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Chloroquine diphosphate is a drug indicated for the treatment of malaria caused byPlasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale, liver amebiasis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and diseases that cause the eyes to be sensitive to light.
This medicine can be purchased in pharmacies, upon presentation of a prescription.
How to use
The dosage of chloroquine depends on the disease to be treated. The tablets should be taken after meals, in order to avoid nausea and vomiting.
1. Malaria
The recommended dose is:
- Children aged 4 to 8 years: 1 tablet per day, for 3 days;
- Children from 9 to 11 years old: 2 tablets a day, for 3 days;
- Children from 12 to 14 years old: 3 pills on the first day, and 2 pills on the second and third days;
- Children over 15 years old and adults up to 79 years old: 4 pills on the first day, and 3 pills on the second and third days;
Treatment of malaria caused byP. vivax andP. ovale with chloroquine, it must be associated with primaquine, for 7 days for children between 4 and 8 years and 7 days for children over 9 years and adults.
There are no adequate number of chloroquine tablets for children with a body weight below 15 kg, as therapeutic recommendations include fractional tablets.
2. Lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
The maximum recommended dose in adults is 4 mg / kg per day, for one to six months, depending on the response of the treatment.
3. Hepatic amebiasis
The recommended dose in adults is 600 mg of chloroquine on the first and second days, followed by 300 mg per day for two to three weeks.
In children, the recommended dose is 10 mg / kg / day of chloroquine, for 10 days or at the doctor's discretion.
Is chloroquine recommended for the treatment of coronavirus infection?
Chloroquine is not recommended for the treatment of infection with the new coronavirus, as it has been shown in several clinical trials in patients with COVID-19 that this drug increased the frequency of serious side effects as well as mortality, and has shown no beneficial effects. in its use, which led to the suspension of clinical trials that were taking place with the medicine.
However, the results of these tests are being analyzed, in order to understand the methodology and data integrity.
According to Anvisa, the purchase of chloroquine at the pharmacy is still allowed, but only for people with medical prescriptions subject to special control, for the indications mentioned above or that were already indicated for the drug, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
See the results of studies done with chloroquine to treat COVID-19 and other drugs that are also being investigated.
Who should not use
This medicine should not be used in people who are hypersensitive to any of the components present in the formula, people with epilepsy, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis or other exfoliative disease.
In addition, it should not be used to treat malaria in people with porphyria cutanea tarda and should be used with caution in people with liver disease and gastrointestinal, neurological and blood disorders.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects that can occur with the use of chloroquine are headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, itching, irritation and reddish patches on the skin.
In addition, mental confusion, seizures, drop in blood pressure, changes in the electrocardiogram and double or blurred vision can also occur.