Drug interactions
Desflurane + Hydroxychloroquine
Severity: Moderate
Desflurane and Hydroxychloroquine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Volatile anesthetics such as desflurane can prolong the QT interval, and hydroxychloroquine adds to this effect. This matters in the perioperative period, when electrolyte shifts and other QT-prolonging drugs are common.
What this interaction means in plain words
Desflurane and Hydroxychloroquine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Desflurane belongs to Central Nervous System; Hydroxychloroquine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive delayed ventricular repolarization.
What to do
Review the preoperative ECG and correct potassium and magnesium before anesthesia. Monitor the ECG during surgery and avoid adding other QT-prolonging drugs such as certain antiemetics.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Desflurane and Hydroxychloroquine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Hydroxychloroquine
- Arsenic trioxide + Hydroxychloroquine Contraindicated
- Cisapride + Hydroxychloroquine Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Hydroxychloroquine Contraindicated
- Hydroxychloroquine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Hydroxychloroquine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Hydroxychloroquine + Vandetanib Contraindicated
Other interactions of Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Desflurane with Hydroxychloroquine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Desflurane and Hydroxychloroquine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Volatile anesthetics such as desflurane can prolong the QT interval, and hydroxychloroquine adds to this effect. This matters in the perioperative period, when electrolyte shifts and other QT-prolonging drugs are common.
How serious is the interaction between Desflurane and Hydroxychloroquine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Review the preoperative ECG and correct potassium and magnesium before anesthesia. Monitor the ECG during surgery and avoid adding other QT-prolonging drugs such as certain antiemetics.
What other medicines interact with Hydroxychloroquine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydroxychloroquine with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Cisapride, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Hydroxychloroquine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
