Aralen
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Aralen
Aralen Side Effects Center
Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
Aralen (chloroquine phosphate) is used to treat and to prevent malaria. It is also used to treat infections caused by amoebae. It is an antimalarial drug. This medication is available in generic form. Common side effects include blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, headache, and diarrhea.
To suppress malaria the adult dose of Aralen is 500 mg (= 300 mg base) taken on exactly the same day of each week. Pediatric dose is based on the child's weight. Aralen may interact with cimetidine, kaolin, or magnesium trisilicate. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Aralen should be used only when prescribed. It may harm a fetus. Traveling to an area with malaria while pregnant places a woman and her infant at much higher risk of death and other problems. Discuss the risks and benefits of malaria prevention with your doctor. This drug passes into breast milk and the effect on a nursing infant is unknown. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Our Aralen (chloroquine phosphate) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is Patient Information in Detail?
Easy-to-read and understand detailed drug information and pill images for the patient or caregiver from Cerner Multum.
Aralen in Detail - Patient Information: Side Effects
Stop taking chloroquine and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (flushing; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; vision problems; rash; itching; or fever).
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take chloroquine and talk to your doctor if you experience
- visual disturbances such as blurred vision, misty vision, and difficulty focusing;
- hearing loss or ringing in the ears;
- diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain or upset, vomiting, or loss of appetite;
- muscle weakness; or
- a rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Aralen (Chloroquine) »
What is Patient Information Overview?
A concise overview of the drug for the patient or caregiver from First DataBank.
Aralen Overview - Patient Information: Side Effects
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: bleaching of hair color, hair loss, mental/mood changes (such as confusion, personality changes, unusual thoughts/behavior, depression), ringing in the ears, darkening of skin/tissue inside the mouth, worsening of skin conditions (such as dermatitis, psoriasis), sun sensitivity.
Some side effects only occur rarely with daily, long-term use (over weeks to years). Seek immediate medical attention if any of these very serious side effects occur: signs of a poorly pumping heart (such as tiredness, shortness of breath, swelling legs/ankles), muscle weakness, severe vision changes (such as light flashes/streaks, difficulty reading, complete blindness), hearing loss.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: signs of serious infection (such as high fever, severe chills, persistent sore throat), signs of decreased red blood cells (such as tiredness, pale lips/nails/skin, fast heartbeat/breathing with normal activity level), signs of liver disease (such as severe stomach/abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine), easy bruising/bleeding.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: severe dizziness, fainting, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, seizures.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Read the entire patient information overview for Aralen (Chloroquine)»
What is Prescribing information?
The FDA package insert formatted in easy-to-find categories for health professionals and clinicians.
Aralen FDA Prescribing Information: Side Effects
(Adverse Reactions)
SIDE EFFECTS
Special Senses: Ocular: Irreversible retinal damage in patients receiving long-term or high-dosage 4-aminoquinoline therapy; visual disturbances (blurring of vision and difficulty of focusing or accommodation); nyctalopia; scotomatous vision with field defects of paracentral, pericentral ring types, and typically temporal scotomas, e.g., difficulty in reading with words tending to disappear, seeing half an object, misty vision, and fog before the eyes.
Auditory: Nerve type deafness; tinnitus, reduced hearing in patients with preexisting auditory damage.
Musculoskeletal system: Skeletal muscle myopathy or neuromyopathy leading to progressive weakness and atrophy of proximal muscle groups, which may be associated with mild sensory changes, depression of tendon reflexes and abnormal nerve conduction, have been noted.
Gastrointestinal system: Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps.
Skin and appendages: Pleomorphic skin eruptions, skin and mucosal pigmentary changes; lichen planus-like eruptions, pruritus, photosensitivity and hair loss and bleaching of hair pigment.
Hematologic system: Rarely, aplastic anemia, reversible agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia.
Central Nervous system: Convulsive seizures. Mild and transient headache. Neuropsychiatric changes including psychosis, delirium, personality changes and depression.
Cardiovascular system: Rarely, hypotension, electrocardiographic change (particularly, inversion or depression of the T-wave with widening of the QRS complex), and cardiomyopathy.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Aralen (Chloroquine) »
Additional Aralen Information
Aralen - User Reviews
Aralen User Reviews
Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.
Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Aralen sorted by most helpful.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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