Chloroquine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: 4-aminoquinoline; antimalarial

Generic and brand names: chloroquine, oral; Aralen

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to prevent or treat malaria. It is also used to treat amebiasis (an infection caused by parasites). It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a blood disorder such as G6PD
• any vision problems or problems with the retina of your eyes
• hearing problems
• liver disease
• porphyria (nerve pain or sensitivity to sunlight)
• problems with alcohol abuse
• psoriasis or other skin problems
• seizures.

Check with your provider before you visit a new area where there are malaria-carrying mosquitoes. You may need to take a different antimalarial medicine.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How should I take it?

Take this medicine with meals or milk to lessen stomach upset, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed.

If you take this medicine once every 7 days and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember then skip another 7 days until your next dose. If you take one or more doses a day and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Keep this medicine out of the reach of children because it is very poisonous to them.

Using this medicine for a long time, or in high doses, can damage the retina of the eye, or damage your hearing. Have your eyes and hearing examined more often while you are taking this medicine. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

This medicine may make you feel dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Blurred vision, major vision changes, unexplained muscle weakness, ringing in the ears, hearing problems, mood changes, hallucinations (seeing things that aren't really there), unexplained sore throat, fever, seizures.

Other: Diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, dizziness, nervousness, loss of appetite, rash, bleaching of hair, blue-black coloration of the skin and nails.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ampicillin (Principen, Omnipen)
• antacids, especially those that contain magnesium, such as Gaviscon, Maalox, Mylanta, and Amphojel (Take at least 4 hours before or after taking this medicine.)
• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• dofetilide (Tikosyn)
• praziquantel (Biltricide)
• thyroid medicine such as levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid), liothyronine (Cytomel, Triostat), liotrix (Thyrolar), and thyroid (Armour Thyroid, Thyroid Extract, Thyroid USP).

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine because it may increase the risk of liver damage.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.