What Is Chloroquine?
Chloroquine phosphate is an antimalarial and immunosuppressive drug used to treat and prevent malaria. It is also used to treat an infectious bowel disease called amebiasis. Chloroquine enters the blood cells and interrupts the processes of parasitic activity.
What Is Chloroquine Used For?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved chloroquine to prevent or treat malaria, which is an infection of the blood cells from the bite of a mosquito. This is commonly used as a preventative treatment for travelers going to regions of the world with malaria that is not resistant to chloroquine.
However, it does not prevent the relapse of vivax or ovale malaria.
Additionally, it is used to treat a type of bowel infection, also known as extraintestinal amebiasis. Chloroquine is also sometimes used off-label (not as an FDA-approved use) for the treatment of lupus.
How to Take Chloroquine
Treatment regimens for chloroquine vary based on what it is being used for. It is always important to take this medication as directed by your healthcare provider.
Take your doses with food to reduce stomach-related side effects such as nausea.
Prevention of Malaria
The treatment regimen for the prevention of malaria is usually 500 milligrams (mg) weekly on the same day each week. It is started one to two weeks prior to exposure and continued while in the endemic area (where malaria occurs), and four weeks after leaving the endemic area.
Treatment of Malaria
To treat malaria, you will usually take 1,000 milligrams on day one, and 500 milligrams at 6, 24, and 48 hours after the day one dose.2
Amebiasis
For extraintestinal amebiasis, the regimen is usually one dose taken for two days, followed by half the dose every day for two to three weeks. You will likely be prescribed other amebicides (drugs that target amoeba) to take as well.4
Storage
Store chloroquine at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store it in the bathroom or kitchen. Containers should be closed tightly and kept away from direct sunlight, pets, and children.
Post time: Mar-08-2023