Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate

When should one not use Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate

• Do not use Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate if you are allergic to Hydroxychloroquine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
• Do not use it if you are allergic to chloroquine.
• Do not use it 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
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Mood swings
• Rashes on the Skin
• Pigmentation on the skin
• 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

• You experience visual disturbances or have any existing eye disorders. Before beginning treatment with this medicine, you should undergo an eye examination.
• You experience a sudden drop in blood sugar and unconsciousness, monitoring of blood glucose is recommended if you are a diabetic.
• Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate 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.
• You have liver or kidney diseases, you may require dose adjustment.
• You have stomach disease.
• You develop swelling in the legs, breathlessness, fatigue, bloating and coughing while lying down.
• You develop rashes after taking this medicine.
• You have a history of a rare inherited metabolic disorder called porphyria.
• You are supposed to take this medicine for long-term treatment. You should be monitored regularly for heart health & blood count.
• Keep Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate away from children as even if a small amount is accidentally taken, it may cause serious side effects.

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Concomitant use of medicines like Digoxin for heart disorders with Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.
• You may experience low blood sugar when taken along with insulin or other antidiabetic medicine. Inform your doctor about all your diabetic medicines.
• Antacids and medicines used to stop diarrhoea should be taken with a minimum gap of four hours when used together with Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate.
• You may experience irregular heart rhythm if you take medicines like Amiodarone, Moxifloxacin & Halofantrine.
• There is an increased risk of an episode of fits if you take this medicine along with antimalarials like Mefloquine.
• Medicines used to treat muscle weakness like Neostigmine & Pyridostigmine, medicines to treat worm infections like Praziquantel, Cimetidine and Gentamicin may not work properly.
• Medicines like Cyclosporin used for immune system disorders, Agalsidase and medicines used to treat fits should be used with caution along with Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate.

Overdose

• Symptoms of an 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 Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate, then contact your doctor immediately or visit the nearest hospital.

Missed a Dose