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Plaquenil
hydroxychloroquine sulfate
Adult Dosing .
Dosage forms: TAB: 200 mg
Dosage Form Details
- [100 mg TAB, 300 mg TAB, 400 mg TAB unavailable for this brand; see other brand and generic]
Special Note
- [strength clarification]
- Info: 200 mg hydroxychloroquine sulfate = 155 mg hydroxychloroquine base; doses expressed as hydroxychloroquine sulfate
malaria prophylaxis
- [400 mg PO qwk]
- Start: 1-2wk before exposure; Info: give with food or milk; do not cut/crush/chew tab; D/C 4wk after exposure; see CDC Pre-Travel Malaria Prophylaxis recommendations in Guidelines > Specialties > Infectious Diseases
malaria tx
- [800 mg PO x1, then 400 mg PO x1 at 6h, 24h, and 48h]
- Info: give with food or milk; do not cut/crush/chew tab; to avoid relapse in acute P. vivax or P. ovale infection, follow up tx with primaquine or tafenoquine; refer to CDC guidelines
SLE
- [200 mg PO qd or 300 mg PO qd or 400 mg/day PO divided qd-bid]
- Info: give with food or milk; do not cut/crush/chew tab
chronic discoid lupus erythematosus
- [200 mg PO qd or 400 mg/day PO divided qd-bid]
- Info: give with food or milk; do not cut/crush/chew tab
rheumatoid arthritis
- [200 mg PO qd or 300 mg PO qd or 400 mg/day PO divided qd-bid]
- Start: 400-600 mg/day PO divided qd-bid x4-12wk; Info: give with food or milk; do not cut/crush/chew tab
renal dosing
- [see below]
- renal impairment: consider decr. usual dose
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [see below]
- hepatic impairment: consider decr. usual dose
Peds Dosing .
- Dosage forms: TAB: 200 mg
Dosage Form Details
- [100 mg TAB, 300 mg TAB, 400 mg TAB unavailable for this brand; see other brand and generic]
Special Note
- [strength clarification]
- Info: 6.5 mg/kg hydroxychloroquine sulfate = 5 mg/kg hydroxychloroquine base; doses expressed as hydroxychloroquine sulfate
malaria prophylaxis
- [infants/children, >15 kg]
- Dose: 6.5 mg/kg/dose PO qwk; Start: 1-2wk before exposure; Max: 400 mg/dose; Info: give with food or milk; do not cut/crush/chew tab; D/C 4wk after exposure; see CDC Pre-Travel Malaria Prophylaxis recommendations in Guidelines > Specialties > Infectious Diseases
malaria tx
- [infants/children, >15 kg]
- Dose: 13 mg/kg/dose PO x1, then 6.5 mg/kg/dose PO x1 at 6h, 24h, and 48h; Max: 800 mg for initial dose, 400 mg for subsequent doses; Info: give with food or milk; do not cut/crush/chew tab; to avoid relapse in acute P. vivax or P. ovale infection, follow up tx with primaquine or tafenoquine; refer to CDC guidelines
renal dosing
- [see below]
- renal impairment: consider decr. usual dose
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [see below]
- hepatic impairment: consider decr. usual dose
Contraindications / Cautions .
- hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient
- retinal field change
- visual field change
- porphyria
- electrolyte abnormalities, uncorrected
- long QT syndrome, congenital
- QT prolongation
- QT prolongation family history
- torsades de pointes history
- ventricular arrhythmia
- bradycardia
- MI, recent
- CHF
- caution: >5 mg/kg/day dose
- caution: hepatic impairment
- caution: renal impairment
- caution: psoriasis
- caution: G6PD deficiency
- caution: diabetes
Drug Interactions .
