Chloroquine belongs to a group of drugs called aminoquinolines. The study of the mechanism of its action is still in progress; this drug is believed to stop normal metabolism inside the malaria parasites and thus kill the most sensitive of them. Chloroquine is most commonly used for the treatment of certain strains of malaria, as well as for suppressing acute malaria attacks. It can also be prescribed in cases of extraintestinal amebias, a certain type of parasitic infection.
Some medications have been shown to interact with Chloroquine to a certain degree. For example, the side effects of this drugs may be increased if you are taking it with cimetidine or quinacrine preparations. Chloroquine also decreases the effectiveness of thyroid hormones, ampicillin antibiotica and rabies vaccine, and increases the side effects of Cyclosporine. It is also dangerous to use along with any drugs containing arsenic, astemizole, cisapride, dofetilide, or terfenalide since it can lead to dangerous heartbeat irregularities and other severe problems.
Chloroquine is administered in the form of an injection, which you can receive at your doctor's office or help yourself at home, carefully following the instructions that your physician will give you. Do not use Chloroquine if the vial is cracked or otherwise damaged, or if the medication is discolored or contains particles. Keep everything you need for the injections away from children and pets. Follow the local rules of medical trash disposal.
