HQTOR Tablet

HQTOR Tablet – Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate IP 200 mg by Torrent

HQTOR from Torrent Pharmaceuticals is Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate Tablets IP 200 mg, supplied in strips of 10, from a carton of 10 blister strips of 10 tablets each. Beyond the joint and skin benefits it is prescribed for, hydroxychloroquine turns out to do something in lupus that took decades to appreciate: it appears to reduce thrombotic and cardiovascular risk. Lupus roughly doubles to quadruples the risk of clots and accelerates atherosclerosis, and long-term hydroxychloroquine use is associated with fewer thrombotic events, better lipid profiles, lower blood glucose and reduced organ damage over time. Some of that is simply better disease control; some appears to be a direct effect on platelets and on lipid handling. It is the main reason rheumatologists keep patients on it indefinitely rather than tapering off once symptoms settle. Strip of 10 tablets.

Key Features

• Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate IP 200 mg, film-coated tablets
• Supplied as a strip of 10, from a 10 x 10 carton
• Long-term use in lupus is linked to fewer thrombotic events and better lipids
• Usually continued indefinitely rather than tapered once symptoms settle
• From Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Composition

• Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate IP – 200 mg
• Film-coated tablet. As printed on the carton

Uses & Benefits

• Used long term in rheumatoid arthritis to reduce joint pain, swelling and stiffness
• A cornerstone treatment in systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus
• Reduces the frequency of lupus flares and helps its skin and joint symptoms
• Also used in the treatment and prevention of malaria, as prescribed
• One of the better-tolerated disease-modifying drugs, needing no routine blood monitoring
• 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. Risk rises above 5 mg per kg of actual body weight per day, beyond five years of use, with kidney impairment and with tamoxifen. A baseline eye examination and regular screening thereafter are part of the treatment
• 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
• Do not stop it on your own – in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, stopping often brings on a flare. It also takes weeks to months to work
• Keep it well away from children. A small number of tablets can be fatal to a small child. Nausea, stomach upset, diarrhoea, headache and rash are the usual early effects and are much reduced by taking it with food

Storage

• Store below 30°C in a dry place, protected from light
• Keep each strip sealed until use
• Keep out of reach of children

Disclaimer

Schedule H prescription drug – to be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only. 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.