hydroxychloroquine sulfate /-klôr″əkwīn/ , a drug initially developed to treat malaria that also has efficacy against autoimmune diseases. ▪ INDICATIONS: It is prescribed in the treatment of malaria and the suppression of acute paroxysmal attacks of the disease; in the treatment of extraintestinal, usually hepatic, amebiasis; and in conjunction with salicylate to reduce the symptoms of lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Concurrent use of other 4-aminoquinolones or of gold salts or a known hypersensitivity to this drug or to other 4-aminoquinolones prohibits its use. It is used with caution in cases of alcoholism, blood dyscrasia, severe neurological disorder, retinal or visual field damage, psoriasis, or porphyria. The drug is not usually recommended in pregnancy because it has been associated with damage to the central nervous system of the fetus. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Among the many severe adverse effects are retinopathy, corneal opacity, polyneuritis, seizure, agranulocytosis, and hepatitis. The incidence and severity of these and many other adverse effects increase with the dosage and prolonged duration of treatment.
