Drug Info
- Brand Name: Plaquenil;
- Active Ingredient: Hydroxychloroquine;
- Manufacturer: Sanofi.
Plaquenil and its drug substance Hydroxychloroquine
Plaquenil was developed and marketed as a medication for malaria. Its drug substance was approved for medical use in 1955. The WHO has included this medicine in the list of essential life-saving medicines.
This drug has a fairly wide range of therapeutic options, but its popularity rocketed in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even though Plaquenil has not been approved officially by the WHO and the FDA yet, in some countries it is used to help patients in coronovirus and lower the death rate. Clinical trials are still ongoing and the drug is likely to be officially recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 in the nearest future.
At the same time, Plaquenil still remains one of the main medicines used to treat a number of serious diseases.
The drug substance Hydrochloroquine has the properties of a moderate immunosuppressant. After it gets into the body, the synthesis of the rheumatoid factor and the components of the acute phase reaction decreases. It also accumulates in leukocytes, stabilizes biochemical processes, and inhibits the activity of many enzymes, incl. collagenases and proteases that cause cartilage breakdown.
The mechanism of its action in relation to the symptoms of malaria and systemic lupus erythematosus is not fully known, but there are practically no alternative drugs with such effectiveness.
Indications for use
Plaquenil 200 mg is prescribed for:
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis;
- Systemic lupus erythematosus;
- Malaria.
It is possible to use Plaquenil for dermatological diseases caused by sunlight. Plaquenil is used in different COVID-19 variants.
Possible ways of buying Plaquenil
Plaquenil is sold in most countries of the world. It is a prescription drug that has a rather specific effect. You can buy Plaquenil in local drug-stores only with a prescription.
If you go to a doctor for a prescription for Plaquenil for Covid-19, he will most likely not prescribe this medicine for you and offer alternative drugs or a standard set of antibiotics, immunostimulants, etc. If you want to buy Plaquenil without a prescription, to order the drug online is the only option for you to do it.
You can buy Plaquenil online with delivery to any country, which is listed on the pharmacy website. Surely, you should evaluate the possible risks and benefits of Plaquenil and be sure to consult your doctor before starting treatment.
Treatment regimens and dosages
Plaquenil dosage and treatment regimens depend on the age of the patient and the type of disease.
In each case, it is necessary to individually approach the issue of dosage selection and adjust it during treatment.
For rheumatoid arthritis, Plaquenil is prescribed at a dosage of 400 mg per day. In 1 week, it is possible to increase the dose up to 600 mg per day. After symptom relief, the dose of 200 mg per day is used for maintenance therapy.
For systemic lupus erythematosus, Plaquenil is taken at a dosage of 400 mg to 800 mg. The dose is increased gradually, depending on the evidence of the therapeutic effect. The maintenance dosage is also set at 200 mg per day.
In the case of an acute attack of malaria, Plaquenil is taken according to a specific regimen:
- Day 1: 800 mg;
- Day 2: 400 mg;
- Day 3: 400 mg.
According to a simplified regimen, it is also possible to take a single dose of 800 mg. However, this may be a quite strong blow to the liver, so you need to evaluate contraindications and possible risks.
For Covid-19, Plaquenil was taken at a dosage of 200 mg to 400 mg per day. The treatment lasted for up to 4 days, and then a doctor evaluated the results and changed the treatment regimen. This medicine is not recommended for long-term use.
Recommendations for use
Plaquenil 200 mg is for oral use only. The pills are taken with meals or with a glass of milk.
The drug substance Hydrochloroquine has a cumulative effect and it takes several weeks to achieve its therapeutic effect. Every 2 weeks, it is necessary to conduct examinations and evaluate the patient condition to predict the dosing regimen and the result.
If within 6 months the patient condition does not improve, the drug is canceled.
Missed Dose
Follow the treatment regimen and the intervals between taking pills. If you miss an intake of Plaquenil, wait until next time. You should not take two or more tablets at once. This can cause side effects.
Precautions
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
There is a fairly big list of contraindications that you should carefully consider before starting to take Plaquenil 200 mg.
- Plaquenil is contraindicated for patients with lactose intolerance, retinopathy, severe ophthalmic pathologies, liver failure.
The drug is not prescribed for children under 6 years of age. If a child is older than 6 years old, but his body weight is less than 31 kg, Plaquenil is also not recommended for use.
You should take Plaquenil with extreme caution and possibly at a reduced dosage in the following cases:
- Hematological diseases;
- Psychoses;
- Psoriasis;
- Severe gastrointestinal disorders;
- Neurological disorders.
To put it simple, if you have any chronic disease, tell your doctor about it before you buy Plaquenil and start using it.
Use of Plaquenil during pregnancy
It is strongly contraindicated to use Plaquenil both during pregnancy and lactation. The drug can cause serious damage to the fetus if it crosses the placental barrier. The potential threats include: disorders of the CNS, auditory nerve, and disorders in the formation of the eye retina. So, potential risks are higher than any possible benefits for the mother.
Possible side effects
Rare side effects: skin rash and itching, skin pigmentation, mild dermatitis, hair loss, swelling, and fever.
More widespread side effects: nausea, diarrhea, tinnitus, headache, muscle cramps, nervousness, changes in liver function tests.
Side effects have various severity, so it is impossible to predict them without a doctor evaluation. So, when taking Plaquenil, it is very important to monitor the health and consult a doctor at the first side effects.
Hydroxychloroquine: interaction with other drugs
Hydrochloroquine may interact with a number of drugs:
- When taken together with Azithromycin, the risk of side effects increases;
- When taken with insulin or antibiotics, the hypoglycemic effect increases;
- When taken with antiepileptic drugs, their effectiveness decreases;
- When taken with Cycloporine, its blood plasma level increases.
Also, Plaquenil can increase the effect of drugs that prolong the QT interval and because of this patients may experience a serious heart rhythm disorder.
Storage
Store in a dark place, out of the reach of children, at a temperature not exceeding 20°C.
It is easier to buy Plaquenil than you think
Fast worldwide delivery of medicines is the main advantage of our drug-store. We value our reputation and do our best to make our clients come back to us for drugs.
When you buy Plaquenil online, you can get full information about the drug and, if necessary, you can contact our employee. He or she will tell you how to place an order, how to get a discount and when Plaquenil will be delivered to your home.
You will be pleasantly surprised by the level of service that you can get in our pharmacy.
