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

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has consistently endorsed the use of the drug hydroxychloroquine to fend off the disease, even though the drug is not known to work against viral pathogens. —Ramanan Laxminarayan, Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2021

The owner of the pharmacy that planned to sell hydroxychloroquine to the state later pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegally importing the drug. —Erin Alberty, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024

On 24 March, scientific integrity consultant Elisabeth Bik noted on her blog that six patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine had been dropped from the study—one of whom had died, and three of whom had transferred to intensive care—which potentially skewed the results in the drug’s favor. —Bycathleen O’Grady, science.org, 17 Dec. 2024

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug used to deworm animals, and hydroxychloroquine is a medication used to treat malaria. —Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024

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