Also indexed as: Plaquenil
Hydroxychloroquine is used to prevent and treat acute attacks of malaria and to treat both
acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. It is in a class of drugs known as
antimalarials.
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
 May Be Beneficial: Depletion or
interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or
function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them. |
Calcium*
Vitamin D*
|
| May Be Beneficial: Supportive
interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication
work better. |
Vitamin B6*
|
Avoid: Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability—Avoid these supplements
when taking this medication since the supplement may decrease the absorption and/or activity
of the medication in the body. |
Magnesium*
|
| Side effect reduction/prevention |
None known
|
| Adverse interaction |
None known
|
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the
interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific
evidence.
Interactions with Dietary Supplements
Calcium and Vitamin D
Normally, the active form of vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium into the body. In a
45-year-old woman with sarcoidosis, taking hydroxychloroquine blocked the formation of active
vitamin D, which helped normalize elevated blood levels of calcium in this case.1
Whether hydroxychloroquine has this effect in people who don’t have sarcoidosis or
elevated calcium is unknown. Until controlled research explores this interaction more
thoroughly, people taking hydroxychloroquine might consider having their vitamin D and/or
calcium status monitored by a health practitioner.
Vitamin
B6
An individual who took hydroxychloroquine and vitamin B6 together for nine years experienced a
complete disappearance of skin nodules caused by
rheumatoid arthritis.2 Controlled study is needed to determine whether taking
vitamin B6 with or without hydroxychloroquine might help eliminate nodules in people with
rheumatoid arthritis.
Magnesium
Magnesium supplementation may reduce blood levels of chloroquine, a compound similar to
hydroxychloroquine, and decrease its effectiveness.3 Until more is known, people
taking hydroxychloroquine for arthritis who are also using magnesium supplements and are not
experiencing relief might try avoiding the supplements or taking them at separate times.
Interaction with Foods and Other Compounds –––
Hydroxychloroquine should be taken with food to avoid possible stomach
upset.4
References:1. Barre PE, Gascon-Barre M, Meakins JL, Goltzman D. Hydroxychloroquine
treatment of hypercalcemia in a patient with sarcoidosis undergoing hemodialysis. Am J
Med 1987;82:1259–62.
2. McCarty DJ. Complete reversal of rheumatoid nodulosis. J
Rheumatology 1991;18:736–7.
3. Olin BR, ed. Anti-infectives, Antimalarial Preparations,
4-Aminoquinoline Compounds. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO:
Facts and Comparisons, 1993, 1913–6.
4. Olin BR, ed. Anti-infectives, Antimalarial Preparations,
4-Aminoquinoline Compounds. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO:
Facts and Comparisons, 1993, 1913–6.