In the article, we consider the instructions for use and analogues of "Hydroxychloroquine."
This medication is an antimalarial drug. The dosage form of the drug "Hydroxychloroquine" - tablets in a capsule-shaped film membrane, convex, beveled to the edge, the shell and core are white. Pills are packaged in plastic bottles of 100, 60, 30, 20 or 10 pieces. A cardboard box contains one bottle.
The active substance of this medication is hydroxychloroquine sulfate, additional elements are magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide.
Analogs of "Hydroxychloroquine" should be selected by a doctor.
Indications for appointment
The main indications for using this medication are:
- malaria - in order to eliminate acute attacks;
- prevention of malaria, provoked by P. Ovale, Plasmodium vivax, P. malariae, as well as sensitive strains of P. falciparum;
- radical methods of treatment of malaria provoked by sensitive strains of P. falciparum;
- arthritis (chronic juvenile, rheumatoid);
- dermatological pathological processes - lupus erythematosus, diseases that develop or worsen under the influence of sunlight (the so-called photodermatosis).
Contraindications
According to the instructions for use with Hydroxychloroquine, contraindications for the use of this pharmacological preparation are:
- maculopathy;
- galactose intolerance;
- glucose / galactose malabsorption;
- lactase deficiency;
- age less than 6 years;
- children's age, if necessary, the implementation of long-term therapy (associated with a high risk of toxic effects);
- lactation;
- intolerance to the substances of the drug.
Relative contraindications are:
- retinopathy
- glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency;
- visual impairment;
- simultaneous use with medications that can lead to visual impairment;
- psychosis (including a history of them);
- oppressed bone marrow hematopoiesis;
- psoriasis;
- combined use with agents that lead to the development of skin reactions;
- porphyria;
- hepatitis;
- digestive diseases;
- pregnancy.
Analogs and synonyms of "Hydroxychloroquine" have similar contraindications.
Side effects
This medicine may cause the following negative reactions:
- itching, rash on the skin;
- violation of pigmentation of the mucous membranes and skin;
- baldness;
- hair bleaching;
- bullous rashes;
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome;
- erythema polymorphic;
- photophobia;
- exfoliative dermatitis.
This is confirmed by the "Hydroxychloroquine" instructions for use and reviews.
Drug interaction
With the combined use of the drug with some substances, the following effects may occur:
- digoxin - an increase in its serum level;
- glucocorticoids, quinidine-like antiarrhythmics, salicylates, neurotoxic medicines - an increase in their side effects;
- hypoglycemic drugs - increasing their effects;
- penicillamine - an increase in its plasma concentration and the risk of side effects from the urinary organs, as well as reactions from the skin;
- cimetidine - an increase in its metabolism;
- aminoglycoside antibiotics - increased blocking effect on neuromuscular transmission;
- alkali, alkaline drink - increased excretion of the main drug from the body.
Analogues of Hydroxychloroquine are drugs such as Immard and Plaquenil.
Immard
This pharmacological drug is a cure for malaria, which intensively suppresses erythrocyte forms, compacts lysosomal cell membranes and prevents the release of lysosomal enzymes, blocks RNA synthesis and suppression of Hb by erythrocytic plasmodium species. It has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, reduces the functionality of proteolytic enzymes, lymphocyte chemotaxis, leukocyte activity, and suppresses free radical processes.
Indications for use of this analogue of "Hydroxychloroquine" are radical methods of treating malaria, including its acute attacks, rheumatoid arthritis, photodermatitis, lupus erythematosus.
Contraindications - high sensitivity to the components of the drug, retinopathy, age less than 6 years, prolonged therapy in children, pregnancy, lactation.
Plaquenil
This medication relieves the inflammatory process, inhibits the multiplication of pathogens of malaria, contributes to a strong immunosuppressive effect. The active element of this tool is hydroxychloroquine.
The medicine "Plaquenil" is prescribed for ordinary and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus.
Side effects of this medication, as well as its analogues, are neuromyopathy and myopathy, headache, psychosis, cramps, emotional lability, hearing loss, accommodation disturbances, corneal edema, tinnitus, retinopathy, blurred vision, keratopathy, optic nerve atrophy, AV block, cardiac muscle hypertrophy, appetite changes, aplastic or hemolytic anemia, impaired liver function, vomiting, neutropenia, skin rash, abdominal pain.
Overdose
With the incorrect use of the main drug or analogues of "Hydroxychloroquine" side effects may increase. Particularly dangerous is the increase in dosages for children - 1-2 g of these drugs can lead to death! Hydroxychloroquine poisoning is treated with gastric lavage, activated carbon, ammonium chloride, diuresis.
Reviews
Reviews about these pharmacological agents are very diverse. Among them are both positive and negative. Patients respond well about the effectiveness of these drugs, and note that these drugs help well in the fight against diseases that are listed as indications for use in the instructions for their use. Patients observed a quick effect and the disappearance of pathological symptoms in the first days of therapy. Nevertheless, these drugs, according to patients, are extremely toxic and cause multiple side effects, which often forces people to stop treatment and switch to more gentle means. Among the side symptoms, the most often observed pronounced dyspeptic symptoms, which were manifested by severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Patients noted the occurrence of a severe headache, they were dizzy, there were abnormalities in the liver and abdominal pain.
The article reviewed the instructions and reviews on "Hydroxychloroquine." We hope the information provided was helpful.