Chloroquine phosphate is a medication typically given as prophylactic (protective) treatment against malaria, a mosquito-borne disease. It can also treat amebiasis, a condition in which amoebas (small-celled parasites) attach to the walls of your colon. According to MedlinePlus, this medication belongs to the category of medicines called antimalarials and ambecides. Chloroquine phosphate's dosage depends on the disease being treated.
Common Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, chloroquine phosphate can typically cause nausea, diarrhea, visual problems and rashes. Diarrhea can cause dehydration because you lose fluid through your bowel movements. So drink six to ten glasses of water daily to replace this fluid. Chloroquine phosphate can also cause hearing loss, a poor appetite and tinnitis (ringing in your ears). These effects are not life threatening, but inform your physician when chloroquine's common side effects remain for three to five days. She will adjust your dosage to make it tolerable.
Serious Side Effects
The National Library of Medicine says that some mosquito-strains are resistant to chloroquine phosphate. This means that chloroquine phosphate may fail to protect you from getting malaria. Chloroquine phosphate can also cause retinopathy (an eye condition). Symptoms of this include seeing streaks or light flashes, reading difficulties, muscle weakness, arrythmias (irregular heartbeats), trouble breathing and convulsions. An irregular heartbeat can disrupt your heart's pumping ability to the extent that not enough blood goes to the rest of your body. Convulsions occur due to electrical disturbances in your brain and can last for more than 30 minutes, resulting in brain damage and even death. Call 911 if you experience any of these symptoms.
Additional Concerns
Avoid chloroquine phosphate if you are allergic to it. A hypersensitivity reaction to this medication includes hives, trouble breathing and throat or facial swelling. Do not use chloroquine phosphate if you suffer from psoriasis, a serious skin condition consisting of silver plaques and red patches. This medication can trigger psoriasis flare-ups. Drugs.com indicates that you must tell your physician if you have liver disease or porphyria (a blood disorder), as chloroquine phosphate can worsen these conditions also.
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