Hydroxychloroquine Side Effects and Monitoring

Common and Serious Side Effects

The American Gastroenterological Association notes that hydroxychloroquine has multiple potential side effects, including gastrointestinal symptoms, which are generally infrequent at standard doses 1
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends monitoring for headache, dizziness, blurred vision, and pruritus, which may occur but usually don't require discontinuation of the medication 2
The American College of Chest Physicians states that cardiac disease, including heart failure and myocardial infarction, is a contraindication for hydroxychloroquine use 4
The American College of Chest Physicians recommends ECG monitoring, particularly when used with other QT-prolonging medications, due to the risk of QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias 4

The American College of Chest Physicians recommends baseline ocular examination within the first year of treatment and annual examinations for high-risk patients 4
The American College of Chest Physicians suggests that hydroxychloroquine has been used during pregnancy for connective tissue diseases without increased complications compared to untreated pregnancies 4
The American College of Chest Physicians notes that limited information is available on the use of hydroxychloroquine in children, though antimalarial agents have been used for rheumatologic diseases in children for many years 4

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that hydroxychloroquine may interfere with antibody response to human diploid cell rabies vaccine when administered intradermally 2
The American College of Chest Physicians recommends caution with drugs that may interact with hydroxychloroquine, including D-penicillamine and cimetidine, leading to higher drug levels 4