Hydroxychloroquine is the active ingredient of a drug that is sold under the brand name Plaquenil. It is used to prevent and combat malaria. Because anti-inflammatory properties and also it is used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The drug is only available on prescription.
The use of hydroxychloroquine in malaria
The drug can be used both to prevent and to cure malaria. When used in medicine, it is often in order to prevent malaria, combined with other medications (such as, for example, Arava) in order to increase the likelihood of killing the parasite. It begins even before departure with the drug and used it during the stay in an area at risk in the prescribed dosage.
In the fight against malaria, the drug is prescribed for a short period at a high dose.
The use of hydroxychloroquine in RA and LE
The exact effect of the drug in these diseases is not yet known. In general, there is a high initial dosage and a lower maintenance dosage which can sometimes be used for years. Whether and when it is passed to a maintenance dose varies from patient.
For example, the drug has fewer side effects than prednisone, which is often used in these diseases. The more common side effects are not serious and can occur with many drugs: skin problems such as rashes and itching, nausea and diarrhea. However, prolonged use may be more serious symptoms occur, such as deterioration of the retina and the cornea, pigment changes, hair loss, discoloration of hair, tinnitus, depression, dizziness and even deafness. Although there are no resources available that are clearly over, the Lupus patient group has a number of years ago in their magazine wrote that most of LE-patients, it can use about seven years before they get really suffer from the side effects. This is an average, so some people can use it much longer, while others may stop after a few months.
The use of hydroxychloroquine in malaria
The drug can be used both to prevent and to cure malaria. When used in medicine, it is often in order to prevent malaria, combined with other medications (such as, for example, Arava) in order to increase the likelihood of killing the parasite. It begins even before departure with the drug and used it during the stay in an area at risk in the prescribed dosage.
In the fight against malaria, the drug is prescribed for a short period at a high dose.
The use of hydroxychloroquine in RA and LE
The exact effect of the drug in these diseases is not yet known. In general, there is a high initial dosage and a lower maintenance dosage which can sometimes be used for years. Whether and when it is passed to a maintenance dose varies from patient.
For example, the drug has fewer side effects than prednisone, which is often used in these diseases. The more common side effects are not serious and can occur with many drugs: skin problems such as rashes and itching, nausea and diarrhea. However, prolonged use may be more serious symptoms occur, such as deterioration of the retina and the cornea, pigment changes, hair loss, discoloration of hair, tinnitus, depression, dizziness and even deafness. Although there are no resources available that are clearly over, the Lupus patient group has a number of years ago in their magazine wrote that most of LE-patients, it can use about seven years before they get really suffer from the side effects. This is an average, so some people can use it much longer, while others may stop after a few months.