Alternatives to hydroxychloroquine
FDA shortage status is active for hydroxychloroquine; 3 same-class SPL records are listed below for registry comparison only.
Brand: Plaquenil
hydroxychloroquine class peers while FDA lists an active shortage
hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is on an FDA shortage listing while 3 other Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) SPL records remain in this registry peer set (class inventory 4). Labeled indication field for hydroxychloroquine: This medicine can treat uncomplicated malaria caused by certain parasites.
Top FAERS reaction fields for hydroxychloroquine total 84,076 reports across 10 reactions, set beside leflunomide, methotrexate, sulfasalazine. Counts are exposure-weighted submissions, not per-patient risk.
About hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine is a drug used to treat or prevent malaria, and to treat certain autoimmune diseases. It works by interfering with the immune system and by killing malaria parasites.
Used for: This medicine can treat uncomplicated malaria caused by certain parasites. It can also prevent malaria in areas where the parasites are not resistant to the drug. Hydroxychloroquine also treats rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus.
3 Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) peers (wide set)
leflunomide
RxArava
Leflunomide treats active rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. This medicine can help reduce these symptoms.
methotrexate
RxTrexall, Otrexup
Methotrexate can treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer, in adults and children. It also treats mycosis fungoides, a skin lymphoma, in adults. Additionally, it treats relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. For non-cancer conditions, it treats rheumatoid arthritis in adults, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in children, and severe psoriasis in adults.
sulfasalazine
RxAzulfidine
Sulfasalazine treats ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the large intestine. It can help with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. It can also be used with other treatments for severe ulcerative colitis. This medicine can also help keep ulcerative colitis from coming back.
hydroxychloroquine vs leflunomide & methotrexate · FAERS reaction fields
FAERS top-reaction field "Arthralgia" shows the widest count spread between hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide, methotrexate, sulfasalazine in this extract (27,007-report gap on that field). Counts are exposure-weighted submissions, not prevalence rates.
| Side Effect | hydroxychloroquine | leflunomide | methotrexate | sulfasalazine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 12,921 | 24,923 | 38,053 | 19,190 |
| Pain | 10,409 | 20,055 | 35,413 | 15,658 |
| Arthralgia | 9,276 | 16,941 | 36,283 | 13,161 |
| Fatigue | 8,853 | 15,384 | 29,061 | 13,017 |
| Joint Swelling | 8,528 | 15,567 | 22,294 | 12,481 |
| Rash | 7,370 | 13,321 | 19,771 | 10,678 |
| Condition Aggravated | 7,013 | 10,367 | 19,607 | 9,374 |
| Synovitis | 6,692 | 10,026 | - | 8,965 |
"-" means no reports for that reaction. Report counts reflect total FAERS submissions, not prevalence rates.
hydroxychloroquine shortage vs Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) peer index
Shortage status
FDA shortage listing is active for hydroxychloroquine (status: To Be Discontinued). Peer rows remain a registry index, not a switch guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FDA list a shortage for hydroxychloroquine while peers remain indexed? ▼
Registry note: Shortage listings and peer indexes are for registry orientation only. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not stop or change your medication without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Field note for hydroxychloroquine: see also the generic vs brand label guide when reading Plaquenil SPL strings.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.