hydroxychloroquine
NowPatient helps you obtain your hydroxychloroquine prescription for free or at low-cost. Drug savings programs are suitable for individuals who are insured, don't have insurance or are underinsured and can't afford your medicine.
Manufactured by various FDA-approved generic manufacturers.
*You can pay as little as $0 per fill using Drug Coupons or Patient Assistance Programs. Subject to applicability & eligibility requirements.
This content is intended for US audiences only
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Lower the cost of your hydroxychloroquine prescription
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hydroxychloroquine key facts
What dosages is hydroxychloroquine available in?
hydroxychloroquine is available as a 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg oral tablet.
What is hydroxychloroquine used for?
hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial agent and is used to treat the following:
- Uncomplicated malaria in adults and children
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in adults
- Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) in adults
How does hydroxychloroquine work?
hydroxychloroquine is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) used to treat inflammatory problems. It’s thought to work by blocking certain processes in the immune system. This helps prevent the immune system from being too active. hydroxychloroquine is also an antimalarial. It’s not exactly known how hydroxychloroquine, but it’s thought to kill malaria by stopping several cellular processes that are needed for it to grow and survive.
How do I take hydroxychloroquine?
hydroxychloroquine is typically taken by mouth with food or milk as a single dose or in 2 smaller doses. Your dose will be determined based on the condition being treated. Your child’s provider will determine their dose based on your child’s body weight.
Is it safe for me to take hydroxychloroquine?
hydroxychloroquine is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not use this medication if you have a known hypersensitivity to 4
aminoquinoline compounds.
hydroxychloroquine Common Side Effects
Common side effects of hydroxychloroquine:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
hydroxychloroquine Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with hydroxychloroquine. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Abnormal heart rhythm (QT prolongation): chest pounding, short of breath, chest pain, feeling faint or lightheaded
- Serious allergic and skin reactions: sore throat, fever, fatigue, rash, hives, painful blisters, skin reddening, skin peeling, difficulty breathing, itching, fast heartbeat, tightness in the throat, swelling in the face or tongue
- Hemolytic anemia (low red blood cell count): tiredness, dizziness, weakness, high heart rate, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark-colored urine
- Bleeding: blood in your urine or stool, unexplained bruising, bleeding that takes longer than usual to stop
- Serious infections: fever, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, weakness, cough, stomach pain, sweating, chills, burning when you urinate, urinating more often
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors: thoughts of harming yourself or others, depressed mood
- Severely low blood sugar: dizziness, shakiness, feeling confused, feeling irritable or anxious, feeling faint, sweating, extreme hunger
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on hydroxychloroquine
The following medications may interact with hydroxychloroquine:
- Digoxin: Concomitant hydroxychloroquine and digoxin therapy may result in increased serum digoxin levels: serum digoxin levels should be closely monitored in patients receiving combined therapy
- Insulin or antidiabetic drugs: As hydroxychloroquine may enhance the effects of a hypoglycemic treatment, a decrease in doses of insulin or antidiabetic drugs may be required
- Drugs that prolong QT interval and other arrhythmogenic drugs: hydroxychloroquine prolongs the QT interval and should not be administered with other drugs that have the potential to induce cardiac arrhythmias. Also, there may be an increased risk of inducing ventricular arrhythmias if hydroxychloroquine is used concomitantly with other arrhythmogenic drugs
- Mefloquine and other drugs known to lower the convulsive threshold: hydroxychloroquine can lower the convulsive threshold. Co-administration of hydroxychloroquine with other antimalarials known to lower the convulsion threshold (e.g., mefloquine) may increase the risk of convulsions
- Antiepileptics: The activity of antiepileptic drugs might be impaired if co-administered with hydroxychloroquine.
- Methotrexate: Combined use of methotrexate with hydroxychloroquine has not been studied and may increase the incidence of adverse effects
- Cyclosporin: An increased plasma cyclosporin level was reported when cyclosporin and hydroxychloroquine were co-administered
Who makes hydroxychloroquine?
Various FDA-approved generic manufacturers
Is hydroxychloroquine safe in pregnancy?
It is not known if hydroxychloroquine will harm your unborn baby. You should talk to your healthcare provider before taking this medication if you are pregnant.
The FDA's medical product safety reporting program for health professionals, patients and consumers.
Learn more about reporting side effects in the USDrug Savings Guide
A practical guide to saving money and receiving support with prescription costs
How can NowPatient help me to lower the cost of my hydroxychloroquine prescription?
After you create a FREE account with NowPatient, you will have access to 4 programs that can help lower the cost of your hydroxychloroquine prescription
Applicability to each program will be dependent on your insurance status.
How do the NowPatient hydroxychloroquine savings programs work?
After you have created your FREE account with NowPatient, you can access the various programs from your account dashboard. Each program has clear instructions on how to check your eligibility. You can see how the process works by clicking on the feature link below and seeing the ‘How it works’ steps.
Drug Coupon and Patient Assistance Programs require an eligibility quiz to be completed.
