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Product description

Safety information

Side Effects

Drug Name

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine)

Drug Uses

Plaquenil is also used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and discoid or systemic lupus erythematosus.

How to use

Take Plaquenil exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take Plaquenil with a meal or a glass of milk, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Plaquenil is sometimes given only once per week. Choose the same day each week to take this medicine if you are on a weekly dosing schedule.

To prevent malaria: Start taking the medicine 2 weeks before entering an area where malaria is common. Continue taking the medicine regularly during your stay and for at least 8 weeks after you leave the area.

To treat malaria: Your doctor may recommend a single dose of Plaquenil, or a high starting dose followed by a smaller dose 6 to 8 hours later for 2 days in a row. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Take this medicine for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated.

In addition to taking Plaquenil, use protective clothing, insect repellents, and mosquito netting around your bed to further prevent mosquito bites that could cause malaria.

Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you have been exposed to malaria, or if you have fever or other symptoms of illness during or after a stay in an area where malaria is common.

When treating lupus or arthritis, Plaquenil is usually given daily for several weeks or months. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 6 months of treatment.

If you take Plaquenil long-term, your doctor may need to check your knee and ankle reflexes and also do blood tests on a regular basis to check for harmful side effects. Your vision may also need to be tested every 3 months. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

No medication is 100% effective in treating or preventing all types of malaria. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if you have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea during your treatment.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat or prevent malaria, a disease caused by parasites. Parasites that cause malaria typically enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. Malaria is common in areas such as Africa, South America, and Southern Asia.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Storage

Store Plaquenil at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Warnings/Precautions

You should not use Plaquenil if you are allergic to hydroxychloroquine, or if you have a history of vision changes or damage to your retina caused by Plaquenil or similar anti-malaria medications.

Plaquenil should not be used for long-term treatment in children.

Before using Plaquenil, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• psoriasis;
• porphyria;
• liver disease;
• alcoholism; or
• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Plaquenil.

Your doctor will tell you if any of your medication doses need to be changed.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Malaria is more likely to cause death in a pregnant woman. If you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about the risks of traveling to areas where malaria is common. It is not known whether Plaquenil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Plaquenil without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Possible Side Effects

Some people taking Plaquenil over long periods of time or at high doses have developed irreversible damage to the retina of the eye. Stop taking Plaquenil and call your doctor at once if you have trouble focusing, if you see light streaks or flashes in your vision, or if you notice any swelling or color changes in your eyes. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• muscle weakness, twitching, or uncontrolled movement;
• loss of balance or coordination;
• blurred vision, light sensitivity, seeing halos around lights;
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
• confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; or
• seizure (convulsions).

Less serious Plaquenil side effects may include:

• headache, ringing in your ears;
• spinning sensation;
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
• loss of appetite, weight loss;
• mood changes, feeling nervous or irritable;
• skin rash or itching; or
• hair loss.

More Information

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Plaquenil.