Hydroxychloroquine - Antimalarial drug,side effects and therapeutic uses

DESCRIPTION
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), sold under the trade names Plaquenil among others, is an antimalarial medication.


PHARMACOKINETICS
1. Very rapidly and completely absorbed following oral administration.
2. Metabolism is Partially hepatic, to active de-ethylated metabolites.
3. Terminal elimination half-life In blood is approximately 50 days. In plasma it is approximately            32 days.

THERAPEUTIC USES

1. Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat or prevent malaria, a disease caused by parasites that enter            the body through the bite of a mosquito.
2. Hydroxychloroquine is also used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and discoid or                    systemic lupus erythematosus.


DRUG- DRUG INTERACTIONS
1. Hydroxychloroquine + Acepromazine =  Increase in serum interaction
2. Hydroxychloroquine + Oxibendazole = Decrease in serum interaction
3. Hydroxychloroquine + Lumefantrine =  Increase in the risk or severity of adverse effects
4. Hydroxychloroquine + Thiabendazole = Decrease in serum interaction


SIDE EFFECTS
• 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
• Hair loss.


REFERENCE- Tripathi K.D. "Essentials of Medical Pharmacology", 7th Edition, page no- 210, 211