Chloroquine: View Uses, Side Effects and Medicines

Chloroquine

INFORMATION ABOUT CHLOROQUINE

Chloroquine Uses

Chloroquine is used in the treatment of malaria.

How Chloroquine works

Chloroquine is an antiparasitic medication that treats malaria. It works by increasing the levels of haeme in the blood, a substance toxic to the malarial parasite. This kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading.

Common side effects of Chloroquine

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common

Rash, Headache, Vomiting, Nausea, Urticaria

CONTENT DETAILS

Last updated

28 Mar 2025 | 05:01 AM (UTC)

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Medicine brands for Chloroquine

Lariago

₹5 to ₹52

Ipca Laboratories Ltd

Bayer Zydus Pharma Pvt Ltd

Unijules Life Science Ltd

Lark Laboratories Ltd

3 variant(s)

Kinphos

₹8 to ₹160

Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd

2 variant(s)

Expert advice for Chloroquine

Chloroquine is used for the prevention and treatment of malaria.
Take it with food to decrease the risk of stomach upset.
Tips to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes:
- Wear light-colored and covered clothing when you are outside after sunset.
- Use insect repellent creams or sprays on parts of your body not covered by clothing.
- Spray to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms despite screening.
It may cause a blurring of vision when you first start taking it. Use caution while driving or doing anything that requires concentration.
Eye examination before and at 3–6 monthly intervals during use is required if patients are receiving Chloroquine at continuous high doses for a longer duration.
It may cause low blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar level regularly, if you are diabetic.
When used long-term, your doctor may monitor the amounts of the different types of blood cells in your blood regularly. Inform your doctor if you have unexplained bruising or bleeding, sore throat, fever, or a general feeling of tiredness.
Chloroquine is used for the prevention and treatment of malaria.
Take it with food to decrease the risk of stomach upset.
Tips to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes:
- Wear light-colored and covered clothing when you are outside after sunset.
- Use insect repellent creams or sprays on parts of your body not covered by clothing.
- Spray to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms despite screening.
It may cause a blurring of vision when you first start taking it. Use caution while driving or doing anything that requires concentration.
Eye examination before and at 3–6 monthly intervals during use is required if patients are receiving Chloroquine at continuous high doses for a longer duration.
It may cause low blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar level regularly, if you are diabetic.
When used long-term, your doctor may monitor the amounts of the different types of blood cells in your blood regularly. Inform your doctor if you have unexplained bruising or bleeding, sore throat, fever, or a general feeling of tiredness.

Frequently asked questions for Chloroquine

Q. What is Chloroquine and what it is used for?

Chloroquine is an anti-malarial medicine that is used for the treatment and prevention of malaria.

Q. How long does it take for malaria symptoms to show?

Symptoms of malaria can develop as quickly as 7 days after you are bitten by an infected mosquito. Usually, the symptoms may take up to 7 to 18 days to appear (incubation periods) from the day of the infection. Initial symptoms of malaria are flu-like which include feeling hot and shivery, fever, muscle pains, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea.

Q. Is it safe to use Chloroquine for a long period of time?

If your doctor has prescribed you Chloroquine for a longer period of time, you should get your eyes checked regularly. This is because chloroquine present in this medicine might cause blurred vision, difficulty reading (due to words disappearing), and a rare eye condition called retinopathy if taken for a longer period of time.

Q. Who should not use Chloroquine?

Inform your doctor if you have psoriasis before taking Chloroquine since it may make your condition worse.

Q. What are the side effects of Chloroquine?

Some of the most common side effects of this medicine are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache. These side effects can often be reduced by taking the medicine with food.

Q. Can chloroquine cure coronavirus (COVID-19)?

There is not enough medical data to prove that chloroquine is effective in treating COVID-19. Therefore it is advisable not to take Chloroquine without consulting your doctor for treating COVID-19.

Q. Can I take antacids along with Chloroquine?

If you take an antacid, give a gap of at least 4 hours between the two medications.

Q. What is the difference between hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine?

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were both first approved for malaria. However, chloroquine tends to cause many more side effects than hydroxychloroquine. As a result, hydroxychloroquine is more commonly used today. Hydroxychloroquine is also approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, while chloroquine is not.

Q. How can you prevent yourself from getting malaria?

Malaria can be prevented by taking certain precautionary steps like covering your arms and legs to prevent mosquito bites, using a mosquito net and insect repellent. Check with your doctor whether you need to take malaria prevention tablets. If you do, make sure you take the right antimalarial tablets at the right dose and finish the proper course of treatment.