Lariago (Chloroquine Phosphate)
Also sold as: Lariago, Resochin, Malarex, Cloroquina, Avloclor
Pregnancy
Cat C
Lactation
Safe
Schedule
H
Forms
Tablet 150mg base (= 250mg phosphate) +1
Indications
- Plasmodium vivax malaria treatment (first-line in India — vivax remains mostly chloroquine-sensitive)
- Plasmodium ovale/malariae malaria
- Malaria prophylaxis in chloroquine-sensitive areas
- Rheumatoid arthritis (DMARD — off-label; hydroxychloroquine preferred)
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (adjunct; hydroxychloroquine preferred)
- Amoebiasis/giardiasis (alternative)
Adult Dosing
P. vivax malaria (India NVBDCP)
Day 1: 600mg base PO (4 tabs), then Day 2: 300mg base, Day 3: 300mg base (total: 1200mg base over 3 days)
Always follow with primaquine for radical cure (prevent relapse from liver hypnozoites). Doses are in chloroquine base — check strength of tablet.
Malaria prophylaxis
300mg base PO weekly starting 1 week before travel, continuing 4 weeks after
Only for chloroquine-sensitive areas (increasingly limited globally)
Pediatric Dosing
Use syrup formulation for accurate paediatric dosing. Weight-based — paediatric charts in NVBDCP guidelines.
Renal Dose Adjustment
| CrCl / eGFR | Dose Adjustment |
|---|---|
| CrCl < 10 mL/min | Reduce dose by 50% — renally excreted (accumulates) |
Hepatic Adjustment
Use with caution in hepatic disease — may accumulate
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy: Category C
Generally considered safe in pregnancy — used for P. vivax malaria (benefit >> risk). Primaquine (for radical cure) is CONTRAINDICATED in pregnancy — use chloroquine alone, then give primaquine after delivery.
Lactation: Safe
Small amounts in breast milk — compatible with breastfeeding (WHO compatible list). Infant dose via milk is << therapeutic dose.
Top Drug Interactions
| Interacting Drug | Effect | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Digoxin | Chloroquine increases digoxin levels — toxicity risk | Major |
| Antacids (magnesium trisilicate, calcium carbonate) | Reduce chloroquine absorption — separate by 4 hours | Moderate |
| Ampicillin | Chloroquine reduces ampicillin absorption — separate by 2 hours | Moderate |
| QT-prolonging drugs | Additive QT prolongation | Moderate |
DoctorScribe — AI Medical Scribe
Stop looking up Lariago — just speak the prescription
"Lariago as per dose, BD for 5 days." DoctorScribe writes the full prescription with brand, strength, frequency, and route — auto-applies pediatric weight-based dosing and renal adjustments. Try the live demo.
Side Effects
Common
- Nausea and vomiting (take with food)
- Pruritus (itching — especially in dark-skinned patients; very common in Africa and India — histamine-mediated)
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Visual blurring (transient at therapeutic doses)
- Abdominal pain
Serious / Discontinue If
- Retinopathy (irreversible macular damage — with long-term high-dose use; risk < 1% at < 5 years; annual ophthalmology check for long-term use)
- Cardiomyopathy (long-term)
- QT prolongation
- Acute psychosis (rare)
- Haemolysis in G6PD deficiency (primaquine is the main concern — but chloroquine can also cause mild haemolysis)
Contraindications
- Pre-existing retinal disease or visual field defect
- Epilepsy (chloroquine lowers seizure threshold)
- Severe hepatic or renal disease
- Known chloroquine-resistant malaria without combination therapy
Available Indian Brands
| Brand | Manufacturer | Price (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Lariago 250mg (=150mg base) | Ipca | 10 tab ₹22 |
| Resochin 250mg | Bayer | 10 tab ₹28 |
| Malarex 250mg | GSK | 10 tab ₹25 |
Monitoring Required
- Blood film for parasites (clearance)
- Haemoglobin (anaemia recovery)
- Liver function tests (hepatic use)
- Annual opthalmological review (if long-term use for rheumatological indication)
- G6PD status (before primaquine — not chloroquine specifically)
Patient Counseling Points
- Take with food or milk — reduces nausea
- Itching (especially skin itch after dose) is common in Indians and Africans — it will pass; antihistamine can help; do not stop the medicine
- For vivax malaria: also need primaquine tablets for 14 days to clear liver stage — both drugs are essential to prevent relapse
- Complete the full 3-day course even if fever breaks on Day 1
- Avoid antacids within 4 hours of chloroquine
Stop Googling drug references mid-consultation
EasyClinic auto-flags Lariago interactions, renal cutoffs, and pregnancy warnings the moment you write the prescription. Built-in safety net for every Indian doctor.
Clinically reviewed by: Dr. Rajesh Kulkarni, MD (Infectious Diseases), Consultant Infectious Disease Specialist
Last reviewed: 2026-04-01
References
- NVBDCP National Drug Policy for Malaria India 2023
- WHO Malaria Treatment Guidelines 2022
- BNF — Chloroquine
- Indian J Malariology — Vivax Malaria Treatment