Which drugs treat malaria and may cause dizziness and hair lightening or loss?

Which drugs treat malaria and may cause dizziness and hair lightening or loss?

• A. Anticoagulants
• B. Antimalarials
• C. Anticholinergics
• D. Antibiotics

Answer: (B)

Antimalarials are the drugs used to treat malaria, and they come with a set of possible side effects that fits this question. Dizziness is a reported adverse effect with several antimalarials (for example, mefloquine is well known for causing dizziness). Hair changes, such as lightening or thinning, can occur with others in this class, like chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, due to effects on hair pigment and follicle cycling. The other drug classes listed do not treat malaria: anticoagulants prevent clotting, anticholinergics affect acetylcholine signaling, and antibiotics are for bacterial infections (and, while some antibiotics like doxycycline can be used in malaria prophylaxis or in combination regimens, the question specifically points to the anti-malarial class).

Antimalarials are the drugs used to treat malaria, and they come with a set of possible side effects that fits this question. Dizziness is a reported adverse effect with several antimalarials (for example, mefloquine is well known for causing dizziness). Hair changes, such as lightening or thinning, can occur with others in this class, like chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, due to effects on hair pigment and follicle cycling. The other drug classes listed do not treat malaria: anticoagulants prevent clotting, anticholinergics affect acetylcholine signaling, and antibiotics are for bacterial infections (and, while some antibiotics like doxycycline can be used in malaria prophylaxis or in combination regimens, the question specifically points to the anti-malarial class).