Are the NowPatient hydroxychloroquine savings programs suitable for everyone, regardless of insurance status?
No. Each program has its own eligibility and applicability requirements. The table below shows if a program is available to you, based on your insurance status.
| Rx Advantage Card* for hydroxychloroquine | Canadian Prescription Savings* for hydroxychloroquine | hydroxychloroquine Drug Coupon* | hydroxychloroquine Patient Assistance Program* | |
| Insured (federal, state or government) | Available | Available | Not Available | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
| Insured (Commercial or Private) | Available | Available | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
| Uninsured | Available | Available | Not Available | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
| Insured but without pharmacy benefit or drug coverage | Available | Available | Not Available | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
*This is not insurance.
Are the NowPatient drug savings programs suitable for brand and generic versions of hydroxychloroquine?
No. Each program has applicability requirements. Please see below
| Rx Advantage Card* for hydroxychloroquine | Canadian Prescription Savings* for hydroxychloroquine | hydroxychloroquine Drug Coupon* | hydroxychloroquine Patient Assistance Program* | |
| Brand | Yes | Yes | Yes, If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company | Yes, If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
| Generic | Yes | Yes | No | No |
*This is not insurance.
If you have Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage and none of the hydroxychloroquine savings options are applicable or affordable for me, what can you do?
If you are insured with Medicare and the hydroxychloroquine drug savings options are not applicable to you and still remain unaffordable, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.
The government site is easy to use and after you have selected your state, it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. State Medicaid programs may cover the full cost of your medication.
People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid are called ‘dual eligibles’.
If you are denied Medicaid for hydroxychloroquine, and you are still unable to afford your copay or co-insurance element (for example if you are in the coverage gap or Donut Hole) then you may be eligible for a federal support program like Low Income Subsidy. To be eligible for Low Income Subsidy, you need to be a resident in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. You can check eligibility online at SSA Medicare D Extra Help. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
I am uninsured or underinsured and none of the hydroxychloroquine prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, what can I do?
If you are uninsured or underinsured (for example, hydroxychloroquine is not covered by your plan) and the drug savings options are not applicable or still unaffordable, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.
The government site is easy to use and you can select your state and it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. State Medicaid programs may cover the full cost of your medication.
If you are denied and all else fails, and if you have been prescribed hydroxychloroquine for an FDA-approved indication, you can call the pharmaceutical company to see if they have any other assistance programs.
I am commercially or privately insured and none of the hydroxychloroquine prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, what can I do?
If your medication is not covered by your plan, you can appeal your insurance company’s decision. Sometimes, a formal appeal can result in the drug being covered if it is deemed medically necessary.
If you cannot afford your copay contribution, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.
However, being privately insured might complicate your eligibility for Medicaid, as having private insurance may be considered in the financial eligibility assessment.
The government site is easy to use and you can select your state and it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. If you qualify, state Medicaid may cover the full cost of your medication.
If I have federal, state or commercial insurance and none of the hydroxychloroquine prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, are there any other support organisations that can help me with my co-insurance or copay contributions?
If you have already tried Medicaid and received a denial letter or if you are insured with Medicare and have been denied Low-Income Subsidy, then you can try one of the following organizational support programs:
1. Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN) assistance for hydroxychloroquine
If you are having trouble paying for your hydroxychloroquine medication due to unaffordable copays or deductibles, the Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN), may be able to assist you. To qualify for PAN assistance for hydroxychloroquine you will need to meet one or all of the following criteria:
- Your income is below 400% of the federal poverty level
- hydroxychloroquine is prescribed for an approved FDA indication
- You live in and receive treatment in the United States or U.S. territories, even if you do not have U.S. citizenship
- You have Medicare insurance coverage that covers hydroxychloroquine
- If hydroxychloroquine is listed on PAN’s list of covered medications
You can check the Patient Access Network Foundation Website for more information.
2. HealthWell Foundation Copay Program for hydroxychloroquine
If you are having trouble paying for your hydroxychloroquine medication due to unaffordable copays or deductibles, the HealthWell Foundation Copay Program may be able to assist you. To qualify for assistance for hydroxychloroquine you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You live in and are being treated in the United States
- You are insured and your plan covers hydroxychloroquine
- If hydroxychloroquine is listed on the HealthWell Foundation’s list of covered medications
You can check the HealthWell Foundation Website for more information.
3. Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program for hydroxychloroquine
Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief program exists to help reduce the financial distress you or your family may face when paying for your hydroxychloroquine treatment. If you qualify and can demonstrate the need, the foundation will provide you with direct payment covering co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. To qualify for assistance for hydroxychloroquine you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You must be currently insured and have coverage for hydroxychloroquine
- You must have a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan
- You must reside and receive treatment in the United States
- Your Income must fall at or below 300% or 400% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) with consideration for the Cost of Living Index (COLI) and number in the household
- Applications can also be completed by contacting the program sponsor, toll-free at 866-512-3861.
You can check the Patient Advocate Foundation Website for more information.
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
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