Paludrine/Avloclor

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Possible side effects associated with Avloclor include the following:

Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

Headache

Skin rashes

Itching (pruritus)

Low blood pressure (hypotension), this might make you feel dizzy

Visual disturbances

Loss of hair colour

Hair loss (alopecia)

Fits (convulsions)

Disturbance in the normal numbers of blood cells in the blood (long-term use)

Damage to the retina of the eye (long-term use)

Discolouration of skin, nails, or mucous membranes, eg inside of mouth (long-term use)

Possible side effects associated with Paludrine include the following:

Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea or abdominal pain

Mouth ulcers

Inflammation of the lining of the mouth (stomatitis)

Reversible hair loss

Skin rashes

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

Antacids (used to treat indigestion and heartburn) reduce the absorption of chloroquine and proguanil from the gut, which may mean the full dose is not absorbed into the body. To avoid this, antacids should not be taken in the two to three hours before or after taking your chloroquine or proguanil dose. Kaolin should not be taken in the two to three hours before or after taking your chloroquine dose for the same reason.

Cimetidine may prevent the breakdown of chloroquine by the liver and lead to increased levels of chloroquine in the blood. You should avoid taking cimetidine with chloroquine as it may increase the risk of side effects. If you do take cimetidine in combination with chloroquine, let your doctor or pharmacist know if you experience any new or increased side effects.

Chloroquine may increase the blood level of the following medicines, which may result in an increased risk of their side effects:

ciclosporin

digoxin.

There may be a risk of abnormal heart rhythms if chloroquine is taken in combination with any of the following medicines:

medicines for abnormal heart rhythms, eg amiodarone, quinidine

the antihistamines terfenadine and astemizole

halofantrine

mefloquine

certain antipsychotics, eg chlorpromazine, thioridazine

certain antidepressants, eg imipramine, amitriptyline, maprotiline

moxifloxacin.

There may be an increased risk of convulsions (fits) if chloroquine is taken with mefloquine.

Chloroquine may reduce the effectiveness of the rabies vaccine. If you need to have a rabies vaccine you should have it before you start taking chloroquine.

Chloroquine may reduce the effectiveness of neostigmine or pyridostigmine for treating myaesthenia gravis.

Proguanil may potentially enhance the anti-blood-clotting effect of anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin. If you are taking an anticoagulant medicine and you notice any unusual or unexplained bruising or bleeding while you are taking proguanil, you should consult a doctor so that your bleeding time (INR) can be checked.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredients

There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain both chloroquine and proguanil as the active ingredients.

Paludrine and Avloclor are also available as separate products.

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