Indications
Therapeutic Class
Pharmacology
Dosage & Administration
Acute malaria:
- Adult: As base: Initially, 600 mg followed by 300 mg 6-8 hr later on day 1. On days 2 and 3, single doses of 300 mg/day.
- Child: Initially, 10 mg base/kg (max 600 mg base) followed by 5 mg base/kg (max 300 mg base) after 6 hrs. Single doses of 5 mg base/kg on days 2 and 3.
Hepatic amoebiasis:
- Adult: As base: 600 mg daily for 2 days then 300 mg daily for 2 or 3 wk given with emetine or dehydroemetine.
- Child: 6 mg/kg daily. Max dose: 300 mg daily.
Rheumatoid arthritis:
- Adult: As base: 150 mg daily. Max: 2.5 mg/kg daily. Discontinue treatment if there is no improvement after 6 mth.
- Child: Up to 3 mg/kg/day. Discontinue treatment if there is no improvement after 6 mth.
Discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus:
- Adult: As base: Initially, 150 mg once daily, reduce gradually after maximal response. Max dose: 2.5 mg/kg daily.
- Child: 3 mg/kg daily.
Prophylaxis of malaria:
- Adult: As base: 300 mg once wkly, starting 1 wk before exposure, continuing throughout on a wkly basis and for at least 4 wk after exposure.
- Child: 5 mg/kg weekly.
Interaction
Contraindications
Side Effects
Retinopathy, hair loss, photosensitivity, tinnitus, myopathy (long-term therapy). Psychosis, seizures, leucopenia and rarely aplastic anaemia, hepatitis, GI upsets, dizziness, hypokalaemia, headache, pruritus, urticaria, difficulty in visual accommodation.
The most serious toxic hazard of prolonged therapy with doses is the occasional development of irreversible retinal damage. For this reason considerable caution is needed in the use of choroquine for long-term high dosage therapy and such use should only be considered when no other drug is available. Defects in visual accommodation may occur on first taking choloquine and patients should be warned regarding driving or operating machinery.
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