chloroquine vs hydroxychloroquine
Side-by-side comparison of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
( 7 ) 7.1 Drugs Prolonging QT Interval and Other Arrhythmogenic Drugs Hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets prolongs the QT interval. There may be an increased risk of inducing ventricular arrhythmias if hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets are used concomitantly with other arrhythmogenic drugs. Therefore, hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets are not recommended in patients taking other drugs that have the potential to prolong the QT interval or are arrhythmogenic [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Recommendation: This combination is not recommended. Talk to your doctor about using a different medication to avoid heart rhythm problems.
Aralen
Plaquenil
Chloroquine phosphate is a drug used to treat and prevent malaria. It can also treat a type of infection called extraintestinal amebiasis.
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.
This medicine can treat uncomplicated malaria caused by certain types of parasites. It can also prevent malaria in areas where the parasites are sensitive to chloroquine. Chloroquine can also treat extraintestinal amebiasis, which is an infection outside of the intestines. This medicine will not prevent malaria from returning in some patients.
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.
Chloroquine phosphate works by killing the parasites that cause malaria and amebiasis. It stops the parasites from growing and multiplying in your body. For malaria caused by certain parasites, you may need to take another medicine with chloroquine.
Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial and antirheumatic drug. It is thought to work by interfering with the immune system's activity. It also stops the growth of malaria parasites in red blood cells.
No common side effects listed.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Fatigue
- Throwing up 49
- Feeling sick to your stomach 48
- Head pain 41
- High blood pressure 41
- Lung infection 40
- Rheumatoid arthritis 12,921
- Pain 10,409
- Joint pain 9,276
- Tiredness 8,853
- Swollen joint 8,528
You should not take this medicine if you have changes in your retina or vision. You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to similar drugs.
This drug can cause heart problems, including a weakened heart muscle and irregular heartbeats. It can also cause irreversible damage to your retina, so regular eye exams are needed. This medicine can also cause serious skin reactions. If you have psoriasis or porphyria, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine. It can also cause liver and kidney problems.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine. It is not known if chloroquine can harm your unborn baby. Chloroquine can pass into breast milk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This drug can cross the placenta, but studies haven't shown a risk of major birth defects. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant. Hydroxychloroquine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare hydroxychloroquine with
How to Read This chloroquine vs hydroxychloroquine Comparison
chloroquine is classified in the Antimalarial drug class, while hydroxychloroquine sits within the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, chloroquine has 219 submissions while hydroxychloroquine has 49,987. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these drugs can change the electrical rhythm of your heart. taking them together increases the risk of a dangerous irregular heartbeat.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.