Chloroquinedosage

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. 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.

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. The pediatric dose should never exceed the adult dose regardless of weight. If circumstances permit, suppressive therapy should begin two weeks prior to exposure. 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. The suppressive therapy should be continued for eight weeks after leaving the endemic area. 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. This represents a total dose of 2.5 g chloroquine phosphate or 1.5 g base in three days.

Infants and Children: In infants and children, the recommended dose is 10 mg base/kg followed by 5 mg based/kg at 6, 24 and 36 hours (total dose 25 mg based/kg). The pediatric dose should never exceed the adult dose regardless of weight. The dosage for adults of low body weight and for infants and children should be determined as follows: First dose: 10 mg base per kg (but not exceeding a single dose of 600 mg base).

Second dose: (6 hours after first dose) 5 mg base per kg (but not exceeding a single dose of 300 mg base).

Third dose: (24 hours after first dose) 5 mg base per kg.

Fourth dose: (36 hours after first dose) 5 mg base per kg. P. vivax and P. ovale: Concomitant therapy with an 8-aminoquinoline compound is necessary for treatment of the hypnozoite liver stage forms of the parasites.

Extraintestinal Amebiasis: Adults Dosage: 1 g salt (600 mg base) daily for two days, followed by 500 mg (300 mg base) daily for at least two to three weeks. Treatment is usually combined with an effective intestinal amebicide. Geriatric Use See PRECAUTIONS, Geriatric Use.