Safety of Long term use of Hydroxychloroquine Therapy Further Verified for People with Lupus

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil®) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for symptoms of lupus. The greatest concern people with lupus have when taking hydroxychloroquine is related to vision and an increase in risk for retinal damage. A new investigation analyzed the retinal changes over a five-year period in people with lupus and did not find clinically relevant retinal changes in the group. The study concludes that hydroxychloroquine therapy is safe for long-term use at doses <5 mg/kg/day. Learn about how lupus affects the eyes and hydroxychloroquine.