User:Mr. Ibrahem/Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), sold under the brand name Plaquenil among others, is a medication used to prevent and treat malaria in areas where malaria remains sensitive to chloroquine. Other uses include treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and porphyria cutanea tarda. It is taken by mouth. HCQ is not recommended in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). High quality evidence of benefit for such use is lacking, with concerns of potential harms from side effects.

Common side effects may include vomiting, headache, changes in vision, and muscle weakness. Severe side effects may include allergic reactions, vision problems, and heart problems. Monitoring for eye problems is recommended before starting and then regularly thereafter. Although all risk cannot be excluded, it remains a treatment for rheumatic disease during pregnancy. In overdose it can be life-threatening. Hydroxychloroquine is in the antimalarial and 4-aminoquinoline families of medication.

Hydroxychloroquine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1955. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. In 2017, it was the 128th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than five million prescriptions. A typical dose is between 200 - 400mg per day by mouth. The speculative use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID‑19 threatens its availability for people with established indications.