NOT USED FOR COVID-19Hydroxychloroquine, the active drug in Plaquenil, is not recommended for use in treating COVID-19 (the illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2). Do not take any prescription drug, including Plaquenil or hydroxychloroquine, unless your doctor recommends that you do so.
For advice on prevention and treatment, and expert recommendations, visit our COVID-19 hub.
Plaquenil is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and malaria. It contains the active ingredient hydroxychloroquine. Plaquenil may be safe to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Keep reading for specific information about reproductive health and Plaquenil. For a comprehensive look at Plaquenil, see this article.
If you can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Plaquenil is a safe choice for you.
It isn’t known whether Plaquenil is safe to take during pregnancy. So far, human pregnancies exposed to the drug haven’t involved increased fetal development problems.
However, animal studies show that an increased risk of fetal problems and fetal death in animals exposed to Plaquenil during pregnancy may exist. But keep in mind that animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.
If you do take Plaquenil during pregnancy, consider participating in a pregnancy registry for the drug. Pregnancy registries help researchers understand the safety of a drug during pregnancy. To learn more, talk with your doctor. You can also call 877-311-8972.
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Plaquenil. They can recommend whether it’s safe for you to take this drug.
If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to consider how Plaquenil may affect you and your child.
Plaquenil does pass into human breast milk, which means it can pass to a child who’s breastfed. Because small amounts of Plaquenil can be harmful to a young child, talk with your doctor before breastfeeding while taking this drug.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend a medication other than Plaquenil for you to take while you’re breastfeeding.
If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, it’s important to know how the use of Plaquenil may affect your birth control decisions.
It’s not known whether Plaquenil is safe to take during pregnancy. However, hydroxychloroquine isn’t known to interact with any birth control.
If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re taking Plaquenil.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.