Home > Drug Category > Anti-Malarial > Plaquenil and Equivalent > Plaquenil 200 mg

Brand Plaquenil 200 mg from Sanofi Aventis Canada

The brand Plaquenil 200 mg is available from Canada manufactured by Sanofi Aventis. It is available in the quantity of 100 tablets.

Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) Information

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine sulphate) is an essential oral medication belonging to the 4-aminoquinoline class of compounds. Originally developed as an antimalarial agent, it is now classified as a Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) due to its potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Plaquenil is primarily indicated for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, specifically Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Chronic Discoid Lupus Erythematosus. It is also a widely used treatment for acute and chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Furthermore, it remains indicated for the prophylaxis and treatment of uncomplicated malaria in areas where the Plasmodium species are sensitive to chloroquine.

Unlike fast-acting immunomodulators, Plaquenil's therapeutic action is cumulative. It has a characteristically slow onset, often requiring several weeks to months to achieve maximum beneficial effects in chronic autoimmune conditions. Long-term compliance is critical, as some patients may need to use it for several years or even their entire lives to control disease activity. Dosage for autoimmune conditions must not exceed a calculated daily dose of 5.0 milligrams per kilogram of ideal body weight (of the salt form), as exceeding this threshold sharply increases the risk of severe toxicity, particularly irreversible retinal damage.

The precise mechanism of action for hydroxychloroquine in autoimmune diseases is complex and not fully elucidated. However, it centers on modulating the immune response. It is known to be a weak base that accumulates in acidic intracellular compartments, such as endosomes and lysosomes, of various cells, including antigen-presenting cells (APCs). By increasing the pH within these vesicles, hydroxychloroquine is thought to disrupt several key processes:

• Interference with Antigen Processing: It impairs the degradation of antigenic proteins and the assembly of their peptides with Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II proteins. This action effectively reduces the presentation of autoantigens to T-cells, thereby down-regulating the overall autoimmune inflammatory response.

• Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) Suppression: It suppresses the activation of endosomal TLRs, which play a significant role in innate immunity and autoimmune disease pathology, particularly in lupus. By binding to nucleic acids in the activation pathway, it blunts the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon-alpha.

If you have any questions about placing your order, contact us at our toll-free service at 1.877.223.9977. Our dedicated toll-free customer service representative will help provide support from Monday to Friday 5:30am to 6:00pm and weekends Saturday/Sunday 7:00am to 3:30pm (PST).

Do I need a prescription to order Plaquenil 200 mg ?

Yes, a prescription is required from your physician to order Plaquenil 200 mg.