Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial and antirheumatic medicine for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and malaria. One product is listed: Hsquin, in 200 mg, 300 mg and 400 mg tablets.
Key points
- Hydroxychloroquine may cause serious, potentially irreversible eye problems, so regular eye exams are needed throughout treatment.
- It can also trigger low blood sugar; dizziness, confusion or fainting while taking it warrant urgent medical attention.
- A modified version of chloroquine with lower toxicity, it suits the longer courses autoimmune conditions require.
How does Hydroxychloroquine work?
Hydroxychloroquine kills the parasites that cause malaria. For autoimmune conditions like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis, it appears to reduce the immune system’s attack on joints and tissues, though the exact mechanism is not fully understood. It concentrates inside cells in small compartments called lysosomes, where it stabilises their membranes and dampens the release of inflammatory signals.