INDICATIONS
Chloroquine is indicated for your suppressive treatment as well as acute attacks of malaria due to P. vivax, P.malariae, P. ovale, and susceptible strains of P. falciparum. The drug is also indicated for that treating extraintestinal amebiasis.
INSTRUCTIONS
Take chloroquine with meals or milk to minimize stomach upset, unless otherwise directed from your doctor.
t is essential which you take chloroquine only as directed. Do not take really it, don't take it more frequently, and don't take on it much more time than your physician ordered. To do so may increase the probability of serious negative effects.
If you take chloroquine to maintain from getting malaria, keep taking it to the full time of treatment. If you have malaria, you need to still keep taking chloroquine for that full time of treatment even if you set out to feel good after a couple of days. This will help to pay off up your infection completely. If you stop taking chloroquine too soon, your symptoms may return.
Chloroquine is most effective once you go over a regular schedule. For example, if you are to go on it weekly in order to avoid malaria, it's always best to go on the same day each week. Or if you're to take two doses each day, one dose could be taken with breakfast as well as the other using the evening meal. Make sure that you just do not miss any doses. If you've got any questions concerning this, talk with your wellbeing care professional.
If you miss a dose of chloroquine, get it as soon as possible. However, when it is almost time for your forthcoming dose, skip the missed dose and get back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
DOSAGE
The dosage of chloroquine phosphate is often expressed regarding equivalent chloroquine base. Each 500 mg tablet of ARALEN provides the same in principle as 300 mg chloroquine base. In infants and children the dosage is preferably calculated by bodyweight.
Malaria: Suppression - Adult Dose: 500 mg (= 300 mg base) on the exact same day of per week.
Pediatric Dose: The weekly suppressive dosage is 5 mg calculated as base, per kg of bodyweight, but should not exceed the adult dose no matter weight.
If circumstances permit, suppressive therapy should start a fortnight prior to exposure. However, failing this in older adults, a basic double (loading) dose of merely one g (= 600 mg base), or perhaps in children 10 mg base/kg could be used two divided doses, six hours apart. The suppressive therapy ought to be continued for two months after leaving the endemic area.
For Treatment of Acute Attack.
Adults: An initial dose of a single g (= 600 mg base) followed by one more 500 mg (= 300 mg base) after six to eight hours as well as a single dose of 500 mg (= 300 mg base) on every one of two consecutive days. This represents an overall dose of 2.5 g chloroquine phosphate or 1.5 g base in three days.
The dosage for adults of low weight as well as infants and children should be determined as follows:
First dose: 10 mg base per kg (although not exceeding a single dose of 600 mg base).
Second dose: (6 hours after first dose) 5 mg base per kg (although not exceeding just one dose of 300 mg base).
Third dose: (24 hours after first dose) 5 mg base per kg.
Fourth dose: (36 hours after first dose) 5 mg base per kg.
For radical cure of vivax and malariae malaria concomitant therapy with the 8-aminoquinoline compound is necessary.
Extraintestinal Amebiasis: Adults,1 g (600 mg base) daily for two days, accompanied by 500 mg (300 mg base) daily for about two to three weeks. Treatment is usually combined having an effective intestinal amebicide.
STORAGE
Store the medicine in a very closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of kids.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Along having its needed effects, medicine could potentially cause some uncomfortable side effects. Although not all of these negative effects may occur, when they occur they will often need medical attention. When chloroquine is employed in short intervals, unwanted effects are frequently rare. However, when it can be used for quite a long time and/or perhaps in high doses, unwanted effects will occur and might be serious.
Check with your medical professional immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Blurred vision
alteration of vision
eye pain
decrease of vision
Rare
Black, tarry stools
blood in urine or stools
convulsions (seizures)
cough or hoarseness
feeling faint or lightheaded
fever or chills
increased muscle weakness
lower back or side pain
mood or any other mental changes
painful or difficult urination
pinpoint red spots on skin
ringing or buzzing in ears or any decrease of hearing
sore throat
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Symptoms of overdose
Drowsiness
headache
increased excitability
Note: The unwanted side effects in the Less Common category above could also occur or become worse once you stop taking chloroquine.
Some unwanted side effects may occur that always usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment because your body adjusts on the medicine. Also, your quality of life care professional may be able to inform you of ways to prevent or reduce a few of these unwanted effects. Check with your health care professional if the following negative effects continue or are bothersome or if you've got questions about them:
More common
Diarrhea
difficulty in seeing to read
headache
itching (more widespread in black patients)
loss in appetite
nausea or vomiting
stomach cramps or pain
Less common
Bleaching of hair or increased hair loss
blue-black discoloration of skin, fingernails, or inside mouth
skin rash
Other unwanted side effects unpublished might also exist in some patients. If you notice any other effects, consult your medical practioner.
If you will end up taking chloroquine for a very long time, it is vital that your physician check you at regular visits for just about any blood problems or muscle weakness that may be brought on by chloroquine. In addition, check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may wish that you have the eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).
If your symptoms don't improve in just a few days or if they become worse, check with your physician.
Make sure you are aware how you reply to chloroquine prior to deciding to drive, use machines, or do just about anything else that could be dangerous in case you are not able to see well.
Chloroquine could cause blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other difference in vision. It could also cause a lot of people to become lightheaded.
If these reactions are specially bothersome, seek advice from your doctor.
Certain medicines must not be used at or around the time of eating or eating some kinds of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines can also cause interactions to take place. Discuss along with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
There are not any adequate and well-controlled studies evaluating the protection and efficacy of chloroquine in expecting mothers. Usage of chloroquine when pregnant must be avoided except within the suppression or treatment of malaria when inside the judgment of the physician the power outweighs the possibility risk to the fetus.
Airmail: 2-3 business weeks
EMS: 3-8 business days