Warning

Information for general practitioners

Updated 2020

Mepacrine is an uncommonly used medicine in SLE, usually used if difficult skin rashes. It is very similar to Hydroxychloroquine so follow same guidance.

Dosage

50-100 mg three times per week, often with hydroxychloroquine on the alternate days

 

Monitoring procedure

  • Base line assessment only - FBC, U&E and LFT inc Albumin
  • Further blood monitoring is not required
  • Enquiries about visual impairment will be done in the rheumatology clinic optician assessment within 1st year, and annual assessments after 5 years
  • Referral to ophthalmologist is appropriate if:
    • Visual impairment/eye disease detected at baseline
    • Change in acuity or blurred vision whilst on treatment (stop treatment until assessed)
    • Children

 

Cautions

Avoid in psoriasis

 

Side effects

Common effects are in bold type.

 

Mucocutaneous

  • pruritis erythematous rash seen after treatment commenced.
  • blue-black pigmentation of skin

 

Haematological

  • thrombocytopenia
  • agranulocytosis (very rare)

 

Gastrointestinal

  • nausea
  • diarrhoea
  • abdominal cramps

 

Ocular

  • cycloplegia
  • keratopathy (reversible)
  • irreversible retinopathy/maculopathy
  • photophobia – advise sunglasses in bright light

 

Other

  • headache
  • bleaching of skin/hair
  • proximal myopathy
  • peripheral neuropathy

 

Hospital contacts

Secretaries 01387 241776

  • Iseabail Graham
  • Caron Cowen

 

Helpline 01387 241095 (answering machine)

Nurse Specialists:

  • Petra Cannon
  • Ingrid Crane
  • Andrew Wilson 

 

Department of Rheumatology doctors via Switchboard 01387 246246

  • Dr A Russell - Consultant
  • Dr R Akintayo - Locum Consultant
  • Dr A Drever - Associate Specialist
  • Dr L Moran - Associate Specialist

 

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 20/09/2023

Next review date: 20/09/2025

Author(s): Lucy Moran.