Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine

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Hydroxychloroquine is a drug used to treat and prevent malaria. This drug is used in those areas where malaria is sensitive to chloroquine. Hydroxychloroquine or HCQ can also be used for the treatment of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and porphyria cutanea tarda. It is an oral preparation taken through mouth. Some scientists are affirmative that it can also prevent novel Coronavirus or COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine shows better results in presymptomatic malaria, so it is mostly used as precautionary medicine against malaria.



Basic Chemistry and Medical Use 

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or hydroxychloroquine sulfate or phosphate is a medical drug used in symptomatic treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatic disorders. Certain types of malaria (resistant strains) need additional or different medication. In post Lyme arthritis, hydroxychloroquine is widely used. It has both anti spirochete and anti inflammatory responses. 
Hydroxychloroquine is labelled safest and effective medicine in health systems by WHO (World Health Organization) that means this medicine is added in the list of essential first line medicines. Hydroxychloroquine saw more than 5 million prescription in 2017 in US alone. You should get a better idea of its effectiveness through prescriptions. 

Side Effects 

Side effects may range from minor complications to severe problems like; headache, partial loss of sight or weakened sight, vomiting, change in vision and muscle fatigue. Some severe complications include allergic reactions and breathlessness. It is a 4 aminoquinolone derivative and effective therapy against malaria. 

Contraindications 

Hydroxychloroquine is a 4 aminoquinolone drug and should not be prescribed to person with any known hypersensitivity. If a patient have any heart problem, psoriasis or diabetes he/she must avoid this drug. 

Is HCQ Helpful to fight against COVID-19?

There is a little evidence that COVID-19 can be cured by Hydroxychloroquine. However, research is under it's way and in near future it will be clear if HCQ help prevent COVID-19. Recently in Pakistan's Punjab province, health ministry allowed to use HCQ in treatment of COVID-19 patients. This has shown positive results and in nature we hope this comes out be a complete vaccine for novel coronavirus. 

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