MedeliX
Start asking

Chloroquine

Kutlu, Oroquine · ATC code P01BA01

Also known as: Chloroquin, Klorokin, Chloroquine Phosphate

Key facts
Active substance
Chloroquine
Drug class
Aminoquinoline
ATC code
P01BA01
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-29

Key facts

Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial. Per the US prescribing information, it is used to treat uncomplicated malaria, to prevent malaria where there is no chloroquine resistance, and to treat extraintestinal amebiasis.

What it is used for

  • Uncomplicated malaria due to susceptible strains of P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. vivax
  • Malaria prophylaxis in areas without chloroquine resistance
  • Extraintestinal amebiasis
  • Not for complicated malaria; does not prevent relapses of vivax or ovale malaria – an 8-aminoquinoline is also required

Dosing

  • Each 500 mg tablet of chloroquine phosphate contains 300 mg chloroquine base
  • Prophylaxis, adults: 500 mg (300 mg base) once per week on the same day; children: 5 mg base per kg once per week; start two weeks before exposure and continue for eight weeks after leaving the endemic area
  • Treatment of uncomplicated malaria, adults: 1 g (600 mg base), then 500 mg (300 mg base) after six to eight hours and 500 mg on each of two consecutive days; children: 10 mg base/kg, then 5 mg base/kg at 6, 24 and 36 hours
  • The pediatric dose should never exceed the adult dose
  • Extraintestinal amebiasis, adults: 1 g daily for two days, then 500 mg daily for at least two to three weeks

Contraindications

  • Retinal or visual field changes of any etiology (for indications other than acute malaria)
  • Known hypersensitivity to 4-aminoquinoline compounds

Important warnings

  • Fatal and life-threatening cardiotoxicity, including cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias and QT prolongation
  • Irreversible retinal damage; eye examinations are recommended
  • Severe hypoglycemia, including loss of consciousness, with or without antidiabetic drugs
  • Not effective against chloroquine-resistant strains; resistance is widespread in P. falciparum
  • Muscle and nerve toxicity on long-term therapy; increased risk of convulsions in patients with epilepsy
  • Overdose can be fatal; as little as 1 g may be fatal in children

Side effects

  • Eyes: maculopathy, irreversible retinopathy, visual disturbances, reversible corneal opacities
  • Urticaria, anaphylactic reactions including angioedema
  • Nerve-type deafness, tinnitus
  • Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias; hypoglycemia

Interactions

  • Antacids and kaolin reduce absorption – separate by at least 4 hours
  • Cimetidine can raise chloroquine levels
  • Chloroquine can reduce the bioavailability of praziquantel
  • Drugs causing retinal toxicity, such as tamoxifen: not recommended
  • Antidiabetic drugs: risk of hypoglycemia

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Studies with chloroquine exposure in pregnancy showed no increase in birth defects or spontaneous abortions; animal studies showed embryo-fetal toxicity at high doses
  • The individual benefit-risk balance should be reviewed before use in pregnancy

Summary of the official product information, written with AI on 2026-10-29. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

Common questions – ask Medelix

For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Turkey

  • KutluABDİ İBRAHİM İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries
  • OroquinePOLİFARMA İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 5 more European countries
Cyprus
Chloroquine Phosphate Remedica
Greece
Unikinon
Hungary
Delagil
Netherlands
A-Cq
Portugal
Cloroquina Labesfal

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

Other substances in the same group

Another question about this substance?

Medelix answers clinical questions from guidelines, studies and product information – every claim with its source.

Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Chloroquine Phosphate (Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc.) – Prescribing Information, 2026-07-02. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=06c69e2b-211b-4746-9f3a-f86d36520570
  2. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  3. Wikidata (CC0): ATC P01BA.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-29 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.