Chloroquine

Indications
Oral
Acute malaria
Adult: As base: Initially, 600 mg followed by 300 mg 6-8 hr later on day 1. On days 2 and 3, single doses of 300 mg/day.
Child: Initially, 10 mg base/kg (max 600 mg base) followed by 5 mg base/kg (max 300 mg base) after 6 hrs. Single doses of 5 mg base/kg on days 2 and 3.
Elderly:
Oral
Prophylaxis of malaria
Adult: As base: 300 mg once wkly, starting 1 wk before exposure, continuing throughout on a wkly basis and for at least 4 wk after exposure.
Child: 5 mg/kg weekly.
Oral
Discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus
Adult: As base: Initially, 150 mg once daily, reduce gradually after maximal response. Max dose: 2.5 mg/kg daily.
Child: 3 mg/kg daily.
Elderly:
Oral
Hepatic amoebiasis
Adult: As base: 600 mg daily for 2 days then 300 mg daily for 2 or 3 wk given with emetine or dehydroemetine.
Child: 6 mg/kg daily. Max dose: 300 mg daily.
Oral
Rheumatoid arthritis
Adult: As base: 150 mg daily. Max: 2.5 mg/kg daily. Discontinue treatment if there is no improvement after 6 mth.
Child: Up to 3 mg/kg/day. Discontinue treatment if there is no improvement after 6 mth.
Renal impairment: May need to reduce dose in prolonged treatment.
Intravenous
Severe and complicated malaria
Adult: As base: 25 mg/kg given in several infusions over 30-32 hr at a slow rate. May start on oral therapy once patient is able to tolerate oral doses.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity, known or suspected resistant P. falciparum infection, porphyria, retinal damage, concurrent hepatotoxic drugs.
Warnings / Precautions
Psoriasis, diseases of the haematopoietic or CNS systems, myasthenia gravis, hepatic or renal impairment, G6PD deficiency, epilepsy, childn. Pregnancy and lactation. Slow infusion is used upon IV admin to prevent cardiotoxicity.
Adverse Reactions
Retinopathy, hair loss, photosensitivity, tinnitus, myopathy (long-term therapy). Psychosis, seizures, leucopenia and rarely aplastic anaemia, hepatitis, GI upsets, dizziness, hypokalaemia, headache, pruritus, urticaria, difficulty in visual accommodation.
Potentially Fatal: Cardiac and respiratory arrest, CV collapse, convulsions, coma.
Overdose Reactions
Symptoms include headache, drowsiness, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, CV collapse, shock and convulsions followed by sudden and early respiratory and cardiac arrest. ECG may reveal atrial standstill, nodal rhythm, prolonged intraventricular conduction time and progressive bradycardia leading to ventricular fibrillation and/or arrest. Treatment is symptomatic and should be prompt with immediate evacuation of the stomach by emesis or gastric lavage. Finely powdered, activated charcoal may be used within 30 min after ingestion of the antimalarial to reduce intestinal absorption of the drug. To be effective, the dose of activated charcoal should be at least five times the estimated dose of chloroquine ingested.
Drug Interactions
Concomitant therapy with phenylbutazone predisposes to dermatitis, antagonises effect of neostigmine and pyridostigmine, reduces bioavailability of ampicillin. Cimetidine inhibits metabolism of chloroquine raising plasma levels.
Potentially Fatal: Increased risks of inducing ventricular arrhythmias with halofantrine or other arrhythmogenic drugs eg, amiodarone. Increased risk of convulsions with mefloquine. Antacids reduce absorption of chloroquine hence admin should be separated by 4 hrs. Rarely Stevens-Johnson syndrome, when administered with pyrimethamine/sulphadoxine. Increased toxicity with quinacrine.
See Below for More chloroquine Drug Interactions
Mechanism of Actions
Chloroquine is used for malarial prophylaxis (as a suppressive) and in managing acute attacks of malaria. It is highly active against erythrocytic forms of P. vivax, P. malariae and P. falciparum. It influences Hb digestion by increasing intravesicular pH in malaria parasite cells and interferes with the nucleoprotein synthesis of the patient. It is also effective in extra intestinal amoebiasis. In RA chloroquine and more effectively hydroxychloroquine have a disease-modifying effect.
Absorption: Rapid and complete (oral); rapid (IM/SC).
Distribution: Widely distributed; high concentrations in kidneys, liver, lungs and spleen; crosses the placenta; enters breast milk.
Metabolism: Extensively hepatic; converted to monodesethylchloroquine.
Excretion: Urine (as unchanged drug and metabolite).
Administration
Should be taken with food.
Storage Conditions
Intravenous: Store at 15-30°C. Oral: Store at 15-30°C.
ATC Classification
P01BA01 - chloroquine ; Belongs to the class of aminoquinoline antimalarials.
Storage
Intravenous: Store at 15-30°C. Oral: Store at 15-30°C.
Available As
  • Chloroquine 1 gm, 500 mg
  • Chloroquine 100 mg
  • Chloroquine 150 mg
  • Chloroquine 160 mg
  • Chloroquine 250 mg
  • Chloroquine 310 mg
  • Chloroquine 40 mg
  • Chloroquine 50 mg
  • Chloroquine 500 mg
  • Chloroquine 500 mg (5 tab)
  • Chloroquine 750 mg , 375 mg
  • Chloroquine 80 mg
  • Chloroquine 80.6 mg
  • Chloroquine 80.62 mg
  • Chloroquine 80.65 mg
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