Chloroquine Tablet 100 mg (Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate)

Adult dose

1. Rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus, and photosensitive skin disorders Adults: The initial dose is 200～400mg daily; if administering 400mg, divide the dose. Once an effect is observed, reduce the dose to 200mg daily; if the response is inadequate, increase it to 400mg daily. The maintenance dose should be the minimum effective dose and must not exceed 6.5mg/kg/day. * It may take several weeks for this medicine to take effect, whereas adverse effects may occur sooner. * Discontinue use if symptoms do not improve after 6 months of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus. * For photosensitive disorders, administer only during periods of substantial exposure. 2. Malaria 1) Treatment Adults: For treatment of an acute condition, administer 800mg initially, followed by 400mg every 6∼8 hours for 3 additional doses, for a total of 2g over 2 days. For acute conditions caused by Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax, a single 800mg dose may be administered. 2) Prevention Adults: Starting 2 weeks before exposure, administer 6mg/kg once weekly (usually 400mg once weekly).

Child dose

1. Rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus, and photosensitive skin disorders Children: The usual average daily dose is 200∼400mg. The maintenance dose should be the minimum effective dose, must not exceed 6.5mg/kg/day, and must not exceed the adult dose regardless of body weight. 2. Malaria 1) Treatment Children: Administer 10mg/kg of chloroquine initially, followed by 5mg/kg every 6-8 hours for 3 additional doses, for a total of 25mg/kg over 2 days. However, the adult dose must not be exceeded. 2) Prevention Children: Starting 2 weeks before exposure, administer 6mg/kg once weekly. For children weighing 30∼40kg or less, even 1 tablet (200mg) exceeds the appropriate dose; therefore, administration is not recommended.

This medication should not be used in certain patients. For example, patients allergic to this medication or similar drugs, those with pre-existing maculopathy, those taking medications that may cause visual impairment, or children requiring long-term treatment, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take this medication. Additionally, some patients may need to use this medication with caution. Those allergic to quinine, or with conditions such as psoriasis, liver disease, kidney disease, severe gastrointestinal disorders, neurological disorders, blood disorders, or porphyria should consult a physician before taking this medication. This medication can cause various adverse reactions in the eyes. Vision changes or retinal abnormalities may occur; initially, stopping the medication may lead to recovery, but neglecting these changes may result in permanent damage. Symptoms such as corneal opacities or glare, and vision changes may appear temporarily. Skin reactions such as rashes, hives, hair loss, and pigmentation changes can occur, and severe skin reactions may rarely occur. If this happens, discontinue the medication immediately and consult a healthcare provider. Gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, and abdominal pain may occur, generally resolving by reducing the dosage or discontinuing the medication. Central nervous system effects may include headache, drowsiness, hallucinations, anxiety, and psychiatric symptoms; any abnormal symptoms should be reported to a healthcare provider immediately. Muscle and nerve effects may result in muscle weakness or sensory disturbances; if this occurs, the medication should be discontinued, and testing should be done. In rare cases, blood conditions such as anemia or leukopenia may occur, requiring regular blood tests. Cardiac issues such as arrhythmias or cardiomyopathy may arise, necessitating caution in patients with heart disease. Liver function could also be affected, and if symptoms of liver disease appear, immediate medical attention is required. Regular ophthalmological examinations are necessary while taking this medication, especially for those on high doses or elderly patients with reduced kidney function, who should have more frequent check-ups. If visual impairment occurs, discontinue the medication immediately and monitor the condition closely. Caution is needed when driving or operating machinery. Patients with liver or kidney diseases may need dose adjustments based on drug concentration measurements. As this medication carries a risk of bone marrow suppression, regular blood testing is required, and if abnormalities are found, medication should be halted. This medication is particularly dangerous for children and should be kept out of reach. During prolonged treatment, regular muscle function and reflex tests should be performed, and the medication should be discontinued if abnormalities are found. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take this medication as it may be harmful to the fetus and infant. In cases of overdose, serious symptoms may arise, requiring immediate emergency treatment, stomach washing, and possible drug absorption-inhibiting therapy. This medication may interact with other drugs, so if any other medications are being taken, it is imperative to inform the healthcare provider. Particularly, caution is needed when taking medications that can cause cardiac arrhythmias or drugs that inhibit or induce liver metabolism together with this medication. While taking this medication, mental health should be monitored carefully, and any symptoms of depression or psychosis should be reported to a healthcare provider immediately. Finally, it is important to keep it in a safe place out of reach of children and not transfer it to other containers.

Blurred vision, retinal abnormalities, decreased corneal sensitivity, corneal opacity, retinopathy, visual disturbances, scotomas, color fringes, glare, skin rash, hives, pigmentation changes in the skin and mucous membranes, hair bleaching, alopecia, vesicular rash, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, phototoxic reactions, exfoliative dermatitis, Sweet's syndrome, severe skin reactions, psoriatic flare, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, DRESS syndrome, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, upper abdominal cramps, vomiting, myasthenia, fatigue, sensorineural hearing loss, hallucinations, headache, drowsiness, restrictive neurotoxicity reactions, mood changes, nightmares, tinnitus, dizziness, hearing loss, unstable mood changes, psychosis, seizures, skeletal muscle disease, neuromuscular disease, perceptual changes, decreased tendon reflexes, abnormal nerve conduction, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow suppression, QT prolongation, torsades de pointes, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, conduction disorders, abnormal liver function test results, fulminant hepatic failure, hepatocyte injury, cholestatic liver injury, acute hepatitis, mixed hepatocellular/cholestatic liver injury, fulminant liver failure, depression, anxiety, agitation, confusion, delusions, mania, sleep disorders, weight loss, apathy

This medication should be stored in a tightly closed container to protect it from air and moisture. Additionally, it should be kept at room temperature, which is ideally between 1 to 30 degrees Celsius, avoiding extreme heat or cold.

Appearance

White round film-coated tablet

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 500 tablets/bottle