What is hydroxychloroquine and why do different brands matter?

Hydroxychloroquine is generally the first line of treatment for someone who has been diagnosed with lupus. It is used for skin and joint involvement, muscle inflammation, fever, fatigue, pleurisy, to reduce the development of renal (kidney) disease and chronic damage, and for its steroid-sparing properties. It is one of the few licensed drugs for lupus and there is good evidence for its efficacy and safety.

There are a few different versions of hydroxychloroquine available in the UK – every version includes the same amount of the active ingredient hydroxychloroquine, but may have different ‘fillers’, which are inactive substances which are used to make the tablet bigger or easier to process. There isn’t one particular brand which is ‘best’, as all people with lupus may react to medications to differently, so it’s important to find a version that suits you.

You can find more information about hydroxychloroquine and different brands in our article HERE.

What is happening with Blackrock hydroxychloroquine tablets?

• Blackrock 200mg hydroxychloroquine tablets are out of stock in the UK and it is not yet clear when it will come back into stock.
• Blackrock 300mg hydroxychloroquine tablets are in stock everywhere in the UK, and pharmacies can order them through Alliance Healthcare.

What if I need more 200mg Blackrock hydroxychloroquine?

• If you have a prescription for 200mg a day:

If you have not already tried it, you may find that the Zentiva brand works for you, as it has a very similar formulation to Blackrock. If you do respond well to it, this would also give you another option to choose from in the future. Unfortunately there is currently limited supply of Zentiva in the UK. We have information and advice on how to obtain it when it is available in our article on Zentiva HERE, which we will update as the situation changes.

• If you have a prescription for 200mg and you take 200mg and 400mg on alternate days:

You could talk to your doctor to see if it would be appropriate to change your regimen to 300mg per day, instead of different amounts each day. The Blackrock 300mg tablets are currently in stock in the UK, and you can find out more details about it contact us.

What if I live in Northern Ireland and need Blackrock hydroxychloroquine?

As of May 2023, the 300mg Blackrock tablets are also available in Northern Ireland.

The 200mg Blackrock tablets will not be available in Northern Ireland. If your prescription is for 200mg, you could try the Zentiva version, which has a very similar formulation to Blackrock.

Further information

If you need a specific formulation of hydroxychloroquine, such as Blackrock or Zentiva, you can ask for your prescriber to specifically state this on the prescription (i.e. “hydroxychloroquine sulfate 200mg – Blackrock or Zentiva version only” rather than simply “hydroxychloroquine sulfate 200mg). This may help you to obtain the specific brand you need. More information about this can be found in our article on hydroxychloroquine prescriptions HERE.

We will keep you updated on the availability of Blackrock’s 200mg hydroxychloroquine tablets on our website and on social media.

If your GP or pharmacy is experiencing difficulty ordering Blackrock hydroxychloroquine or requires more information, they can contact Blackrock Pharmaceuticals:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0115 9890841