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Anti-Malarial Drugs and Lupus

The Lupus Navigator recently received a question about Plaquenil.

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), like Aralen (chloroquine) and Atabrine (quinacrine) are anti-malarial drugs used to treat lupus. 

These drugs were designed to treat malaria and during World War II, were discover to also treat symptoms of lupus – specifically muscle and joint pain, skin rashes, pericarditis, pleuritic, and other symptoms – like fatigue and fever.

Anti-malarial medications are safe to take with other medications and have been found safe during pregnancy.  There are some side effects – the most serious is potential damage to the retina (light sensitive part of the eye).  This sort of damage is rare and occurs after using the anti-malarial drug for five or more years.  It is important to see an ophthalmologist for an exam before starting the drug and at least once a year while on the medication.

In an LSI Teleconference on Lupus and Infections, Dr James Curran, LSI Medical Advisory Board member, discussed that the value of Plaquenil, saying “It is the safest medication we use.”

Side effects Hydroxychloroquine may cause: (Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away):

  • headache
  • dizziness
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • stomach pain
  • vomiting
  • skin rash

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
  • reading or seeing difficulties (words, letters, or parts of objects missing)
  • sensitivity to light
  • blurred distance vision
  • seeing light flashes or streaks
  • difficulty hearing
  • ringing in ears
  • muscle weakness
  • bleeding or bruising of the skin
  • bleaching or loss of hair
  • mood or mental changes
  • irregular heartbeat
  • drowsiness
  • convulsions
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

For more information on anti-malarial and other lupus treatments go here:
http://www.lupusil.org/treating-lupus.html

For more information on hydroxychloroquine go here
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601240.html 
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Serving Illinois Since 1973