Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Teva-Chloroquine
What is TEVA-CHLOROQUINE used for?
- The prevention and treatment of certain forms of Malaria: an infection caused by parasites in your red blood cells.
- The treatment of Extraintestinal Amoebiasis: an infection caused by parasites.
How does TEVA-CHLOROQUINE work?
TEVA-CHLOROQUINE prevents certain parasites from growing in your red blood cells.
What are the ingredients in TEVA-CHLOROQUINE?
Medicinal ingredients: Chloroquine phosphate
Non-medicinal ingredients: Dibasic calcium phosphate (dihydrate), lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, pregelatinized starch.
TEVA-CHLOROQUINE comes in the following dosage forms:
Tablet, 250 mg
Do not use TEVA-CHLOROQUINE if you:
- are allergic to chloroquine or any of the other ingredients used in TEVA-CHLOROQUINE
- have retinal or visual field changes. You should tell your doctor right away if you have any problems with your vision.
- have had an allergic reaction to 4-aminoquinoline compounds such as other anti-malarial drugs.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take TEVA-CHLOROQUINE. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- are allergic or sensitive to a drug called to quinine.
- have retinopathy or any visual problems.
- have weakness in your muscles, especially in the knees or ankles.
- have a skin disease called psoriasis.
- have liver disease or kidney.
have alcoholism.
have a genetic red blood cell disease known as “glucose-6-phosphate
- dehydrogenase deficiency”.
are pregnant, or you are planning to get pregnant. TEVA-CHLOROQUINE may be passed to your unborn baby. TEVA-CHLOROQUINE may harm your unborn baby. Your doctor will evaluate the benefit and risk of using TEVA-CHLOROQUINE during pregnancy.
- are breastfeeding. TEVA-CHLOROQUINE passes into breast milk in small amounts. Talk to your doctor about the risks TEVA-CHLOROQUINE can have on your baby.
- have heart disease or history of heart disease
Other warnings you should know about:
TEVA-CHLOROQUINE can be seriously harmful or fatal to children if taken incorrectly. Keep TEVA-CHLOROQUINE out of the reach and sight of children.
If you take TEVA-CHLOROQUINE for a long period, your doctor should conduct complete blood cell counts regularly. Your doctor may change or stop treatment if you develop any new blood disorders.
If you have heart disease or a history of heart disease, taking TEVA-CHLOROQUINE at high doses for a long period is risk. You should monitor for signs and symptoms of heart discomfort and discontinue chloroquine, with the advice of the healthcare professional.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
How to take TEVA-CHLOROQUINE:
Usual dose:
The dosage of TEVA-CHLOROQUINE (chloroquine phosphate) is often expressed or calculated as the base. Each 250 mg tablet of TEVA-CHLOROQUINE is equivalent to 155 mg chloroquine base. In infants and children the dosage is preferably calculated on the body weight.
Adults:
| Condition | Recommended dose | |
| Malaria | Suppression/ Prevention: | Start therapy 2 weeks prior to exposure. Take 1 tablet a week on exactly the same day of the week. |
| If you do not start therapy 2 weeks prior to exposure, a double dose of 2 tablets may be taken, followed by 2 more tablets in 6 hours. Continue this therapy for 8 weeks after leaving the endemic area. | ||
| Treatment: | Initially, take 4 tablets, followed by 2 tablets in 6 hours. Then take 2 tablets on the second and third | |
| days, or as directed by your healthcare professional. | ||
| Extraintestinal amebiasis | Treatment | Take 4 tablets a day for 2 days. Then take 2 tablets a day for at least 2 to 3 weeks. Treatment is usually combined with an effective intestinal amebicide. |
Infants and Children: Your doctor will tell you how much TEVA-CHLOROQUINE to give your child based on your child’s body weight.
Overdose:
Taking too much TEVA-CHLOROQUINE is dangerous and can lead to death. You could have symptoms of overdose within 30 minutes after taking it. Taking too much TEVA-CHLOROQUINE is also dangerous for children.
Symptoms of overdose include:
- headache
- feeling drowsy
- vision problems, like seeing blurry or in double
- nausea or vomiting
- heart problems like uneven heartbeats or rapid heartbeats
- fainting
- convulsions
- serious trouble breathing
| If you think you have taken too much TEVA-CHLOROQUINE, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
Missed Dose:
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and take only the regularly scheduled dose. Never take a double dose.
What are possible side effects from using TEVA-CHLOROQUINE?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking TEVA-CHLOROQUINE. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
- Nausea, vomiting
- Stomach pain, stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
- Reduced hearing or ringing in the ears
- Itching, blemishes and change in skin colour
- Hair loss
- Nervous disorder symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, personality changes, depression, and suicidal behavior
- Heart Problems
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | |||
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| COMMON | |||
| Anorexia: loss or lack of appetite | ✓ | ||
| Visual problems and damage to the retina of the eye: blurred vision, seeing halos around lights, especially at night. Seeing light flashes and streaks. Night blindness with difficulty seeing at night or in poor light. Visual field loss including blind spots or blind areas in your vision. Change in eye colour. Difficulty focusing your eyes, or skipping words when reading. | ✓ | ||
| Headache | ✓ | ||
| Convulsive Seizures: spasms, shaking or fits | ✓ | ||
| RARE | |||
| Hypotension (low blood pressure): dizziness, fainting, light-headedness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (may occur when you go from lying or sitting to standing up) | ✓ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
Store 15°C to 30°C. Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about TEVA-CHLOROQUINE:
- Talk to your healthcare professional.
- Find the Prescribing Information that is prepared for healthcare professionals by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html).
- Find the Prescribing Information on the manufacturer’s website http://www.tevacanada.com; or by calling 1-800-268-4127 ext. 3; or email druginfo@tevacanada.com.