Axemal from Obsurge Biotech is Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate Tablets IP 200 mg, film-coated. The strip carries a detail worth reading: it is marked Schedule H1, not merely Schedule H, with the added warning that “it is dangerous to take this preparation except in accordance with medical advice”. Schedule H1 is a tighter category under India’s drug rules, created for medicines where casual use causes real harm – antibiotics that drive resistance, some psychotropics, and anti-tubercular and antimalarial drugs. A pharmacist must record every H1 sale in a separate register kept for three years, with the prescriber’s and patient’s details. For hydroxychloroquine the reason is twofold: unsupervised use risks irreversible retinal damage, and unnecessary use of an antimalarial contributes to resistance. It is an excellent drug taken properly and a poor one taken casually. Pack of 10 tablets.

Key Features

• Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate IP 200 mg, film-coated tablets
• Marked Schedule H1 – a tighter prescription category than Schedule H
• Colour: Titanium Dioxide IP. Made by Unicure India Ltd.
• Used in rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and malaria
• Pack of 10 tablets marketed by Obsurge Biotech Ltd.

Composition

• Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate IP – 200 mg
• Colour: Titanium Dioxide IP. Excipients q.s. As printed on the strip

Uses & Benefits

• Used long term in rheumatoid arthritis to reduce joint pain, swelling and stiffness
• A cornerstone treatment in systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus
• Helps control the skin and joint symptoms of lupus and reduces flare frequency
• Also used in the treatment and prevention of malaria, as prescribed
• One of the better-tolerated disease-modifying drugs, with no routine blood monitoring required
• Taken once or twice daily as a tablet, alongside other treatment where needed

Directions for Use

• Swallow the tablet whole with a meal or a glass of milk – taking it on an empty stomach is the main cause of the nausea
• Take it exactly as your doctor prescribes. The dose is set from your body weight, not a standard number
• Take it at the same time each day. If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless the next is nearly due – never double up
• Allow weeks to months for the full effect in rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, and keep taking it in the meantime
• Keep your eye-screening appointments for as long as you are on it, and do not take antacids within four hours of a dose

Precautions

• Hydroxychloroquine can damage the retina, and the damage is not reversible. The risk rises with daily dose above 5 mg per kg of actual body weight, with more than five years of use, with kidney impairment and with tamoxifen. A baseline eye examination and regular screening thereafter are part of the treatment, not optional
• Report any change in vision immediately – blurring, difficulty reading, missing patches, altered colour vision or light sensitivity
• Tell your doctor if you have G6PD deficiency, porphyria, psoriasis, epilepsy, liver or kidney disease, or any heart rhythm problem. It can prolong the QT interval and can trigger a severe psoriasis flare
• It can cause low blood sugar, sometimes severe, even in people who are not diabetic. If you take diabetes medicines, your doses may need reducing – monitor closely
• Do not stop it on your own. In lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, stopping frequently brings on a flare. It also takes weeks to months to work, so early lack of benefit is not failure
• Nausea, stomach upset, diarrhoea, headache and rash are the usual early effects and are much reduced by taking it with food. Report unusual muscle weakness, unexplained bruising, sore throat or fever

Storage

• Store in a cool and dry place, protected from light, as printed on the strip
• Keep the tablets in the blister until use
• Keep out of reach of children

Disclaimer

Schedule H1 prescription drug – the pack states it is dangerous to take this preparation except in accordance with medical advice, and it is not to be sold by retail without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. Hydroxychloroquine requires baseline and periodic eye examinations and long-term medical supervision. This information is for general awareness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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