Chloroquine

DRUG INFORMATION

  ADULT
    - Prophylaxis against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium species Adult Dose: The
      dosage for prophylaxis is 500 mg (= 300 mg base) administered once per week on
      exactly the same day of each week.
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'dosage and
      administration', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - However, failing this in adults, an initial double (loading) dose of 1 g (= 600 mg
      base), or in children 10 mg base/kg may be taken in two divided doses, six hours
      apart.
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'dosage and
      administration', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - Treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium species
      Adults: An initial dose of 1 g salt (= 600 mg base) followed by an additional 500
      mg (= 300 mg base) after six to eight hours and a single dose of 500 mg (= 300 mg
      base) on each of two consecutive days.
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'dosage and
      administration', retrieved 2026-08-29

  CHILD
    - The dosage of chloroquine phosphate is often expressed in terms of equivalent
      chloroquine base. Each 250 mg and 500 mg tablet of chloroquine phosphate tablet
      contains the equivalent of 150 mg and 300 mg chloroquine base respectively. In
      infants and children the dosage is preferably calculated by body weight.
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'dosage and
      administration', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - Pediatric Dose: The dosage for prophylaxis is 5 mg calculated as base, per kg of
      body weight, administered once per week on exactly the same day of each week.
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'dosage and
      administration', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - However, failing this in adults, an initial double (loading) dose of 1 g (= 600 mg
      base), or in children 10 mg base/kg may be taken in two divided doses, six hours
      apart.
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'dosage and
      administration', retrieved 2026-08-29

  RENAL IMPAIRMENT
    - No kidney-impairment dose in this label. Not a statement that none is needed.
      Source: Read and found silent: the US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine
      Phosphate), retrieved 2026-08-29

  HEPATIC IMPAIRMENT
    - No liver-impairment dose in this label. Not a statement that none is needed.
      Source: Read and found silent: the US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine
      Phosphate), retrieved 2026-08-29

  PREGNANCY
    - Nothing on pregnancy in this label. Treat as unknown, not as safe.
      Source: Read and found silent: the US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine
      Phosphate), retrieved 2026-08-29

  BREASTFEEDING
    - Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from
      chloroquine, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to
      discontinue the drug, taking into account the potential clinical benefit of the
      drug to the mother.
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'nursing
      mothers', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - The excretion of chloroquine and the major metabolite, desethylchloroquine, in
      breast milk was investigated in eleven lactating mothers following a single oral
      dose of chloroquine (600 mg base).
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'nursing
      mothers', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - The maximum daily dose of the drug that the infant can receive from breastfeeding
      was about 0.7% of the maternal start dose of the drug in malaria chemotherapy.
      Source: US FDA label for chloroquine (Chloroquine Phosphate), section 'nursing
      mothers', retrieved 2026-08-29