Hydroxychloroquine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and malaria. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Antimalarial
- Treats
- Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Malaria
- Available as
- Tablet
- Sold as
- 3 products — Sovuna, Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate and Plaquenil
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- about 40 to 50 days (terminal elimination half-life in whole blood)
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $5 for a 30-count supply — not your price
How hydroxychloroquine is dosed
From the FDA label for Sovuna (application NDA214581). Other hydroxychloroquine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Malaria in Adult and Pediatric Patients (2.2): Prophylaxis: Begin weekly doses 2 weeks prior to travel to the endemic area, continue weekly doses while in the endemic area, and continue the weekly doses for 4 weeks after leaving the endemic area: Adults: 400 mg once a week Pediatric patients weighing greater than or equal to 23 kg: 6.5 mg/kg actual body weight up to 400 mg, once a week Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria: See Full Prescribing Information (FPI) for complete dosing information. Rheumatoid Arthritis in Adults (2.3): Initial dosage: 400 mg to 600 mg daily Chronic dosage: 200 mg, 300 mg or 400 mg once daily (or in two divided doses) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Adults (2.4): 200 mg, 300 mg or 400 mg once daily (or in two divided doses) Chronic Discoid Lupus Erythematosus in Adults (2.5): 200 mg or 400 mg once daily (or in two divided doses) 2.1 Important Administration Instructions Administer SOVUNA orally with food or milk. Do not crush the tablets. 2.2 Dosage for Malaria in Adult and Pediatric Patients SOVUNA is not recommended in pediatric patients less than 23 kg because the lowest possible dose of 150 mg (half of the scored 300 mg tablet) exceeds the recommended dose for these patients. Prophylaxis Treatment must start 2 weeks before travel to an endemic area. Advise the patient to take the prophylaxis dosage once a week, staring 2 weeks prior to travel to…
Hydroxychloroquine side effects
The following adverse reactions are described in greater detail in other sections: Cardiomyopathy and Ventricular Arrhythmias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] Retinal Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] Serious Skin Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] Worsening of Psoriasis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] Risks Associated with Use in Porphyria [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] Hematologic Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)] Hemolytic Anemia Associated with G6PD [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] Skeletal Muscle Myopathy or Neuropathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)] Neuropsychiatric Reactions Including Suicidality [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)] Hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)] Renal Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11)] The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of 4 aminoquinoline drugs, including SOVUNA. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure: Blood and lymphatic system disorders : Bone marrow depression, anemia, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia Cardiac disorders: Cardiomyopathy, cardiac failure, QT-interval prolongation, ventricular tachycardia, torsades de pointes,…
Who shouldn’t take hydroxychloroquine
SOVUNA is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to 4-aminoquinoline compounds. Patients with hypersensitivity to 4-aminoquinoline compounds (4)
Hydroxychloroquine drug interactions
Drugs Prolonging QT Interval and Other Arrhythmogenic Drugs. (7.1) See FPI for more important drug interactions. (7) 7.1 Drugs Prolonging QT Interval and Other Arrhythmogenic Drugs SOVUNA prolongs the QT interval. There may be an increased risk of inducing ventricular arrhythmias if SOVUNA is used concomitantly with other arrhythmogenic drugs. Therefore, SOVUNA is not recommended in patients taking other drugs that have the potential to prolong the QT interval or are arrhythmogenic [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. 7.2 Insulin or Other Antidiabetic Drugs SOVUNA may enhance the effects of insulin and antidiabetic drugs, and consequently increase the hypoglycemic risk. Therefore, a decrease in dosage of insulin and other antidiabetic drugs may be necessary [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10 ) ] . 7.3 Drugs that Lower the Seizure Threshold SOVUNA can lower the seizure threshold. Co-administration of SOVUNA with other antimalarials known to lower the seizure threshold (e.g., mefloquine) may increase the risk of seizures. 7.4 Antiepileptics The activity of antiepileptic drugs might be impaired if co-administered with SOVUNA. 7.5 Methotrexate Concomitant use of SOVUNA and methotrexate may increase the incidence of adverse reactions. 7.6 Cyclosporine An increased plasma cyclosporin level was reported when cyclosporin and SOVUNA were co-administered. Monitor serum cyclosporine levels closely in patients receiving combined therapy. 7.7 Digoxin Concomitant SOVUNA and digoxin therapy may result in increased serum digoxin levels. Monitor serum digoxin levels closely in patients receiving combined therapy. 7.8 Cimetidine Concomitant use of cimetidine resulted in a 2-fold increase of exposure of chloroquine, which is structurally related to hydroxychloroquine. Interaction of cimetidine with hydroxychloroquine cannot be ruled out. Avoid concomitant use of cimetidine. 7.9 Rifampicin Lack of efficacy of hydroxychloroquine was reported when rifampicin was concomitantly administered. Avoid concomitant use of rifampicin. 7.10 Praziquantel Chloroquine has been reported to reduce the bioavailability of praziquantel. Interaction of praziquantel with hydroxychloroquine cannot be ruled out. 7.11 Antacids and kaolin Antacids and kaolin can reduce absorption of chloroquine; an interval of at least 4 hours between intake of these agents and chloroquine should be observed. Interaction of antacids and kaolin with hydroxychloroquine cannot be ruled out. 7.12 Ampicillin In a study of healthy volunteers, chloroquine significantly reduced the bioavailability of ampicillin. Interaction of ampicillin with hydroxychloroquine cannot be ruled out.
