1. Is Hydroxychloroquine a steroid?
No, Hydroxychloroquine is not a steroid. It is a steroid-sparing agent; It falls under a category of drugs called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) - in other words, it reduces the dose of steroids required to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE. Do not self-prescribe, consult a doctor.
2. Is Hydroxychloroquine a long-acting medication?
Yes, hydroxychloroquine is a long-acting drug that can stay in your system for up to three months. It will take some time for the side effects to fade in the event of a sudden stoppage. As a result, it can take up to 12 weeks for this medication to begin working. However, you should be aware of its short- and long-term side effects.
3. Does Hydroxychloroquine prevent coronavirus (COVID-19)?
No, Hydroxychloroquine does not prevent COVID-19. A study, published in JAMA, carried out by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, PETAL Clinical Trials Network, focused on hospitalised patients with moderate to severe disease. It states that there was no additional benefit of hydroxychloroquine over placebo for treatment of COVID-19. Misuse of Hydroxychloroquine can increase the risk of heart diseases, blood disorders and disorders and failure of the kidney and liver.
4. Does FDA approve Hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19?
Hydroxychloroquine is FDA-approved to prevent or treat malaria, discoid lupus erythematosus or SLE, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in adults. However, it is not approved for the treatment of COVID-19, and the FDA recommended initial evaluation and monitoring when using this drug for the same. Consult a doctor to know more.
5. Does WHO recommend Hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19?
WHO does not recommend Hydroxychloroquine to prevent COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine does not reduce mortality or the need for or duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19. This recommendation is based on six trials with more than 6000 participants who did not have COVID-19 and received hydroxychloroquine. Consult a health expert to know more about research in this area.
6. Is Hydroxychloroquine available over the counter?
Hydroxychloroquine is a prescription drug and is not available as an over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Because this medication can be harmful to children and can have side effects on the eyes and heart, it is recommended that you do not take this medication without a doctor’s prescription. Selling and buying this medicine without a prescription is prohibited in India and should be avoided at all costs.
7. What special precautions should I follow?
You should inform your healthcare providers about your allergic reactions to certain medications, including chloroquine. Consuming cannabis and alcohol are restricted while consuming this medicine as it might increase dizziness and inability to function. This drug may alter your blood sugar levels, so inform your doctor if you have diabetes before taking this medicine.
8. What is the downside of taking Hydroxychloroquine?
No specific downside is known except for its interaction with some other medications. These medications are the following:
- Drugs used for indigestion such as antacids
- A group of antibiotics called macrolides, including Erythromycin
- Antiviral drugs such as Remdesivir
- Quinidine
It is recommended that you do not take this medication without a doctor’s prescription.
9. Does Hydroxychloroquine make you gain weight?
No clinical trial has reported that Hydroxychloroquine can make you gain weight. However, bloating or weight gain can be experienced by some people because of water or fluid retention in the body. You should inform your physician if you experience severe or unusual weight change. Do consult a physician if there are other symptoms as well.
10. Can you just stop taking Hydroxychloroquine?
As of now, no data from any clinical trial suggests any withdrawal symptoms after the abrupt stoppage of Hydroxychloroquine. However, the disease under treatment may flare up in some older people. You may also need to stop the drug to avoid excessive side effects. You should contact your healthcare provider before you stop consuming the medication. You can also consult our experts for a medical opinion.
