Table 1 Pharmacokinetic properties of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine
| Chloroquine | Hydroxychloroquine | |
|---|---|---|
| Oral absorption | Upper gastrointestinal tract | Upper gastrointestinal tract |
| Distribution volume |
Blood 65,000 L Plasma 15,000 L |
Blood 47,257 L Plasma 5500 L |
| Hepatic metabolism | Desethylchloroquine 39% |
Desethylchloroquine 18% Desethyl-hydroxychloroquine 16% |
| Renal clearance | 51% | 21% |
| Unmetabolized excretion | 58% | 62% |
| Terminal half-life | 41 ± 11 days | 45 ± 15 days |