Chloroquine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Aralen, Aralen HCl

Category

• Antihypercalcemic
• antiprotozoal
• antirheumatic, disease-modifying
• lupus erythematosus suppressant
• polymorphous light eruption suppressant
• porphyria cutanea tarda suppressant

Description

Chloroquine (KLOR-oh-kwin) is a medicine used to prevent and treat malaria, a red blood cell infection transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, and to treat some conditions such as liver disease caused by protozoa (tiny one-celled animals).

Malaria transmission occurs in large areas of Central and South America, Hispaniola, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. Country-specific information on malaria can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or from the CDC's web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbk .

This medicine may be given alone or with one or more other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Chloroquine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S.)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Aralen
• Aralen HCl

In Canada -

• Aralen

Generic name product may be available in the U.S.