Results for Hydroxychloroquine
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Drug Info:

Hydroxychloroquine

Brand names: Plaquenil®, Quineprox®

Chemical formula:



Oxycodone tablets or capsules

What are oxycodone tablets or capsules?

OXYCODONE (Roxicodone®, OxyIR®, M-Oxy™, Percolone™) relieves moderate to severe pain. Federal law prohibits the transfer of oxycodone to any person other than the patient for whom it was prescribed. Do not share this medicine with anyone else. Generic oxycodone tablets are available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• if you frequently drink alcohol-containing beverages or have a history of drug abuse
• abnormal bladder function, difficulty urinating
• constipation
• heart disease
• intestinal disease
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• lung disease, severe asthma, or breathing difficulties
• mental problems
• seizures
• other chronic health condition
• an unusual or allergic reaction to oxycodone, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take oxycodone tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. If oxycodone upsets your stomach, you can take it with food or milk.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Do not share this medicine with anyone.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with oxycodone?

• medicines for high blood pressure
• medicines for seizures
• ritonavir
Because oxycodone can cause drowsiness, other medicines that also cause drowsiness may increase this effect of oxycodone. Some medicines that cause drowsiness are:
• alcohol and alcohol-containing medicines
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital
• certain antidepressants or tranquilizers
• muscle relaxants
• certain antihistamines used in cold medicines
Ask your prescriber or health care professional about other medicines that may increase the effect of oxycodone.

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking oxycodone?

Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your pain does not go away, if it gets worse, or if you have new or different type of pain.

Use exactly as directed by your prescriber or health care professional. If you are taking oxycodone on a regular basis, do not suddenly stop taking it. Your body becomes used to the oxycodone and when you suddenly stop taking it, you may develop a severe reaction. This does NOT mean you are "addicted" to oxycodone. Addiction is a behavior related to getting and using a drug for a non-medical reason. If you have pain, you have a medical reason to take pain medicine such as oxycodone to control your pain. If you do stop oxycodone treatment after several days, your prescriber will gradually decrease your dose over a period of time to avoid any adverse reactions.

You may get drowsy or dizzy when you first start taking oxycodone or change doses. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how oxycodone affects you. Stand or sit up slowly, this reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. These effects may be worse if you are an older patient. The drowsiness should decrease after taking oxycodone for a couple of days. If you have not slept because of your pain, you may sleep more the first few days your pain is controlled to catch-up on missed sleep.

Be careful taking other medicines which may also make you tired. This effect may be worse when taking these medicines with oxycodone. Alcohol can increase possible drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and affect your breathing. Avoid alcohol while taking oxycodone.

Oxycodone will cause constipation. Make sure to take a laxative and/or a stool softener while taking oxycodone. Try to have a bowel movement at least every 2—3 days. If you do not have a bowel movement for 3 days or more call your prescriber or health care professional. They may recommend using an enema or suppository to help you move your bowels.

Your mouth may get dry. Drinking plenty of water, chewing sugarless gum or sucking on hard candy may help to relieve dry mouth symptoms. Have regular dental checks.

If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking oxycodone.

Rarely, oxycodone may cause you to have hallucinations (to see things that are not really there) or cause your legs or arms to "jerk" or have spasms. If you experience these effects, call your prescriber or health care professional.

What side effects may I notice from taking oxycodone?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
Rare or uncommon:
• breathing difficulties, wheezing
• cold, clammy skin
• seizures
• slow or fast heartbeat
• severe rash
• unusual weakness
More common:
• confusion
• lightheadedness or fainting spells
• nervousness or restlessness

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• itching
• clumsiness, unsteadiness
• constipation
• decrease or difficulty passing urine
• dizziness, drowsiness
• dry mouth
• flushing
• headache
• nausea, vomiting
• pinpoint pupils
• sweating

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open. Do not share or give this medicine to anyone else. Avoid accidental swallowing of oxycodone by someone (especially children) other than the person for whom it was prescribed as this may result in severe effects and possibly death.

Store at room temperature between 15—30 degrees C (59—86 degrees F). Protect from light. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Last updated: 7/1/2002

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

 
 
Veterinary Dictionary: hydroxychloroquine

A drug used as the sulfate salt in the treatment of lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and giardiasis.