Overview
hydroxychloroquine
antimalarial; antirheumatic
- CYP2D6 inhibitor, weak
- intracellular phosphorylation inhibitor
- P-gp inhibitor, weak
- cardiotoxic effects
- hypoglycemic effects
- lowers seizure threshold
- myelosuppressive effects
- peripheral neuropathy
- prolongs QT interval (known)
- monitor ECG in combo with other drugs that prolong QT interval after hydroxychloroquine D/C due to long half-life (32-50 days); combo may incr. risk of QT prolongation, cardiac arrhythmias
Contraindicated
- cisapride
- domperidone
- dronedarone
- eliglustat
- levoketoconazole
- pimozide
- thioridazine
Avoid/Use Alternative
- adagrasib
- albuterol
- albuterol inhaled
- aldesleukin
- alfuzosin
- amifampridine
- amiodarone
- amisulpride
- amitriptyline
- anagrelide
- apalutamide
- apomorphine
- arformoterol inhaled
- arsenic trioxide
- artemether/lumefantrine
- asciminib
- asenapine
- azithromycin
- bedaquiline
- berotralstat
- buprenorphine
- cabozantinib
- ceritinib
- chloramphenicol
- chloroquine
- chlorpromazine
- cimetidine
- ciprofloxacin
- citalopram
- cladribine oral
- clarithromycin
- clofazimine
- clomipramine
- clozapine
- codeine
- crizotinib
- dasatinib
- deferiprone
- degarelix
- desflurane
- desipramine
- deutetrabenazine
- dexmedetomidine
- dexmedetomidine injection
- dihydrocodeine
- disopyramide
- dofetilide
- donepezil
- dordaviprone
- droperidol
- efavirenz
- encorafenib
- entrectinib
- ephedra
- epirubicin
- eribulin
- erythromycin
- escitalopram
- etrasimod
- fexinidazole
- fingolimod
- flecainide
- fluconazole
- fluorouracil
- fluoxetine
- formoterol inhaled
- foscarnet
- fosfomycin injection
- fostemsavir
- ganciclovir
- gemtuzumab ozogamicin
- gepirone
- gepotidacin
- gilteritinib
- ginkgo
- givinostat
- glasdegib
- goserelin
- granisetron
- grapefruit
- haloperidol
- histrelin
- hydrocodone
- hydroxyzine
- ibutilide
- idarubicin
- iloperidone
- inotuzumab ozogamicin
- iohexol
- isoflurane
- ivabradine
- ivosidenib
- lapatinib
- lefamulin
- lenvatinib
- leuprolide
- levalbuterol inhaled
- levofloxacin
- lofexidine
- lonafarnib
- loperamide
- lopinavir/ritonavir
- lumateperone
- lurasidone
- macimorelin
- mavorixafor
- mefloquine
- meperidine
- methadone
- metronidazole
- midostaurin
- mifepristone
- milsaperidone
- mirtazapine
- mobocertinib
- moxifloxacin
- nilotinib
- ofloxacin
- oliceridine
- olodaterol inhaled
- ondansetron
- osilodrostat
- osimertinib
- oxaliplatin
- ozanimod
- pacritinib
- paliperidone
- palonosetron
- pasireotide
- pazopanib
- penicillamine
- pentamidine
- phenobarbital
- pimavanserin
- pitolisant
- ponesimod
- posaconazole
- pralsetinib
- primaquine
- procainamide
- promethazine
- propafenone
- quetiapine
- quinidine (antiarrhythmic)
- quinidine (CYP2D6 inhibitor)
- quinine
- quizartinib
- radium Ra 223 dichloride
- ranolazine
- relugolix
- remdesivir
- revumenib
- ribociclib
- rifampin
- rilpivirine
- romidepsin
- ropeginterferon alfa-2b
- rucaparib
- sacituzumab govitecan
- salmeterol inhaled
- sebetralstat
- selpercatinib
- sertraline
- sevoflurane
- siponimod
- solifenacin
- sorafenib
- sotalol
- sunitinib
- tacrolimus
- taletrectinib
- tazemetostat
- telavancin
- terbutaline
- tetrabenazine
- tolterodine
- toremifene
- tramadol
- trazodone
- triclabendazole
- trifluridine
- triptorelin
- valbenazine
- valganciclovir
- vandetanib
- vardenafil
- vemurafenib
- venlafaxine
- vilanterol inhaled
- voclosporin
- voriconazole
- ziftomenib
- ziprasidone
Monitor/Modify Tx
- abemaciclib
- acalabrutinib
- adalimumab
- ado-trastuzumab emtansine
- afamitresgene autoleucel
- aficamten
- albendazole
- alemtuzumab
- allopurinol
- alogliptin
- anti-thymocyte globulin
- atidarsagene autotemcel
- auranofin
- avelumab
- axicabtagene ciloleucel
- axitinib
- azacitidine
- azathioprine
- balsalazide
- baricitinib
- belantamab mafodotin
- belinostat
- bendamustine
- benznidazole
- betibeglogene autotemcel
- bevacizumab
- bexagliflozin
- bexarotene
- bezlotoxumab
- binimetinib
- blinatumomab
- bortezomib
- bosutinib
- brentuximab vedotin
- brexucabtagene autoleucel
- bromocriptine
- bupropion
