Hydroxychloroquine
Brand Names: Plaquenil
Methodology & AI Transparency ⓘ
Hydroxychloroquine Key Takeaways
Translated by Sarah Jenkins (AI RN Plain-English Translator) at a 7th-grade reading level
- 1 What it does: Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is an antimalarial and antirheumatic indicated for the: Treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium vivax in adult and pediatric patients.
- 2 Real-world patient consensus: Zero-PHI community consensus: 83% favorable across 20 logged regimens (Plaquenil).
- 3 Typical cash cost range: Dispensing cost comparison spans $6.96 mail/discount cash up to $34.50 uninsured retail (federal NADAC $0.1441).
- 4 Top reported side effects / signs: Most commonly reported Hydroxychloroquine tolerability events: nausea (8.3%), headache (8.1%), dizziness (5.6%).
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Hydroxychloroquine Mechanism, CYP450 Pathways & DailyMed Monograph
Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is an antimalarial and antirheumatic indicated for the: Treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium vivax in adult and pediatric patients. ( 1.1 ) Prophylaxis of malaria in geographic areas where chloroquine resistance is not reported in adult and pediatric patients. ( 1.1 ) Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. ( 1.2 ) Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults. ( 1.3 ) Treatment of chronic discoid lupus erythematosus in adults.
12.1 Mechanism of Action Malaria Hydroxychloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial and antirheumatic agent. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Chronic Discoid Lupus Erythematosus The mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of hydroxychloroquine sulfate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic discoid lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus are not fully known. 12.2 Pharmacodynamics The exposure-response relationship and time course of pharmacodynamic response for the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine have not been fully characterized.
Following administration (200 mg/1 Tablet), Hydroxychloroquine achieves Approximately 75% to 87% enteral uptake across labeled Hydroxychloroquine strengths bioavailability and maximum serum exposure occurs 2–5 hours after hydroxychloroquine dosing onset, governed by a Steady-state plasma equilibrium reached over 3–16 hour t½ intervals for Hydroxychloroquine terminal half-life through predominantly hepatic biotransformation with renal elimination of polar hydroxychloroquine conjugates.
Before initiating Hydroxychloroquine at 200 mg/1 Tablet, clinical safety checklists rule out 4 contraindications hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to 4- aminoquinoline compounds.; patients with hypersensitivity to 4-aminoquinoline compounds ( 4 ). Logged tolerability patterns center on nausea (8.3% of reports), headache (8.1% of reports), fatigue (5.7% of reports).
Reconcile eGFR-adjusted medications before escalating Hydroxychloroquine in polypharmacy regimens.
Shifts in intragastric pH can modestly influence dissolution kinetics of oral Hydroxychloroquine dosage forms.
Standard Adult Titration & Dosages
Absolute & Relative Contraindications
- 4 CONTRAINDICATIONS hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to 4- aminoquinoline compounds.
- Patients with hypersensitivity to 4-aminoquinoline compounds ( 4 )
Logged Side-Effect Incidence (20 Reports)
Hydroxychloroquine Real-World Side Effects: openFDA FAERS vs. Patient Micro-Logs
Peer-Reviewed Human Clinical Trials & Meta-Analyses (Hydroxychloroquine)
| Study & Plain-English Finding | Sample (N) | Rigor | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Revisiting the JOQUER trial: stratification of primary Sjögren's syndrome and the Although the JOQUER trial reported no overall benefit from HCQ in pSS patients, stratification suggests that. Rheumatology international • 2021-09-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 32 | 88/100 | PMID 34165604 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Hydroxychloroquine does not affect endotheliopathy or coagulopathy biomarkers in HCQ was not found to modify the longitudinal evolution of angiopoietin-2, P-selectin, or D-dimer in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Angiogenesis • 2025-12-07 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 145 | 82/100 | PMID 41353681 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Clinical effectiveness of finasteride versus hydroxychloroquine in the treatment Both finasteride and hydroxychloroquine are equally effective, safe, and well-tolerable for treating FFA patients. Journal of cosmetic dermatology • 2024-02-15 • Randomized Controlled Trial | Multi-cohort | 82/100 | PMID 37691183 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Hydroxychloroquine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers: A total of 68 HCWs met the eligibility criteria were randomly allocated to receive HCQ (n = 36) or not (n = 32). BMC research notes • 2023-02-28 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 36 | 82/100 | PMID 36849996 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on An open-label randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of In patients with severe COVID-19, the use of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine added to standard treatment resulted in a significant worsening of clinical status, an increased risk of kidney dysfunction and an increased need for... Scientific reports • 2021-04-27 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 105 | 82/100 | PMID 33907251 ↗ |
Hydroxychloroquine Public Price Transparency Ledger
| Dispensing Channel / Benchmark | Verification Source | Reference Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Acquisition Cost (CMS NADAC) | CMS Medicaid NADAC Weekly National Survey | $0.1441/unit (~$4.32/30u) | Wholesale baseline |
| Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs (Mail-Order Generic) | Public Wholesale Price List (NADAC + 15% + pharmacy fee) | $6.96 / mo | Formulary listing ↗ |
| Average U.S. Walk-In Retail Cash Price | Chain Pharmacy Uninsured Cash Index | $34.50 / mo | Before coupon/insurance |
| Patient-Logged Out-of-Pocket Average | 20 Anonymous DotMD Community Micro-Logs | $8.00 / mo | View logs ↓ |
Hydroxychloroquine Federal Verification & Benchmark Summary
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hydroxychloroquine RxNorm Concept ID | RXN-62135752-561 | U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) |
| CMS NADAC Pharmacy Acquisition Unit Cost | $0.1441 / unit | CMS Medicaid NADAC Weekly Feed |
| Walk-In Chain Pharmacy Cash Average | $34.50 / mo | U.S. Uninsured Retail Cash Index |
| Public Mail-Order Wholesale Benchmark | $6.96 / mo (Cost Plus Drugs) | Mark Cuban Cost Plus Public API |
| Real-World Patient Consensus | 83.00% Worth It (20 anonymous logs) | DotMD Zero-PHI Patient Ledger |
Hydroxychloroquine Patient Community, Cohort Filters & Dosage Logs
Cross-verified Hydroxychloroquine (antimalarial) monograph synthesizing RxNorm RXN-62135752-561, openFDA FAERS signals, and $6.96–$34.50 cash benchmarks.
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