CHLOROQUINE

Antibacterial activity

Use for treatment and prophylaxis of malaria and treatment of extra intestinal amebiasis
Effective against Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae and most strains of Plasmodium falciparum (but not the gametocytes of P. falciparum) and also has amebicidal activity (ex. Entamoeba histolytica)

Pregnancy Risk Factor

Class C

Contraindication/Precaution

Hypersensitivity to chloroquine phosphate or any component
Do not use in the presence of retinal or visual field changes, follow visual acuity
Do not use in the presence of porphyria
Do not use with nursing mothers
Use caution if impaired liver function or  liver disease
Use caution if GI disorders
Use caution in the presence of G-6-PD deficiency
Use caution in the presence of neurologic disease
Use caution  in the presence of psoriasis

Mechanism of Action

Not completely understood: binds to and inhibits DNA and RNA polymerase

Pharmacodynamics

Metabolism: liver. partially
Half-life: 3-5 days
Elimination: ~70% excreted in urine

Dosage

Note: 250 mg chloroquine phosphate=150 mg chloroquine base

Children:

Suppression or prophylaxis of malaria: (max 300 mg base/dose)
begin 1-2 weeks prior to exposure: 5 mg base/kg PO qwk until 4-8 weeks after leaving endemic area
if not begun prior to exposure:  10 mg base/kg PO qwk (in 2 divided doses 6 hours apart) followed by the usual dosage regimen
Malaria treatment: (max 300 mg base/dose)
10 mg base/kg PO on day 1 then
5 mg base/kg PO 6 hours later then
5 mg base/kg PO on day 2 and 3
Amebiasis, extra intestinal: (max 300 mg base/dose)
10 mg base/kg PO qd for 2-3 weeks

Adults:

Suppression or prophylaxis of malaria:
begin 1-2 weeks prior to exposure: 500 mg PO qwk until 4-8 weeks after leaving endemic area
if not begun prior to exposure:  1 g PO qwk (in 2 divided doses 6 hours apart) followed by the usual dosage regimen
Malaria treatment: 
1 g PO on day 1 then
500 mg PO 6 hours later then
500 mg PO on day 2 and 3
Amebiasis, extra intestinal: 
1 g PO qd for 2 days then
500 mg Po qd for 2-3 weeks

Dose VS renal function

Cr. clearance (ml/min):
<10:  Administer 50% of dose >10: unchanged

Dialysis
Hemo: N/A
CAPD: N/A