Every hydroxychloroquine product we track (3)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $5 | View → |
What hydroxychloroquine pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
How long hydroxychloroquine keeps
No hydroxychloroquine label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does hydroxychloroquine expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsHydroxychloroquine and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for hydroxychloroquine: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadInfants exposed to hydroxychloroquine during breastfeeding receive only small amounts of the drug in breastmilk. In infants up to at least 1 year of age, careful follow-up found no adverse effects on growth, vision or hearing.[1–3] International professional guidelines have stated that the drug is a low risk to the nursing infant and acceptable to use during breastfeeding.[4–6]
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised June 15, 2025. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about hydroxychloroquine
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 41,092 reports naming hydroxychloroquine, and the FDA flagged 87% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- rheumatoid arthritis13,885 reports
- fatigue9,602 reports
- drug intolerance9,391 reports
- arthralgia8,576 reports
- joint swelling8,553 reports
- contraindicated product administered8,187 reports
- alopecia7,843 reports
- rash7,817 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean hydroxychloroquine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
How long hydroxychloroquine stays in your system
The elimination half-life of hydroxychloroquine is about 40 to 50 days (terminal elimination half-life in whole blood). This is the TERMINAL (beta) half-life, not a distribution phase: the label separately reports an absorption half-life of roughly 3 to 4 hours, which is a different thing entirely. After a single 200 mg oral dose the label gives a half-life of "about 40 days" in whole blood; with chronic dosing the terminal half-life ranged from 40 to 50 days. The label itself hedges that the "effective" half-life is likely shorter, and that steady state is reached by about 6 weeks on 400 mg daily. Half-lives measured in whole blood run higher than plasma values, because the drug concentrates in blood cells and tissues. Metabolites: the label names three (desethylhydroxychloroquine [DHCQ, the major one], desethylchloroquine, and bidesethylhydroxychloroquine) but does not state their half-lives, so no metabolite half-life can be given from this label. Hydroxychloroquine is not a prodrug. Organ function: the label does not report separate pharmacokinetic values for kidney impairment, liver impairment, or older adults. It does say a dose reduction may be necessary in renal or hepatic disease, and that because the drug is substantially excreted by the kidney, the risk of toxic reactions may be greater with impaired renal function, with lowest-dose starting advised in patients 65 and older. This is not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance.
DailyMed — HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE SULFATE tablet, film coated (FDA label, §12.3 Pharmacokinetics) ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is hydroxychloroquine?
Sovuna (Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate) is an antimalarial used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Malaria, Photosensitivity Disorders.
What kind of drug is hydroxychloroquine?
The FDA classifies hydroxychloroquine as an antimalarial. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
How long does hydroxychloroquine stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of hydroxychloroquine is about 40 to 50 days (terminal elimination half-life in whole blood) — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. This is the TERMINAL (beta) half-life, not a distribution phase: the label separately reports an absorption half-life of roughly 3 to 4 hours, which is a different thing entirely. After a single 200 mg oral dose the label gives a half-life of "about 40 days" in whole blood; with chronic dosing the terminal half-life ranged from 40 to 50 days. The label itself hedges that the "effective" half-life is likely shorter, and that steady state is reached by about 6 weeks on 400 mg daily. Half-lives measured in whole blood run higher than plasma values, because the drug concentrates in blood cells and tissues. Metabolites: the label names three (desethylhydroxychloroquine [DHCQ, the major one], desethylchloroquine, and bidesethylhydroxychloroquine) but does not state their half-lives, so no metabolite half-life can be given from this label. Hydroxychloroquine is not a prodrug. Organ function: the label does not report separate pharmacokinetic values for kidney impairment, liver impairment, or older adults. It does say a dose reduction may be necessary in renal or hepatic disease, and that because the drug is substantially excreted by the kidney, the risk of toxic reactions may be greater with impaired renal function, with lowest-dose starting advised in patients 65 and older. This is not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take hydroxychloroquine with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run hydroxychloroquine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is hydroxychloroquine sold under?
We track 3 hydroxychloroquine-containing products in the U.S.: Sovuna, Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate and Plaquenil. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does hydroxychloroquine come in?
Across the brands we track, hydroxychloroquine is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic hydroxychloroquine?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic hydroxychloroquine product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Hydroxychloroquine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/hydroxychloroquine
- MLA
- “Hydroxychloroquine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/hydroxychloroquine.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for hydroxychloroquine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.