Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine is a quinoline medicine used to treat or prevent malaria, a disease caused by parasites that enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. Malaria is common in areas such as Africa, South America, and Southern Asia. This medicine is not effective against all strains of malaria.

Introduction

Generic name: Hydroxychloroquine

Brand names: Plaquenil, Plaquenil Sulfate, Quineprox

Drug classes: Antimalarial quinolines, Antirheumatics

Uses

Treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis

Treatment of Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Benefits

In Treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where your body’s immune system (which usually fights bacteria and viruses) attacks your body’s own cells. HCQS 200 Tablet stops that from happening and can relieve the symptoms of this condition such as pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints. It can also slow down joint damage, reduce disability, and enable you to be as active for as long as possible. It can take several weeks or months to notice the effect of the medicine. You should continue taking it until your doctor says it is okay to stop using the medicine.

In Treatment of Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs. HCQS 200 Tablet prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. It can be used to treat a great many different inflammatory and allergic conditions. It lowers your immune system’s response to these conditions thereby reducing symptoms such as swelling, pain, itching and other allergic-type reactions.

You should always take it as it has been prescribed for you. Do not stop taking it without your doctor’s advice. This can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Because this medicine weakens your immune system, you should avoid being near people who are ill or have infections.

In Treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus

In addition to diet and exercise, HCQS 200 Tablet helps improve glycemic control and reduces glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Directions for use

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. HCQS 200 Tablet is to be taken with food.

How it works?

HCQS 200 Tablet is a Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatoid Drug (DMARD). It works by suppressing the overactivity of the immune system that causes inflammation (swelling) and pain in the joints. This slows the progression of the underlying disease. It has also been suggested that hydroxychloroquine may increase insulin sensitivity and improve beta-cell function, thereby improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Side effects

Hydroxychloroquine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • A seizure

  • Yellowing of your eyes

  • Ringing in your ears, trouble hearing

  • Unusual mood changes

  • Severe muscle weakness, loss of coordination, underactive reflexes

  • Low blood cell counts - fever, chills, tiredness, sore throat, mouth sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath

  • Low blood sugar - headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, and feeling anxious or shaky

  • A serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body - skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Taking hydroxychloroquine long-term or at high doses may cause irreversible damage to the retina of your eye. Stop taking hydroxychloroquine and tell your doctor if you have:

  • Blurred vision, trouble focusing, trouble reading

  • Distorted vision, blind spots

  • Changes in your color vision

  • Hazy or cloudy vision

  • Seeing light flashes or streaks, seeing halos around lights

  • Increased sensitivity to light.

Common side effects of hydroxychloroquine may include:

  • Headache

  • Dizziness

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Stomach pain

  • Loss of appetite

  • Weight loss

  • Feeling nervous or irritable

  • Skin rash or itching

  • Hair loss.

Warnings

  • Hydroxychloroquine can cause dangerous effects on your heart, especially if you also use certain other medicines including the antibiotic azithromycin (Z-Pak). Seek emergency medical attention if you have fast or pounding heartbeats and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out).

  • Taking hydroxychloroquine long-term or at high doses may cause irreversible damage to the retina of your eye that could progress to permanent vision problems.

  • Stop taking hydroxychloroquine and call your doctor at once if you have blurred vision, trouble focusing, distorted vision, blind spots, trouble reading, changes in your color vision, increased sensitivity to light.

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