hydroxychloroquine

noun

hy·​droxy·​chlor·​o·​quine hī-ˌdräk-sē-ˈklȯr-ə-ˌkwēn 

-kwin

: a drug derived from quinolone that is taken orally in the form of its sulfate C₁₈H₂₆ClN₃O·H₂SO₄ to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus

Two commonly used antimalarials are chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, both generic drugs.

—Consumer Reports

Originally an antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine is often … prescribed to people with mild, slowly progressing arthritis.

—Samir Sutaria

Examples of hydroxychloroquine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, Maya decided to open up to the public about her experience with lupus after President Donald Trump suggested that hydroxychloroquine, a drug commonly used to control lupus symptoms, be used to prevent COVID-19 — despite its efficacy being entirely unproven. —Stephanie Kaloi, Peoplemag, 27 June 2024

Remember his acquisition of 1 million doses of hydroxychloroquine? —Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2024

The villains in the account are the White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and the press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who Fauci feels try to silence him, and Peter Navarro, an economic adviser, who berates him about hydroxychloroquine. —Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024

Drugs in current use to treat the disease, such as hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, corticosteroids, and convalescent plasma can sometimes reduce the disease’s deadliness, but in India these therapies are available only to the very rich. —T. Jacob John, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hydroxychloroquine

noun

hy·​droxy·​chlor·​o·​quine -ˈklōr-ə-ˌkwēn, -kwin 

: a drug derived from quinoline that is administered orally in the form of its sulfate C₁₈H₂₆ClN₃O·H₂SO₄ to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus see plaquenil