Hydroxychloroquine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Plaquenil

Category

• Antihypercalcemic
• Antiprotozoal
• Antirheumatic, disease-modifying
• Lupus erythematosus suppressant
• Polymorphous light eruption suppressant
• Porphyria cutanea tarda suppressant

Description

Hydroxychloroquine (hye-drox-ee-KLOR-oh-kwin) belongs to the family of medicines called antiprotozoals. Protozoa are tiny, one-celled animals. Some are parasites that can cause many different kinds of infections in the body.

This medicine is used to prevent and to treat malaria and to treat some conditions such as liver disease caused by protozoa . It is also used in the treatment of arthritis to help relieve inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain and to help control the symptoms of lupus erythematosus (lupus; SLE).

This medicine may be given alone or with one or more other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Hydroxychloroquine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:

Oral
• Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Plaquenil

In Canada -

• Plaquenil