hydroxychloroquine vs leflunomide
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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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.
Leflunomide is a drug that can help reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It works by slowing down the body's immune system.
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.
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.
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.
Leflunomide is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor. This means it blocks a certain process in your body. By blocking this process, it can reduce inflammation and slow down the damage to your joints.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Fatigue
- • Diarrhea
- • Respiratory infection
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Rash
- Rheumatoid Arthritis 12,921
- Pain 10,409
- Arthralgia 9,276
- Fatigue 8,853
- Joint Swelling 8,528
- Rheumatoid Arthritis 24,923
- Pain 20,055
- Arthralgia 16,941
- Joint Swelling 15,567
- Fatigue 15,384
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.
This drug can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, you should not take this medicine. This drug can also cause serious liver problems. If you have liver problems, you should not take this medicine. Your doctor will monitor your liver with blood tests.
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.
Do not take leflunomide if you are pregnant. It can cause birth defects. If you are breastfeeding, you should stop while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This hydroxychloroquine vs leflunomide Comparison
hydroxychloroquine is classified in the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) drug class, while leflunomide sits within the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, hydroxychloroquine has 49,987 submissions while leflunomide has 92,870. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for hydroxychloroquine or leflunomide.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.