Chloroquine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Aralen, Aralen HCl

Proper Use of This Medicine

Take this medicine with meals or milk to lessen stomach upset, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Children are especially sensitive to the effects of chloroquine and overdose is especially dangerous in children . Taking as little as 1 tablet (300-mg strength) has resulted in the death of a small child.

It is very important that you take this medicine only as directed . Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of serious side effects.

If you are taking this medicine to help keep you from getting malaria, keep taking it for the full time of treatment . If you already have malaria, you should still keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment even if you begin to feel better after a few days. This will help to clear up your infection completely. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.

Chloroquine works best when you take it on a regular schedule. For example, if you are to take it once a week to prevent malaria, it is best to take it on the same day each week. Or if you are to take two doses a day, one dose may be taken with breakfast and the other with the evening meal. Make sure that you do not miss any doses . If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

For patients taking chloroquine to prevent malaria :

• Your doctor may want you to start taking this medicine 1 to 2 weeks before you travel to an area where there is a chance of getting malaria. This will help you to see how you react to the medicine. Also, it will allow time for your doctor to change to another medicine if you have a reaction to this medicine.
• Also, you should keep taking this medicine while you are in the area and for 4 weeks after you leave the area. No medicine will protect you completely from malaria. However, to protect you as completely as possible, it is important to keep taking this medicine for the full time your doctor ordered . Also, if fever develops during your travels or within 2 months after you leave the area, check with your doctor immediately .

Dosing - The dose of chloroquine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of chloroquine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking chloroquine .

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For prevention of malaria:
    • Adults - 500 milligrams (mg) once every seven days.
    • Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 8.3 mg per kilogram (kg) (3.7 mg per pound) of body weight once every seven days.
  • For treatment of malaria:
    • Adults - Start with 1 gram. Then, 500 mg six to eight hours after the first dose, and 500 mg once a day on the second and third days of treatment.
    • Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 41.7 mg per kg (18.9 mg per pound) of body weight divided up over three days. This dose is given as follows: Start with 16.7 mg per kg (7.5 mg per pound) of body weight, then 8.3 mg per kg (3.7 mg per pound) of body weight six hours, twenty-four hours, and forty-eight hours after the first dose.
  • For treatment of liver disease caused by protozoa:
    • Adults - At first, start with 250 mg four times a day for two days. Then 250 mg two times a day for at least two to three weeks.
    • Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg per pound) of body weight a day for three weeks.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For treatment of malaria:
    • Adults - 200 to 250 mg injected into a muscle. This dose may be repeated in six hours if needed.
    • Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 4.4 mg per kg (2 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a muscle or under the skin. This dose may be repeated in six hours if needed. Chloroquine may also be injected slowly into a vein. If the medicine is given in this way, the dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For treatment of liver disease caused by protozoa:
    • Adults - 200 to 250 mg a day injected into a muscle for ten to twelve days.
    • Children - Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 7.5 mg per kg (3.4 mg per pound) of body weight a day for ten to twelve days.

Missed dose - If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:

• One dose every seven days - Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Then go back to your regular dosing schedule.
• One dose a day - Take the missed dose as soon as possible. But if you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
• More than one dose a day - Take it right away if you remember within an hour or so of the missed dose. But if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children. Overdose of chloroquine is very dangerous in children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.