Indications: chemoprophylaxis and treatment of malaria; rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus.

Cautions: Renal impairment, Pregnancy (but for malaria benefit outweighs risk), may exacerbate psoriasis, neurological disorders (avoid for prophylaxis if history of epilepsy, may aggravate myasthenia gravis, severe gastro- intestinal disorders, G6PD deficiency, ophthalmic examination and long-term therapy, avoid concurrent therapy with hepatotoxic drugs.

Side Effects: gastro-intestinal disturbances, headache; also hypotension, convulsions, visual disturbances, depigmentation or loss of hair, skin reactions (rashes, pruritus); rarely, bone-marrow suppression, hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria and angioedema; other side effects (not usually associated with malaria prophylaxis or treatment.

Dose: treatment of benign malarias, adult dosage regimen, initial dose 600 mg (base) followed by a single dose of 300 mg after 6-8 hours, followed by a single dose of 300 mg on each of the next 2 days (approximate total cumulative dose is 25 mg/kg (base).Chloroquine alone is adequate for Plasmodium malaria infections.

Children are given an initial dose of chloroquine 10 mg/kg (base) followed by a single dose of 5 mg/kg after 6-8 hours, then a single dose of 5 mg/kg on each of the following 2 days. If the patient is seriously ill, chloroquine is given by IV infusion.

By IV infusion; adult dose is 10 mg/kg (base) infused over 8 hours, followed by three 8 - hours infusions of 5 mg/kg (base)each. Oral therapy should be started as soon as possible to complete the course.

The total cumulative dose of the course should be 25 mg/kg of base.

Note: Chloroquine base 150 mg=chloroquine sulfate 200mg; chloroquine phosphate 250 mg