Hydroxychloroquine Side Effects and Rules for Use – Hydroxychloroquine is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria diseases. Malaria is a disease that is spread through mosquito bites that carries parasites, such as Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax, or Plasmodium falciparum. However, these drugs cannot be used for certain types of malaria, which are already resistant to chloroquine.
In addition, Hydroxychloroquine is also used to treat diseases that invade the immune system or autoimmunity, such as lupus or joint inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis). The use of hydroxychloroquine to handle both conditions are an alternative step, when the primary treatment that has been done has not succeeded.
As an antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine works by eradicating parasitic causes of malaria. Meanwhile, to deal with arthritis or lupus, the way the drug works is by affecting the sufferer’s immune system.
Read also: What is Zoonosis? Definition and The Types Based on The Agent Causes
What are the rules for using Hydroxychloroquine??
Hydroxychloroquine is usually taken with food or milk to prevent abdominal pain. Dosage and duration of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to therapy.
In children, dosages are also based on body weight.
For the prevention of malaria, take this medicine once a week on the same day of the week, or as directed by your doctor. Mark the calendar to help you remember it.
This medication usually starts to take 2 weeks before you enter malaria infected areas. Drink once a week while being in an area that is infected with malaria, and continue to take the drug for 4-8 weeks after leaving the area infected with malaria or as directed by your doctor.
To treat malaria, follow according to the instructions of your doctor.
For lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, taking this medication, usually once or twice a day or as instructed by your physician, perhaps gradually the doctor will increase your dose. As your condition starts to improve, your doctor may ask you to lower your dosage until you find the most appropriate and best dosage so that at least the side effects appear not too much.
Use these drugs regularly to get the best benefit. If you are taking with a daily schedule, then drink at the same time every day. Take this medication exactly as prescribed. Do not stop taking such medication without speaking to your doctor, especially if you are taking such medication for the purpose of treating malaria.
It is strongly advised to continue taking this medication within a predetermined period of time. Stopping prevention or treatment too quickly can cause infections or can make the infection come back.
Inform your doctor if your condition persists or deteriorates. This treatment may take several weeks or months to see an increase in its condition, if you are taking this medication for lupus or rheumatoid.
Hydroxycholorquine cannot prevent malaria in all cases. If you have a fever or other symptom of the disease, seek medical help immediately. You may need different medications. Avoid mosquito bites.
Hydroxychloroquine Side Effects
Common side effects that can occur with hydroxychloroquine include
- Headache,
- Dizziness,
- Diarrhea,
- Stomach ulcers
- Vomiting.
These mild side effects can disappear within a few days or weeks. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects change to be more severe or not disappear
For more serious side effects it may include:
Heart
- Heart disease, including heart failure and heart rhythm problems
- Cardiomyopathy, or damage to the heart muscle,
- Toxicity to the heart muscles,
- Prolongation of QT intervals in the heart record,
- Ventricular arrhythmias,
- Torsades des pointes,
- Skin reactions,
- Suppression of bone marrow function,
- Muscle damage, or muscle nerve that can lead to progressive weakness,
- Muscular atrophy,
- Decreased tendon reflexes.
May result in corneal and retinal abnormalities, as well as behavioral disorders.
13 Other Serious Hydroxychloroquine Side effects
- Blurred vision or other changes of vision
- Ears ringing or hearing loss
- Angioedema (rapid swelling of the skin)
- Itching
- Mild or severe bronchospasm
- Sore throat
- Severe hypoglycemia
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Blue-Black skin color
- Muscular weakness
- Hair loss, or Hair color change
- Abnormal mood swings
- Effects of mental health, including thoughts for sui**cide.
Read also: Side Effects of Pravastatin
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