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Updated September 2022
Hydroxychloroquine (brand name Plaquenil, Plaquenil Sulfate) is a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE/Lupus).
Hydroxychloroquine is also an antimalarial medicine used to prevent and treat malaria and other parasitic infections.
It is not clear how hydroxychloroquine works in inflammatory conditions; however it is thought to have an action on the immune system. In rheumatoid arthritis this action helps to reduce inflammation and thus reduce pain and swelling. It also limits damage to the joints and helps to prevent disability in the long term.
Because hydroxychloroquine acts to reduce the damage to the joints, rather than just relieve the pain, it belongs to the group of medicines called disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Hydroxychloroquine does not work straight away. It may take 8 to 12 weeks for symptoms to start to improve. The full effect of treatment may take up to 26 weeks.
Other medicines may be given to improve your symptoms while waiting for hydroxychloroquine to work.
Hydroxychloroquine is taken by mouth in tablet form.
As the tablets are slightly bitter, these problems can often be reduced by taking the tablets with food or milk, or they may just improve with time.
What is the dosage?
The usual dose is one tablet (200mg) once or twice a day. Tablets can be taken altogether, once a day. The dose may be reduced to a maintenance dose after a few months once a response is achieved.
Hydroxychloroquine may be used with other arthritis medicines including:
There are separate information sheets for the medicines mentioned above.
Treatment with hydroxychloroquine may be continued indefinitely as long as it is effective and no serious side effects occur.
If you stop hydroxychloroquine treatment for more than a few weeks there is a risk that your condition may worsen. Continue with your treatment unless advised by your doctor or unless side effects develop.
You might experience side effects with your treatment. Tell your doctor if you are concerned about possible side effects.