45 mg/kg PO at 6, 24, and 48 hours after initial dose
  • Malaria prophylaxis: 6.45 mg/kg PO weekly beginning 1 to 2 weeks prior to travel to malarious area through 4 weeks after departure

Special Populations

Contraindications

  • Allergy to class/drug
  • Retinal or visual field changes from prior 4-aminoquinoline compound
  • Prolonged use in children

Adverse Reactions

Serious

  • Torsades de pointes
  • Agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia
  • Fulminant hepatic failure
  • Myopathy
  • Seizure
  • Retinopathy
  • Hearing loss
  • Angioedema

Common

  • Corneal disorder

Pharmacology

  • Half-life: 7-50 days
  • Metabolism: Hepatic
  • Excretion: Mostly renal

Mechanism of Action

  • Precise mechanism unknown

Comments

See Also

References