Hydroxychloroquine sulfate

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate (Plaquenil®) is used in dermatology to treat the cutaneous lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus erythematosus that are unresponsive to topical therapy.

Precaution:

• Psoriasis may be severely exacerbated by hydroxychloroquine sulfate.
• Use in pregnancy should be avoided.
• Use with caution if liver disease is present.

Adverse effects:

• Irreversible dose related retinal damage can occur. Retinal function, including visual fields, must be monitored at 3 month intervals during long term therapy.
• Pancytopenia can occur on long term therapy.
• Check your compendium for other adverse affects.

Dosage:

• 200 to 800 mg po daily may be required to achieve control.
• The long term treatment of SLE usually requires 200 to 400 mg daily.

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