Psychiatric implications of the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have emerged as a treatment option for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection. The intake of these drugs becomes more important for patients with mental disorders, who may already be on psychotropic medications. Accordingly, mental health professionals need to understand the psychiatric and cardiac side effects of chloroquine and HCQ. In terms of cardiac side effects, prolongation of the QTc interval is one of the most talked‐about and fatal side effects, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. This side effect is essential from the perspective of mental disorders because antipsychotics are well known to cause QTc prolongation. The risk factors for QTc prolongation include hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, loop diuretics, antiarrhythmic drugs, and the use of QTc‐prolonging drugs of list 1 of CredibleMeds.[1] Accordingly, mental health professionals while using various psychotropic medications should always inquire about the use of HCQ and chloroquine.