- busulfan
- cabazitaxel
- canagliflozin
- capecitabine
- carboplatin
- carfilzomib
- carmustine
- certolizumab pegol
- chlorambucil
- cidofovir
- cilostazol
- ciltacabtagene autoleucel
- cisplatin
- cladribine injection
- clofarabine
- cobimetinib
- colchicine
- colesevelam
- copanlisib
- copper histidinate
- cyclophosphamide
- cyclosporine
- cytarabine
- dabrafenib
- dacarbazine
- dactinomycin
- dapsone
- daratumumab
- daunorubicin
- decitabine
- deferasirox
- deuruxolitinib
- dexrazoxane
- digoxin
- dinutuximab
- docetaxel
- dostarlimab
- doxorubicin
- duvelisib
- eflornithine
- elivaldogene autotemcel
- elranatamab
- enfortumab vedotin
- epcoritamab
- ertugliflozin
- etanercept
- etoposide
- etuvetidigene autotemcel
- everolimus
- exagamglogene autotemcel
- exenatide
- fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan
- fedratinib
- floxuridine
- flucytosine
- fludarabine
- fluphenazine
- fostamatinib
- gemcitabine
- glimepiride
- glipizide
- glofitamab
- glyburide
- golimumab
- heparin
- hydroxyurea
- ibritumomab tiuxetan
- ibrutinib
- idecabtagene vicleucel
- idelalisib
- ifosfamide
- imatinib
- imetelstat
- infliximab
- insulin
- interferon beta 1a
- interferon beta 1b
- interferon gamma 1b
- iopamidol
- irinotecan
- isatuximab
- itraconazole
- ixabepilone
- leflunomide
- lenalidomide
- lifileucel
- linagliptin
- linezolid
- linvoseltamab
- liraglutide
- lisocabtagene maraleucel
- lixisenatide
- lomustine
- loncastuximab tesirine
- lovotibeglogene autotemcel
- lurbinectedin
- lutetium Lu 177 dotatate
- lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan
- lymphocyte immune globulin, anti-thymocyte globulin
- margetuximab
- mavacamten
- melphalan
- mercaptopurine
- mesalamine
- mesalamine rectal
- methotrexate
- mirdametinib
- mitomycin
- mitotane
- mitoxantrone
- mogamulizumab
- momelotinib
- mosunetuzumab
- mycophenolate mofetil
- mycophenolic acid
- nateglinide
- nelarabine
- niraparib
- nortriptyline
- obecabtagene autoleucel
- obinutuzumab
- ofatumumab
- olaparib
- olsalazine
- paclitaxel
- palbociclib
- peginterferon alfa 2a
- peginterferon beta 1a
- pemetrexed
- pentostatin
- pertuzumab
- pioglitazone
- pirtobrutinib
- polatuzumab vedotin
- pomalidomide
- ponatinib
- pralatrexate
- pramlintide
- procarbazine
- proguanil
- propranolol
- pyrimethamine
- repaglinide
- ribavirin
- rifabutin
- ripretinib
- rituximab
- rosiglitazone
- ruxolitinib
- ruxolitinib topical
- sarilumab
- satralizumab
- saxagliptin
- selinexor
- selumetinib
- semaglutide
- sirolimus
- sirolimus albumin-bound
- sitagliptin
- stiripentol
- streptozocin
- succimer
- sulfasalazine
- tafasitamab
- tagraxofusp
- talazoparib
- talquetamab
- tarlatamab
- teclistamab
- temozolomide
- temsirolimus
- teplizumab
- teriflunomide
- thalidomide
- thioguanine
- thiotepa
- tisagenlecleucel
- tivozanib
- tocilizumab
- tofacitinib
- topotecan
- trabectedin
- trametinib
- trastuzumab
- treosulfan
- trimethoprim
- upadacitinib
- valproic acid
- vancomycin
- venetoclax
- vinblastine
- vincristine
- vinorelbine
- zanidatamab
- zanubrutinib
- zenocutuzumab
- zidovudine
- ziv-aflibercept
- zongertinib
Caution Advised
- acetazolamide
- acyclovir
- alfentanil
- aminophylline
- amoxapine
- amoxicillin
- amphetamine
- ampicillin
- aripiprazole bimonthly injection
- aripiprazole lauroxil
- aripiprazole monthly injection
- aripiprazole oral
- baclofen
- baclofen intrathecal
- benzphetamine
- betamethasone
- botulinum toxin
- brexpiprazole
- brivaracetam
- butorphanol
- cannabidiol
- cannabis
- carbamazepine
- cariprazine
- cefazolin
- cefepime
- cefiderocol
- ceftaroline
- ceftazidime
- ceftobiprole
- cenobamate
- cisatracurium
- clobazam
- clonazepam
- clorazepate
- cocaine
- cortisone
- cyclobenzaprine
- cycloserine
- dalfampridine
- daptomycin
- darbepoetin alfa
- darolutamide
- deflazacort
- delafloxacin
- desvenlafaxine
- dexamethasone
- dexmethylphenidate
- dextroamphetamine
- diazepam
- dicloxacillin
- diethylpropion
- disulfiram
- doxepin
- dronabinol
- duloxetine
- elinzanetant
- enzalutamide
- epoetin alfa
- ertapenem
- eslicarbazepine acetate
