Hydroxychloroquine tablets

What are hydroxychloroquine tablets?

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE (Plaquenil®) helps to relieve swelling, stiffness and joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It is effective in controlling the symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus. Hydroxychloroquine is also sometimes used to suppress and treat acute attacks of malaria. Generic hydroxychloroquine tablets are available.

What should my health care professional know before I take hydroxychloroquine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• an alcohol problem

• blood disorders

• dental disease

• eye disease

• glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency

• liver disease

• nerve or brain disease

• porphyria

• psoriasis

• seizures (convulsions)

• stomach or intestinal disease

• an unusual or allergic reaction to chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take hydroxychloroquine tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow tablets with a drink of water. If hydroxychloroquine upsets your stomach take it with food or milk. If you are taking hydroxychloroquine to treat arthritis or lupus erythematosus you will need to take daily doses for several weeks. If you are taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent malaria, you should start taking it two weeks before entering the endemic area, and continue for 8 weeks after leaving. If you are treating an acute attack of malaria you will need treatment for several days. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a daily dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. If you forget a once-a-week dose, take it as soon as you can. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with hydroxychloroquine?

• antacids

• botulinum toxins

• digoxin

• kaolin

• magnesium trisilicate

• methotrexate

• metoprolol

• penicillamine

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking hydroxychloroquine?

If you are being treated for arthritis it may take several weeks of treatment before you notice an improvement in your symptoms. If you are taking hydroxychloroquine for a long time, visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks. If you notice any changes in your vision see your ophthalmologist for an eye exam. If you are being treated for malaria tell your prescriber or health care professional if your malarial symptoms do not improve in 2 to 3 days.

Check with your pharmacist before you visit a new area where there are malaria-carrying mosquitoes. You may need to take a different antimalarial medicine.

You may get drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how hydroxychloroquine affects you.

Hydroxyhloroquine can cause blood problems. This can mean slow healing and a risk of infection. Try to avoid cutting or injuring yourself. Problems can arise if you need dental work, and in the day to day care of your teeth. Try to avoid damage to your teeth and gums when you brush or floss your teeth.

Antacid can stop hydroxychloroquine working. If you get an upset stomach and want to take an antacid, make sure there is an interval of at least 2 hours since you last took hydroxychloroquine, or 4 hours before your next dose.

What side effects may I notice from taking hydroxychloroquine?

Serious side effects are more likely to occur with long-term use for rheumatoid arthritis rather than in the short-term use for acute malarial attacks.

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• blurred vision, or change in vision

• fainting spells

• fever or chills, sore throat

• hearing loss

• headaches, confusion, or other mental changes

• muscle weakness

• ringing in the ears

• seizures (convulsions)

• skin rash, itching

• tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• unusual tiredness or weakness

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• bleaching of body hair (with prolonged use)

• blue-black coloration of the skin, nails and hair

• diarrhea

• drowsiness

• hair loss

• loss of appetite

• nausea, vomiting

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open. It is important to keep hydroxychloroquine out of reach of children; overdose is very dangerous.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.