 
WordNet: hydroxychloroquine
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: anti-inflammatory drug (trade name Plaquenil) used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and malaria and lupus erythematosus
  Synonym: Plaquenil


 
Wikipedia: Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine.svg
Hydroxychloroquine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-[{4-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]pentyl}(ethyl)amino]ethanol
Identifiers
CAS number 118-42-3
ATC code P01BA02
PubChem 3652
Chemical data
Formula C18H26ClN3O 
Mol. mass 335.872 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability  ?
Metabolism  ?
Half life 1-2 months
Excretion Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

D (Au), C (U.S.)

Legal status

POM (UK), ℞-only (U.S.)

Routes Oral

Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug, sold under the trade name Plaquenil®, also used to reduce inflammation in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis (see Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) and lupus.

Classification and use

Hydroxychloroquine is classified as an anti-malarial medication, and is one of a number of drugs which have been used for many years in the treatment of malaria. It is useful in treating systemic lupus erythematosus as well as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's Syndrome (all rheumatic disorders) though their action with these conditions is not understood. With arthritis, the benefits will take several weeks to occur.

Dosage

Malaria

For prevention of malaria, the usual adult dose is 400 milligrams per seven days, on the same day, begun two weeks prior to exposure, or two 400 milligrams doses taken six hours apart. Suppressive therapy continues for eight weeks after leaving the contaigious area. For acute malaria is either a single 800 milligram dose, or 800 milligrams followed by 400 milligrams six to eight hours later, and 400 milligrams once per day for two consecutive days. The children's dose will depend on the weight of the child, but should be supervised by a doctor.

Lupus Erythematosus

The adult starting dose is 400 milligrams one to two times daily, for several weeks or months, depending on the reaction. This may be reduced to 200 to 400 milligrams per day for maintenance. With systemic lupus, it is especially useful in relieving skin inflammation, hair loss, oral sores, fatigue and joint pain, as well as preventing relapse.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The adult starting dose is 400 to 600 milligrams per day with food or milk; with improvement (between four to twelve weeks) the maintenance dose is 200 to 400 milligrams daily. Hydroxychloroquine is not safe for the treatment of juvenile arthritis.

Side Effects

Side effects are difficult to anticipate, and should be reported to a doctor immediately if new symptoms develop or old symptoms change in intensity. Generally side effects are not common, but can include (for short-term treatment of acute malaria) abdominal cramps, diarrhea, heart problems, reduced appetite, headache, nausea and vomiting. The symptoms for prolonged treatment of lupus or arthritis include the acute symptoms, plus altered eye pigmentation, acne, anemia, bleaching of hair, blisters in mouth and eyes, blood disorders, convulsions, significant vision difficulties, diminished reflexes, emotional changes, excessive coloring of the skin, hearing loss, hives, itching, liver problems or failure, loss of hair, muscle paralysis, weakness or atrophy, nightmares, psoriasis, reading difficulties, tinnitus, skin inflammation and scaling, skin rash, vertigo, and weight loss. Hydroxychloroquine can worsen existing cases of both psoriasis and porphyria.

The most common side effects are a mild nausea and occasional stomach cramps with mild diarrhea. The most serious side effect is a rare toxicity in the eye (generally with chronic use), and requires regular screening even when symptom-free. The daily safe maximum dose for eye toxicity can be computed from one's height and weight using this calculator.

Toxicity from hydroxychloroquine may be seen in two distinct areas of the eye, the cornea, and the macula. The cornea may become affected (relatively commonly) by an innocuous vortex keratopathy and is characterized by whorl-like corneal epithelial deposits. These changes bear no relationship to dosage and are usually reversible on cessation of hydroxychloroquine.

The macular changes are potentially serious and are related to dosage and length of time taking hydroxychloroquine. Established maculopathy is characterized by moderate reduction of visual acuity and an obvious 'bulls eye' macular lesion. End stage maculopathy is characterized by severe reduction in visual acuity and severe atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium. A type of enzyme deficiency (enzyme G6PD) found most frequently in those of African descent can develop into severe anemia and should also be monitored. Children are more sensitive to hydroxychloroquine than adults are, and small doses can be potentially fatal.

Hydroxychloroquine generally does not have significant interactions with other medications but care should be taken if combined with medication altering liver function as well as Aurothioglucose (Solganal), Cimetidine (Tagamet) or Digoxin (Lanoxin). It will transfer into breastmilk and should be used with care by pregnant or nursing mothers.

Symptoms of overdose can occur within a half-hour of taking the medication. Overdose symptoms include convulsions, drowsiness, headache, heart problems or heart failure, difficulty breathing and vision problems.

References


     
     

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    Copyrights:

    Drug Info. Gold Standard. Copyright © 2008 by Gold Standard. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
    WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hydroxychloroquine" Read more

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