Chloroquine

Chloroquine

Write A Short Note On Chloroquine.
Or
Describe The Clinical Uses And Adverse Effects Of Chloroquine.
Or
Describe The Therapeutic Uses And Adverse Effects Of Chloroquine.
Answer:

Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline drug.

Chloroquine Mechanism Of Action

Chloroquine gets concentrated in the acidic food vacuole of plasmodia and inhibits the polymerization of heme to parasite pigment hemozoin by forming a chloroquine heme complex. This complex is toxic and damages plasmodium membranes and kills the parasite.

Read And Learn More: Pharmacology Question And Answers

Chloroquine Pharmacokinetics

Chloroquine is administered by oral route. The drug has a strong affinity for melanin-containing tissues. The drug gets rapidly distributed to tissues so to achieve an effective therapeutic plasma concentration a loading dose is used to treat malaria. The drug gets concentrated in the liver, skin, kidney, lungs, etc. It is metabolized in the liver and slowly excreted in the urine.

Chloroquine Uses

• It is the first-line drug for the clinical cure and suppressive prophylaxis of all types of malaria except that which is caused by resistant strains of P. falciparum.
• In extraintestinal amoebiasis
• In rheumatoid arthritis
• It is very effective in discoid lupus erythematosus
• In lepra reactions
• In photogenic reactions
• It provides symptomatic relief in infectious mononucleosis.

Chloroquine Adverse Effects

• Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, uncontrollable itching, epigastric pain, uneasiness, difficulty in accommodation, and headache.
• Parenteral administration can lead to hypotension, cardiac depression, arrhythmia, and CNS toxicity including convulsions and even cardiac arrest.
• Prolonged use of high dosages can cause irreversible retinopathy and ototoxicity.
• Loss of hearing, rashes, photoallergy, mental disturbances, and graying of hair on long-term use.
• It can also lead to myopathy, cardiomyopathy, neuropathy, bull’s eye maculopathy, and rarely psychiatric disturbances.

Chloroquine Contraindications

• In epileptics
• It is not given with mefloquine, amiodarone and other antiarrhythmics.