Chloroquine phosphate

Chloroquine phosphate is a drug used in the treatment and prevention of malaria, a disease caused by parasites that enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. It is also used to treat amoebiasis, an infection caused by amoebae.

History

Chloroquine was discovered in 1934 by Hans Andersag and his team at the Bayer laboratories, who named it "Resochin". It was ignored for a decade because it was considered too toxic for human use. During World War II, the United States government sponsored the clinical trials of chloroquine as an antimalarial drug. Chloroquine was eventually accepted as an effective treatment for malaria in 1947.

Pharmacology

Chloroquine is a quinoline medicine used to treat or prevent malaria. It works by interfering with the growth of parasites in the red blood cells of the human body. Parasites that cause malaria typically enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. Malaria is common in areas such as Africa, South America, and Southern Asia.

Side Effects

Common side effects include muscle problems, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and skin rash. Serious side effects include problems with vision, muscle damage, seizures, and low blood cell levels. It appears to be safe for use during pregnancy. Chloroquine is a member of the drug class 4-aminoquinoline.

Resistance

Resistance to chloroquine has become a problem in some parts of the world. Certain types of malaria, resistant strains, and complicated cases typically require different or additional medication.

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, chloroquine has been used off-label in hospitals around the world to treat severe cases of COVID-19. However, its effectiveness for this use has not been definitively proven and is the subject of ongoing research.