The key difference between chloroquine phosphate and chloroquine sulphate is that chloroquine phosphate is the most common tablet form of chloroquine that is important in treating malaria, whereas chloroquine sulphate is a less common tablet form of chloroquine medication.
Chloroquine is a medicine that is useful in preventing and treating malaria. It comes in various formulations, including chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine sulfate, and hydrochloride salts.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Chloroquine
3. What is Chloroquine Phosphate
4. What is Chloroquine Sulphate
5. Chloroquine Phosphate vs Chloroquine Sulphate in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Chloroquine Phosphate vs Chloroquine Sulphate
What is Chloroquine?
Chloroquine is a medicine that is useful in preventing and treating malaria. However, certain types of malaria, such as resistant strains, require additional treatments. Occasionally, this drug is also used for amebiasis that occurs outside the intestines, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus. The trade name of this drug is Aralen. The metabolism of chloroquine occurs in the liver, and the elimination half-life is about 1-2 months. The route of administration for this drug is oral administration.
Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Chloroquine Molecule
There can be mild side effects of chloroquine such as muscle problems, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and skin rash. However, there can be some serious side effects as well, such as problems with vision, muscle damage, seizures, and low blood cell levels.
Also, there are different formulations of chloroquine, including chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine sulfate, and hydrochloride salts. They come in tablet form. However, the most common form is chloroquine phosphate. But the other forms of tablets are less common on a commercial scale.
What is Chloroquine Phosphate?
Chloroquine phosphate is the most common tablet formulation of chloroquine medication. This substance has two phosphate anions attached to the chloroquine molecule. Therefore, we can also name it chloroquine diphosphate. Other names include Aralen phosphate and Chingamin phosphate. It is taken orally, and usually, it is taken with food to avoid stomach upset. It is useful in preventing and treating malaria.
What is Chloroquine Sulphate?
Chloroquine sulfate is a less common formulation of chloroquine that comes in tablet form. This substance contains sulfate anion associated with chloroquine molecule. Another common name of this drug is Nivaquine. There is another less common tablet formulation of chloroquine that comes as hydrochloride salts.
Figure 02: Tablets of Chloroquine are Useful in Preventing and Treating Malaria
Chloroquine sulphate is also taken orally, similar to other chloroquine drugs. It is important in preventing and treating malaria, but it is less abundant in the market.
What is the Difference Between Chloroquine Phosphate and Chloroquine Sulphate?
Chloroquine is a medicine that is useful in preventing and treating malaria. However, the most common form is chloroquine phosphate. It comes in various formulations, including chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine sulfate, and hydrochloride salts. The key difference between chloroquine phosphate and chloroquine sulphate is that chloroquine phosphate is the most common tablet form of chloroquine important in treating malaria, whereas chloroquine sulphate is a less common tablet form of chloroquine medication.
Furthermore, concerning the chemical structure, in chloroquine phosphate, two phosphate anions are in association with the chloroquine molecule, while in chloroquine sulfate, one sulfate anion is in association with the chloroquine molecule.
The below infographic presents the differences between chloroquine phosphate and chloroquine sulphate in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Chloroquine Phosphate vs Chloroquine Sulphate
Chloroquine comes in various formulations, including chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine sulfate, and hydrochloride salts. The key difference between chloroquine phosphate and chloroquine sulphate is that chloroquine phosphate is the most common tablet form of chloroquine that is important in treating malaria, whereas chloroquine sulphate is a less common tablet form of chloroquine medication.
Reference:
1. “Chloroquine Sulfate.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Chloroquine” By Fvasconcellos – self-made by Fvasconcellos. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Resochin® Tabletten (Rückseite)” By BayerScan by User:Mattes – Own work – scan from blister pack (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia