Chloroquine phosphate, also referred to as chloroquine, is a medication used for both the prevention and treatment of malaria. The medicine also may be helpful in the treatment of other disorders, including an intestinal infection known as amebiasis. Doctors sometimes prescribe chloroquine as a remedy for immune system illnesses as well.
First identified in 1934, chloroquine phosphate use has since become widespread because of the worldwide prevalence of the malaria. Medical providers around the world use the drug to treat or prevent the infectious health affliction. The medicine sometimes is referred to as an antimalarial.
The drug is an oral medication taken most commonly in pill form, but chloroquine phosphate also exists in syrup form. In an effort to stave off malaria, medical care professionals often give the drug to travelers for a period of time before trips to areas known to have high malaria contraction rates. The bite of female mosquitoes causes malaria, and the areas with high malaria rates are often hot, tropical, or desert, regions where mosquitoes are plentiful. People usually take the drug in weekly doses for the duration of their trips. For safety reasons, travelers also take chloroquine for a period of time after returning home.
This medication has helped many malaria victims throughout the world by eradicating the malaria parasites that infest red blood cells. Some malaria parasites have become resistant to the drug over the course of time, possibly due to widespread or over use. The parasites’ resistance to chloroquine phosphate has necessitated the use of alternate medications to combat malaria, used either by themselves or in conjunction with chloroquine phosphate.
There are a range of unwanted side effects related to the use of chloroquine phosphate. Some of the most common adverse reactions to the medication include problems relating to the stomach, such as pain or appetite loss. Patients often take chloroquine doses with food to avoid stomach discomfort. Other frequently reported symptoms include headaches, itching, diarrhea, and loss of hair. Prolonged use of the drug also may cause mood alterations, such as depression and anxiety.
More serious complications also could arise during the use of chloroquine phosphate. Some of the more significant side effects include hearing loss or visual disruptions, such as blurry or foggy eyesight. A patient may experience other dangerous symptoms including weakness, vomiting, breathing difficulties, and heartbeat irregularities. If serious side effects occur, people should immediately seek medical assistance.
Overdosing on chloroquine phosphate is possible and can be very dangerous. The onset of an overdose may occur rapidly because the stomach quickly absorbs the medication. Children are especially susceptible to chloroquine overdoses, which may be fatal for young users of the drug.