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Chloroquine

Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline drug primarily used as a blood schizontocide for treating malaria caused by various Plasmodium species. It has a strong affinity for melanin-containing tissues and is effective in resolving fever within 24–48 hours, but can cause adverse effects such as nausea, visual disturbances, and potential long-term complications like retinopathy. It is contraindicated in patients with epilepsy and should not be used with mefloquine due to the risk of seizures.

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22 views2 pages

Chloroquine

Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline drug primarily used as a blood schizontocide for treating malaria caused by various Plasmodium species. It has a strong affinity for melanin-containing tissues and is effective in resolving fever within 24–48 hours, but can cause adverse effects such as nausea, visual disturbances, and potential long-term complications like retinopathy. It is contraindicated in patients with epilepsy and should not be used with mefloquine due to the risk of seizures.

Uploaded by

drakist2
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chloroquine
Chloroquine

1. Class of Drug

Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline.

2. Mechanism Of Action

Very effective and rapidly acting blood schizontocide against various


Plasmodium species.

No activity against liver forms (pre-erythrocytic and hypnozoites).

3. Pharmacological Action

Strong affinity for melanin-containing tissues.

Rapid distribution to tissues due to extensive tissue binding.

Concentrated in liver, spleen, kidney, lungs, and skin.

4. Clinical Use

Malaria:

Drug of choice for acute attacks caused by various Plasmodium


species.

Chloroquine 1
Fever resolves within 24–48 hours; blood smear becomes
negative within 2–3 days.

Also used as a chemoprophylactic agent except for resistant


strains of P. falciparum.

Other uses:

Amoebiasis (hepatic), lepra reaction, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious


mononucleosis, autoimmune disorders like discoid lupus
erythematosus.

Note: Uses of chloroquine: Mnemonic – MALARIA.

5. Drug-Drug Interaction

Should not be given with mefloquine (can precipitate seizures).

6. Adverse Effects

Nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, itching, headache, and visual


disturbances.

Parenteral administration can cause hypotension, confusion, cardiac


arrhythmias, convulsions, and cardiac arrest.

Prolonged use may lead to irreversible retinopathy and ototoxicity,


myopathy, cardiomyopathy, neuropathy, and rarely psychiatric
disturbances.(NMC pathies)

Ophthalmological examination required once in 3–6 months during


long-term therapy.

Should be avoided in patients with epilepsy.

7. Contraindication

Avoided in patients with epilepsy.

8. Pharmacokinetics

Commonly administered orally.

Well absorbed after oral and parenteral administration.

Metabolized in the liver and excreted slowly in urine.

Loading dose used during treatment for effective therapeutic plasma


concentration.

Chloroquine 2

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