Hydroxychloroquine

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an immune system disorder in which immune system attacks it's own body tissues
• Rheumatoid arthritis (Swelling and Pain in Joints)
• Skin rash due to sun exposure

When should one not use Hydroxychloroquine

• If you are allergic to Hydroxychloroquine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• If you are allergic to chloroquine
• If you are suffering from an eye disease called maculopathy usually characterised by visual abnormalities

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite
• Headache, dizziness, mood swings and nervousness
• Skin rash, itching, loss of hair and pigmentation
• Blurred vision, unable to recognise colours and other eye disorders. If this happens, immediately stop taking this medicine and inform your doctor
• Sudden severe fall in blood glucose, one may experience anxiety, sweating, hunger pangs, headaches, irritability or fainting

Other General Warnings

• If you experience visual disturbances or have existing eye disorder, before beginning treatment with this medicine, you should undergo an eye examination
• If you experience a sudden drop in blood sugar and unconsciousness, monitoring of blood glucose is recommended if you are a diabetic
• This medicine may cause abnormal or irregular heartbeats
• Your doctor shall conduct an ECG before starting treatment with this medicine, inform your doctor if you already have heart disease
• If you have liver or kidney diseases, you may require dose adjustment
• If you have stomach disease
• If you develop swelling in legs, breathlessness, fatigue, bloating and coughing while lying
• If you develop rashes after taking this medicine
• If you have a history of an autoimmune disorder of skin called porphyria
• If you are supposed to take this medicine for long term treatment, you should be monitored regularly for heart health & blood count
• If you or your family has a history of an enzyme deficiency (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency)
• Keep this medicine away from children as even if a small amount accidentally taken may cause serious side effects

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Be cautious if you are taking medicine like Digoxin for heart failure as this medicine can increase its levels and lead to toxicity
• You may experience low blood sugar when taken along with insulin or other anti-diabetic medicine, inform your doctor about all your diabetic medicines. Your doctor shall decrease the dose of your anti-diabetic medicines
• Medicine used to reduce stomach acid and to stop diarrhoea should be taken with a minimum gap of four hour
• You may experience irregular heart rhythm if you take medicines like Amiodarone, Moxifloxacin & Halofantrine
• You may experience fits if you take this medicine along with other antimalarials like Mefloquine
• Medicines used to treat muscle weakness like Neostigmine & Pyridostigmine, medicines to treat worm infection like Praziquantel, cimetidine and gentamicin may not work properly
• Other medicines like Cyclosporin, Agalsidase and medicines used to treat fits

Overdose

• Symptoms of overdose are headache, eyesight problems, low blood pressure, fits, irregular heartbeats, heart problems, difficulty in breathing and sometimes even heart attack
• If you experience any of these symptoms or if you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact your doctor immediately or visit the nearest hospital

Missed a Dose

• You should never miss your dose as it may lead to treatment failure
• If you missed any dose of medicine, take it as soon as you remember
• If it's time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule
• Do not take a double dose of medicine to compensate for the missed one