Antimalarial drugs are used in the United States primarily for their anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The exact mechanism by which antimalarial drugs cause toxicity is not well understood.¹ Both antimalarial drugs Plaquenil (hydrochloroquine) and Aralen (chloroquine) are believed to bind to the melanin in the RPE which prolongs exposure of these medications and their toxic effects at the macula.¹

Fewer side effects occur with Plaquenil than with Aralen. It is estimated that approximately 10% to 20% of patients taking chloroquine and 3% of patients taking hydroxychloroquine develop toxicity.² Side effects include blurred vision, bull's eye maculopathy, scotoma, vortex keratopathy, headache, accommodative dysfunction, whitening of eyelashes, and phototoxicity.³ It is rare for side effects to occur with Plaquenil if the medication is dosed properly.

	URL: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/ce/plaq/drugs.htm Revised: May 7, 2007
	IU Optometry home page: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/ Comments (content): Dr. Julie Torbit at jtorbit@indiana.edu Comments: Web Administrator Page design and coding: Terri Greene Copyright © 2007, The Trustees of Indiana University