Definition for Hydroxychloroquine
From Biology Forums Dictionary
Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug, sold under the trade names Plaquenil, Axemal (in India), Dolquine, and Quensyl, also used to reduce inflammation in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Hydroxychloroquine differs from chloroquine by the presence of a hydroxyl group at the end of the side chain: The N-ethyl substituent is beta-hydroxylated. Hydroxychloroquine has similar pharmacokinetics to chloroquine, with quick gastrointestinal absorption and is eliminated by the kidney. Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP 2D6, 2C8, 3A4 and 3A5) N-desethylated Hydroxychloroquine to N-desethylhydroxychloroquine.