A. Plaquenil or hydroxychloroquine, is a medicine that is used to prevent and treat malaria and to treat patients with discoid lupus, system lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Although concentrated in breastmilk, Plaquenil is on the list of medicines that the American Academy of Pediatrics says is usually compatible with breastfeeding. The AAP lists no reported signs or symptoms in the infants of mothers taking this medication, although this is not based on many studies or observing large number of infants, so you should still discuss the risks vs. benefits of taking the drug while breastfeeding. It is reassuring that it is not on the AAP's list of medicines that are not compatible with breastfeeding or which should be used with caution.
