Chloroquine Brand Name– Aralen
What is Chloroquine
Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline anti-protozoal agent indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of susceptible malaria strains and for the treatment of extraintestinal amebiasis.
Chloroquine is not active against gametocytes and the exoerythrocytic forms including the hypnozoite stage of the Plasmodium parasites. Resistance to chloroquine is widespread.
Irreversible retinal damage has been observed with use, and postmarketing cases of life-threatening and fatal cardiomyopathy, including ventricular arrhythmias and torsade de pointes (TdP), have been reported.
Indications
- amebiasis
- coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- discoid lupus erythematosus
- Entamoeba histolytica
- malaria
- malaria prophylaxis
- Plasmodium falciparum
- Plasmodium malariae
- Plasmodium ovale
- Plasmodium vivax
- severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
- severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)
- agitation
- agranulocytosis
- alopecia
- anaphylactic shock
- anaphylactoid reactions
- angioedema
- anorexia
- anxiety
- aplastic anemia
- AV block
- blurred vision
- bundle-branch block
- cardiomyopathy
- confusion
- corneal deposits
- corneal opacification
- delirium
- depression
- diarrhea
- Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)
- dyskinesia
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- erythema multiforme
- exfoliative dermatitis
- hair discoloration
- hallucinations
- headache
- hearing loss
- hemolysis
- hemolytic anemia
- hepatitis
- hypoglycemia
- hyporeflexia
- hypotension
- insomnia
- macular degeneration
- myasthenia
- myopathy
- nausea
- neutropenia
- night blindness
- pancytopenia
- photosensitivity
- pruritus
- psoriasis
- psychosis
- QT prolongation
- retinopathy
- scotomata
- seizures
- skin discoloration
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- suicidal ideation
- thrombocytopenia
- tinnitus
- torsade de pointes
- torticollis
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
- urticaria
- ventricular fibrillation
- ventricular tachycardia
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- weakness
Monitoring Parameters
- blood glucose
- CBC
- ECG
- glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity
- ophthalmologic exam
Contraindications
- accidental exposure
- alcoholism
- antimicrobial resistance
- apheresis
- Asian patients
- AV block
- bradycardia
- breast-feeding
- cardiomyopathy
- celiac disease
- children
- chloroquine hypersensitivity
- diabetes mellitus
- Fabry disease
- females
- fever
- G6PD deficiency
- geriatric
- hearing impairment
- heart failure
- hepatic disease
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- hydroxychloroquine hypersensitivity
- hyperparathyroidism
- hypocalcemia
- hypoglycemia
- hypokalemia
- hypomagnesemia
- hypothermia
- hypothyroidism
- infants
- infertility
- long QT syndrome
- myocardial infarction
- neonates
- neurological disease
- ocular disease
- pheochromocytoma
- porphyria
- pregnancy
- psoriasis
- QT prolongation
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- rheumatoid arthritis
- seizure disorder
- seizures
- sickle cell disease
- sleep deprivation
- stroke
- systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Interactions
- Acarbose
- Acetohexamide
- Aclidinium; Formoterol
- Albiglutide
- Albuterol
- Albuterol; Ipratropium
- Alfuzosin
- Alogliptin
- Alogliptin; Metformin
- Alogliptin; Pioglitazone
- Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Carbonate
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide; Simethicone
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Trisilicate
- Amiodarone
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptyline; Chlordiazepoxide
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Lansoprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole
- Ampicillin
- Anagrelide
- Antacids
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- Arformoterol
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- Articaine; Epinephrine
- Asenapine
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- Atomoxetine
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- Buprenorphine; Naloxone
- Calcium Carbonate
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- Calcium Carbonate; Risedronate
- Calcium Carbonate; Simethicone
- Canagliflozin
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- Ceritinib
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- Cimetidine
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- Vorinostat
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