- ethanol (alcoholic beverage)
- ethanol (in some formulations)
- ethosuximide
- felbamate
- fenfluramine
- fentanyl
- fluvoxamine
- fosphenytoin
- gabapentin
- galantamine
- ganaxolone
- hydrocortisone
- hydromorphone
- imipenem
- imipramine
- isocarboxazid
- isoniazid
- ixazomib
- ketamine
- kratom
- lacosamide
- lamotrigine
- levetiracetam
- levocarnitine
- levomilnacipran
- levorphanol
- lidocaine
- lidocaine topical
- lisdexamfetamine
- lithium
- lorazepam
- lorlatinib
- loxapine
- magnesium citrate
- melatonin
- meropenem
- methamphetamine
- methocarbamol
- methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
- methsuximide
- methylprednisolone
- metoclopramide
- metoprolol
- mexiletine
- midazolam
- miglustat
- milnacipran
- mirvetuximab soravtansine
- molindone
- morphine
- nafarelin nasal
- nafcillin
- nalbuphine
- naxitamab
- nefazodone
- olanzapine
- oxacillin
- oxcarbazepine
- oxycodone
- oxymorphone
- paroxetine
- penicillin G
- penicillin V
- pentazocine
- perampanel
- perphenazine
- phendimetrazine
- phenelzine
- phentermine
- phenytoin
- piperacillin
- polyethylene glycol
- polyethylene glycol/electrolytes
- prednisolone
- prednisone
- pregabalin
- primidone
- prochlorperazine
- propofol
- protriptyline
- pyridostigmine
- regadenoson
- remifentanil
- risperidone
- rivastigmine
- rufinamide
- scopolamine
- selegiline transdermal
- sodium picosulfate
- sufentanil
- sulfate bowel prep
- sumatriptan
- tamoxifen
- tapentadol
- telisotuzumab vedotin
- theophylline
- thiothixene
- tiagabine
- tinidazole
- tisotumab vedotin
- topiramate
- tranexamic acid
- tranylcypromine
- triamcinolone
- trifluoperazine
- trimipramine
- vadadustat
- valacyclovir
- varenicline
- vigabatrin
- vilazodone
- zonisamide
Adverse Reactions .
Serious Reactions
- agranulocytosis
- myelosuppression
- hemolytic anemia (G6PD deficiency patients)
- angioedema
- bronchospasm
- exfoliative dermatitis
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
- acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
- psoriasis exacerbation
- porphyria exacerbation
- retinal damage (high-dose or long-term use)
- retinopathy (high-dose or long-term use)
- phospholipidosis
- macular degeneration (high-dose or long-term use)
- myopathy
- neuropathy
- proteinuria
- fulminant hepatic failure
- cardiomyopathy
- ventricular arrhythmia
- QT prolongation
- torsades de pointes
- neuropsychiatric reaction
- suicidality
- hypoglycemia
Common Reactions
- abdominal pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- vision changes
Safety/Monitoring .
Monitoring Parameters
ophthalmic exam at baseline, then annually if significant risk factors, otherwise may usually defer annual exams until 5y of tx; ECG; CBC if prolonged tx; glucose if diabetes
Look/Sound-Alike Drug Names
Plaquenil confused with: Platinol; Pravachol; Provigil
hydroxychloroquine confused with: hydroCHLOROthiazide; hydrocortisone; hydroxyurea
Pregnancy/Lactation .
Pregnancy
Clinical Summary
may use during pregnancy if malaria prophylaxis use or uncomplicated malaria tx with sensitive malaria species, otherwise, weigh risk/benefit; no known risk of teratogenicity based on human data
Pregnancy Registry
encourage patients to enroll in Pregnancy Registry at 1-877-311-8972
Lactation
Clinical Summary
may use while breastfeeding; no known risk of infant harm based on limited human data and drug properties; no human data available to assess effects on milk production
Pharmacology .
Metabolism: for hydroxychloroquine: liver partially; CYP450: 2C8, 2D6, 3A4 substrate
Excretion: for hydroxychloroquine: urine (16-30% unchanged), feces; Half-life: 40-50 days
Subclass: DMARDs, Conventional ; Malaria
Mechanism of Action
for hydroxychloroquine: exact mechanism of action unknown; interferes with parasitic vesicle functions and phospholipid metabolism by increasing pH, interrupts plasmodial erythrocyte stages (antimalarial); inhibits rheumatoid factor, acute phase reactants, and various enzymes (antirheumatic/immunosuppressive)
Formulary .
No Formulary Selected
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