When was hydroxychloroquine first used for lupus?
In 1956, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved HCQ for symptoms of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, particularly skin inflammation, hair loss, mouth sores, fatigue, and joint pain.
Are antimalarial drugs used to treat lupus?
Types of antimalarials Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is the most common antimalarial for lupus. If you can't take hydroxychloroquine, your doctor may recommend chloroquine (Aralen®). These medicines can be taken as pills or liquids.
Why is chloroquine used for lupus?
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are approved for the treatment of SLE and have been shown to reduce the frequency of disease flares (particularly of lupus nephritis), contribute to the maintenance of remission, prolong the onset of disease and reduce the risk of complications.
Is lupus related to malaria?
Malaria, the prototypic parasitic infection, and systemic lupus erythematosus, the prototypic non-organ-specific autoimmune disease, have been linked since 1968, when it was hypothesized that malaria protected against systemic lupus erythematosus.
Why are antimalarials given to SLE patients?
Anti-malarial medications help to control lupus in several ways by modulating the immune system without predisposing you to infection. Anti-malarials can protect against UV light and sometimes even improve skin lesions that do not respond to treatment with topical therapy (ointments).
What is the latest treatment for lupus?
People living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a new drug option. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved anifrolumab (Saphnelo) in early August — the first new drug approved for SLE in 10 years.
What is the downside of taking hydroxychloroquine?
muscle weakness. unusual bleeding or bruising. bleaching or loss of hair. mood or mental changes.
What are the long term effects of taking hydroxychloroquine?
Long-term use and high doses of hydroxychloroquine are risk factors for the development of cardiomyopathy. Cardiac failure, conduction disorders (including QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes) and sudden cardiac death are consequences of the cardiomyopathy.
When was hydroxychloroquine first synthesized?
In 1950, chemists Alexander R. Surrey and Henry F. Hammer at the Sterling–Winthrop Research Institute (Rensselaer, NY) published a synthesis of hydroxychloroquine. The parent company, Sterling Drug, obtained a US patent on the compound and its method of preparation the same year.
Why does Plaquenil work on lupus?
How does Plaquenil work? Plaquenil changes the way your immune system works. In some kinds of lupus, your immune system attacks your body instead of protecting it. Plaquenil tries to quiet or slow down the immune system.
Does hydroxychloroquine prevent malaria?
Hydroxychloroquine (also known as hydroxychloroquine sulfate) is an arthritis medicine that also can be used to prevent malaria. It is available in the United States by prescription only. It is sold under the brand name Plaquenil and it is also sold as a generic medicine.
Is lupus caused by parasites?
The development of disease depends on a genetic predisposition and exposure to environmental factors including UV light, drugs, and infections. The association of parasitic infection and the development of autoimmune disease in general and lupus in particular remains elusive.
Risks
- Anti-malarials are safe to use during pregnancy, but you should speak to your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant to decide the course of treatment that will be best for you. No fetal abnormalities are known to have occurred from taking hydroxychloroquine, and physicians …
Clinical significance
- Damage to the retina, the light sensitive portion of the inner eye, can occur with long-term use of Plaquenil or chloroquine (Aralen). With Plaquenil, however, the most commonly prescribed anti-malarial, this sort of damage occurs only in 1 out of 5,000 people who take the drug for five years or more. For this reason though, it is important that you see an ophthalmologist for an exam bef…
Contraindications
- Do not smoke while taking anti-malarial medications, since smoking actually reduces the benefits of these drugs. In fact, people with lupus should not smoke at all due to their increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Prevention
- You should always take your anti-malarial medications with food to prevent stomach upset. If a stomachache does occur, it is usually temporary. However, if you experience stomach upset while taking generic hydroxychloroquine, ask your doctor about trying name-brand Plaquenil instead. While these medications contain the same active ingredient, the preparation of generic hydroxyc…
Results
- Lastly, remember that even though you may feel the benefits of anti-malarial therapy after about a month of treatment, it may take up to three months for the full benefits of the drug to manifest. If you experience any serious adverse effects, notify your doctor.
Benefits
- Anti-malarial drugs may have additional health benefits for some people. Potential benefits include greater protection from UV light and lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels. These benefits may be especially helpful for people taking steroids. In addition, individuals with antiphospholipid antibodies, such as the lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies, ma…
Prognosis
- Most people (about 90%) who take anti-malarial medications experience no side effects. If side effects do occur, they are usually minor and last only for a short period of time.