chloroquine vs remdesivir
Side-by-side comparison of chloroquine and remdesivir. 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 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on VEKLURY Due to potential antagonism based on data from cell culture experiments, concomitant use of VEKLURY with chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Microbiology (12.4) ].
Recommendation: You should not use these medications together. Your doctor will choose the most effective single treatment for your condition.
Aralen
Veklury
Chloroquine phosphate is a drug used to treat and prevent malaria. It can also treat a type of infection called extraintestinal amebiasis.
Remdesivir (Veklury) is an antiviral medicine used to treat COVID-19. It helps stop the virus from multiplying in your body.
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.
Remdesivir is used to treat COVID-19 in adults and children who weigh at least 3.3 pounds. It can be used whether you are in the hospital or not. It is for people who have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and are at high risk of getting very sick, needing to go to the hospital, or dying.
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.
Remdesivir is a type of medicine called a nucleotide analog RNA polymerase inhibitor. This means it blocks the virus from making copies of itself. By stopping the virus from multiplying, it can help you recover from COVID-19.
No common side effects listed.
- • Nausea
- • Increased ALT (a liver enzyme)
- • Increased AST (a liver enzyme)
- Throwing up 49
- Feeling sick to your stomach 48
- Head pain 41
- High blood pressure 41
- Lung infection 40
- Alanine Aminotransferase Increased 933
- Covid-19 896
- Death 751
- Bradycardia 651
- Aspartate Aminotransferase Increased 627
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.
Remdesivir can cause serious side effects, including allergic reactions and liver problems. Allergic reactions can happen during or after the infusion. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs like low or high blood pressure, fast or slow heart rate, fever, trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling, rash, nausea, sweating, or shaking. Your doctor will do blood tests to check your liver before and during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have any signs of liver problems like yellowing of the skin or eyes.
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.
If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking remdesivir. Studies have not shown an increased risk of birth defects or miscarriage when taken during the second or third trimester. It is not known if it is safe to take during the first trimester.
How to Read This chloroquine vs remdesivir Comparison
chloroquine is classified in the Antimalarial drug class, while remdesivir sits within the Nucleotide Analog (Antiviral) 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 remdesivir has 3,858. 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 chloroquine can block the antiviral effects of remdesivir, making it less powerful at treating the virus. this interaction was discovered in laboratory tests.. 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 remdesivir - 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.