Hydroxychloroquine is a suitable drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, dermatological and rheumatic diseases, as well as for the treatment of malaria.
This active substance is marketed under the names Plaquinol or Reuquinol, and can be purchased from a pharmacy for a price of between 65 and 85 reais, after presentation of a prescription.
The dose of hydroxychloroquine depends on the problem to be treated
The initial dose of hydroxychloroquine is 400 to 800 mg per day and the maintenance dose is 200 to 400 mg per day. Learn what lupus erythematosus is.
The starting dose is 400 to 600 mg per day and the maintenance dose is 200 to 400 mg per day. Find out what the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are and how treatment is done.
The dose for chronic juvenile arthritis should not exceed 6.5 mg / kg body weight per day, up to a maximum daily dose of 400 mg.
The recommended dose is 400 mg / day at baseline and then reduced to 200 mg per day. Ideally, treatment should begin a few days before sun exposure.
After several scientific studies, it was concluded that hydroxychloroquine is not recommended for the treatment of infection with the new coronavirus. It has recently been shown in clinical trials of patients with COVID-19 that this drug does not appear to have any benefit, in addition to increasing the frequency of serious side effects and mortality, which has led to the temporary suspension of ongoing clinical trials in some countries with medicine.
However, the results of these tests are being analyzed to understand the methodology and integrity of the data, and until the safety of the drug is reassessed. Learn more about the results of studies on hydroxychloroquine and other medications for the new coronavirus.
According to Anvisa, the purchase of hydroxychloroquine from the pharmacy is still allowed, but only for people with a prescription for the aforementioned diseases and other conditions that were an indication of the drug prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-medication can have serious health consequences, so before taking any medication, you should talk to a doctor.
Hydroxychloroquine should not be used by people with hypersensitivity to any of the formula components, pre-existing retinopathies or under 6 years of age.
The most common side effects that can occur when using this medicine are anorexia, headache, vision problems, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, rashes and itching.