Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial medication used to treat lupus. It is also known by its brand name, Plaquenil. Research shows that anti-malaria medications can help prevent lupus flares. They might even help you prolong your life. Anti-malaria medications are also used to treat lung inflammation, joint pain, fatigue, and skin rashes.
Other antimalarial drugs commonly used to treat lupus are chloroquine (Aralen) and quinacrine (Atabrine). Chloroquine may be prescribed when hydroxychloroquine is not available. However, it is not the preferred medication due to its severe side effects. Quinacrine is also rarely used because it can lead to a yellow discoloration of the skin. It might be used together with hydroxychloroquine if you don't respond to hydroxychloroquine treatment alone.
Aside from reducing flare-ups, there are some other benefits of using hydroxychloroquine for lupus:
- It slows the absorption rate of ultraviolet rays.
- It decreases the number of antigen-presenting cells in the skin.
- It reduces the damage of lupus to the body.
Your body may take a while to get used to hydroxychloroquine. It may also cause some side effects, though some may disappear with time. They include:
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Cramps
- Appetite loss
- Body weakness
Hydroxychloroquine Complications
Complications from taking hydroxychloroquine are very rare. The main concern when taking this medication is the risk of retinal toxicity. Your doctor should monitor you periodically to detect any early symptoms of this condition.
Hydroxychloroquine is less likely to cause retinal toxicity than chloroquine. This makes it the preferred and most commonly used antimalarial drug. It can be taken by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding as well as people who have mild to severe cases of lupus.
Most known complications of hydroxychloroquine use have affected people who used the drug for over five years. However, people with underlying kidney and liver conditions might be more prone to retinal toxicity.
