Type of medicine: 4-aminoquinoline; antimalarial
Generic and brand names: chloroquine, oral; Aralen
This medicine is used to prevent or treat malaria. It is also used to treat amebiasis (an infection caused by parasites). It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Check with your provider before you visit a new area where there are malaria-carrying mosquitoes. You may need to take a different antimalarial medicine.
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Take this medicine with meals or milk to lessen stomach upset, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.
Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
If you take this medicine once every 7 days and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember then skip another 7 days until your next dose. If you take one or more doses a day and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: headache, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, visual changes, seizures, irregular heartbeat, slowed or shallow breathing, fainting, coma.
Keep this medicine out of the reach of children because it is very poisonous to them.
Using this medicine for a long time, or in high doses, can damage the retina of the eye, or damage your hearing. Have your eyes and hearing examined more often while you are taking this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
This medicine may make you feel dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
You need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Blurred vision, major vision changes, unexplained muscle weakness, ringing in the ears, hearing problems, mood changes, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), unexplained sore throat, fever, seizures, yellowing of your eyes or skin, irregular heartbeat, fainting, unusual bruising or bleeding.
Other: Diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, dizziness, nervousness, loss of appetite, rash, bleaching of hair, hair loss, blue-black color of the skin and nails.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine because it may increase the risk of liver damage.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
