Aralen - (Chloroquine Phosphate)

Aralen (chloroquine phosphate) is indicated for prevention of malaria and acute attacks (caused by susceptible strains of P. falciparum, P.malariae, P. ovale, and P.vivax.) Chloroquine is also indicated for amebiasis, which is an infection caused by amoebas. It is sometimes used to reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and to treat systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus. Chloroquine works by providing interference to parasite growth in red blood cells. Although there is interest in the use of chloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19, its efficacy hasn’t been proven. Chloroquine has not been approved by any drug regulatory authorities for the treatment of COVID-19, other than in Poland. Another form of chloroquine, called hydroxychloroquine, was shown in a small, preliminary study in France (using 200 mg three times daily) to reduce the duration of viral shedding after six days but better clinical studies are needed.