Aralen (Chloroquine Phosphate)

What Is Aralen?

Aralen (Chloroquine) is taken to heal malaria infections and amebiasis.

Your doctor may prescribe this remedy for other purposes. Contact your doctor in case you want to learn more about this drug.

Don’t stop treatment with Aralen earlier than it was prescribed by your doctor even if you notice improvements of your condition. Stopping the medication too early may worsen your condition. Be careful about doing dangerous tasks, driving, operating machinery, or climbing until you are aware of how this drug affects you. Don’t drink alcohol. Always contact a medic before giving Aralen to a child.

What Symptoms or Conditions Should I Report to a Doctor Before Starting Treatment with This Remedy?

It is important to report to a physician if you have or have had the following conditions:

• history of seizures;
• hearing problems;
• trying to get pregnant or pregnancy;
• liver disease;
• an allergy to hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, other medicines, preservatives, foods, dyes;
• vision problems;
• breast-feeding;
• eye disease;
• psoriasis;
• glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

How Do I Take This Remedy?

Note: This remedy was prescribed to you only. Don’t share this medicament with others. Follow strictly your doctor’s prescription. Don’t take it in a larger dose or longer than your doctor recommended.

Take this remedy orally and drink water after you take it. To prevent malaria, take this remedy on the same day each week starting 14 days before entering the endemic area. Continue taking it for 8 weeks after leaving the endemic area. Take your doses at regular intervals.

What Should Be Done If I Missed the Dose?

In case you forgot to take the dose, take it at your earliest opportunity. Never double your dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Take only one dose at once.

Interactions

Don’t take this drug together with the following:

• droperidol;
• ranolazine;
• chlorpromazine;
• medicines for irregular heartbeats, rhythm;
• some antibiotics like levofloxacin, erythromycin;
• pentamidine;
• methadone;
• arsenic trioxide;
• cisapride;
• medicines for anxiety, depression or psychotic disturbances.

Aralen may also interact with the following:

• cyclosporine;
• antacids;
• kaolin;
• ampicillin;
• cimetidine.

This list of interactions may be not complete. Provide your medical practitioners entire list of medicines, herbs, dietary supplements or non-prescription drugs you take. Moreover tell them whether you drink alcohol, use illegal drugs or smoke. Particular items may interact with your drug.

Which Side Effects Can I Perceive from This Remedy?

Contact your physician immediately if you experience the following side effects:

• lightheaded,  feeling faint;
• seizures;
• vision changes;
• unusually tired or weak;
• hallucinations;
• unusual bruising or bleeding;
• muscle weakness;
• allergy like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue;
• hearing loss or ringing;
• fever or infection;
• numbness, tingling.

Side effects that are considered to be less serious and don’t require medical attention (report to your nurse if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea;
• loss of appetite;
• stomach cramps;
• blue-black color to the skin, nails;
• bleaching of body hair;
• headache;
• vomiting, nausea;
• hair loss.

This list of side effects may be not complete, others may occur. Inform your medical practitioners about all side effects you experience.

Inform your physician if you do not feel improvements in a few days. If you are using this remedy for a long time, visit your physician regularly. If you notice any changes in your vision, visit the eye doctor for an eye test.

If you get fever during or after you start taking this drug, consult your doctor right away.

Avoid the sun since this pharmaceutical can make you more sensitive to the sun.

Avoid products with antacids and kaolin for 4 hours before and after taking a dose of this pill.

Storage

Aralen should be stored in a tightly closed container at room temperature, between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Protect from moisture, direct heat, and light. Do not store in the bathroom or near a sink. Keep Aralen out of the reach of children and away from animals.

Aralen has long been a mainstay in the fight against malaria thanks to its active ingredient, chloroquine. Ongoing research is being done, though, because of its potential to cure other conditions, like some autoimmune illnesses. Its past emphasizes how crucial it is to keep looking at current drugs in search of novel therapeutic approaches. Aralen serves as a reminder of the potential concealed within well-known medications that are just waiting to be discovered and used in novel ways as we manage the intricacies of global health problems.