|Generic Name||Brand Name| Antimalarial medicines (normally used
to prevent and treat malaria) are sometimes used in an attempt
to reduce inflammation associated with juvenile idiopathic
arthritis (JIA). Antimalarial medicines may be used along with
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for arthritis that
has not responded to NSAIDs alone. This combination is more
commonly used to treat progressive polyarticular arthritis but
can be used for any form of JIA. Although some people get better
with antimalarials, a large study of the effects of antimalarial
treatment for JIA showed them to be no better than a placebo.1
It may take up to 16 weeks to see an effect from
hydroxychloroquine. The medicine is usually discontinued if no
improvement is seen after 16 weeks. All medicines have side
effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they
are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side
effects of each medicine your child takes. Side effects are also
listed in the information that