Aralen (Chloroquine Phosphate) for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview
Aralen is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat acute attacks of malaria. Aralen is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Aralen is also referred to by its drug name, chloroquine phosphate.

Aralen is an antimalarial medication. Aralen is also considered a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). The exact mechanism of action of Aralen in cases of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. It is believed to work by reducing inflammation.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Aralen is taken orally as a tablet once weekly.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Aralen lists common side effects including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, heartburn, blurred vision, hair loss, and upset stomach.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Aralen include deafness, vision loss, liver damage, seizures, low blood cell counts, and a potentially fatal skin reaction known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Aralen — RheumInfo
https://rheuminfo.com/medications/aralen