Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Aug 01, 2022

Uses


Hydroxychloroquine Uses

Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It is also used to prevent and treat certain types of malaria.

An emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine to treat the recently emerged novel coronavirus disease 2019 COVID was issued by the FDA and the United States Government in March 2020, but subsequently revoked due to safety concerns. Hydroxychloroquine should not be used for the treatment of COVID 19 except under the supervision of a doctor. The antiviral activity of this medicine is not proven and it can cause you to experience irregular heartbeats.

There may be other uses of hydroxychloroquine—your pharmacist or healthcare professional can give you further drug information.

Hydroxychloroquine Mechanism of Action

Hydroxychloroquine kills the parasite that causes malaria. It treats autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus by suppressing the immune system.

Hydroxychloroquine Doses

Malaria: For the prevention of malaria, the recommended dose of hydroxychloroquine is 400 mg once a week to be taken on the same day of the week. Treatment is started 2 weeks before visiting an area where malaria is endemic and continued for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria-endemic area. 

For the treatment of malaria, the recommended doses of hydroxychloroquine in adults are an initial dose of 800 mg followed by 400 mg 6 hours later and two additional 400-mg doses on the following two days (for a total dose of 2,000 mg or 2 grams). In children, the dose of hydroxychloroquine is based on the child’s weight.

Autoimmune conditions: The usual dose of hydroxychloroquine for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus in adults is 400 mg daily to 600 mg daily. The dose is generally lowered at around 200 mg a day to 400 mg a day for long-term hydroxychloroquine treatment.