DoseChecker 3.1

DoseChecker is an innovative application designed to assist clinicians in formulating safe dosing regimens for hydroxychloroquine. Developed with input from physicians affiliated with the Harvard Medical School hospitals, including Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Massachusetts General Hospital, this application aims to support healthcare professionals who prescribe hydroxychloroquine or monitor its ocular effects on patients.

• The application utilizes the Actual Body Weight method in accordance with the 2016 guidelines from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• It features an adjustable weekly dosing schedule. Rather than limiting patients to either a daily dosage of 400 mg or 200 mg (as hydroxychloroquine is available in 200 mg tablets), DoseChecker recommends a combination of these dosages throughout the week. This approach allows for the attainment of the highest therapeutic dose without surpassing the toxic limits established by the Actual Body Weight method.

The user interface of DoseChecker is straightforward. Clinicians simply enter the patient's weight in pounds or kilograms and press the calculate button to receive immediate dosing recommendations. Importantly, these recommendations remain within the confines of approved drug labeling, thereby negating the need for FDA mobile medical app registration. This efficiency enables healthcare providers to quickly determine the safest hydroxychloroquine dose, which is crucial in preventing irreversible vision loss due to hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.

Instructions for using DoseChecker:

1. Download and install the app from the App Store on your iPhone. If the app does not display “DoseChecker” prominently, rotate your phone 90 degrees horizontally and then back to vertical.
2. For metric units, tap the Disclaimer/Change to Metric button, followed by the Metric button. The app will remain in metric mode until powered off.
3. Enter the patient's weight in pounds or kilograms in the designated text box and tap “return”.
4. If the patient is beginning with a default dose of 400 mg, simply tap “return”. If adjusting for a patient currently on a 200 mg daily schedule, replace 400 with 200 before tapping “return”.
5. After entering all required data, you can return to correct any errors if necessary. Once confirmed, press the CALCULATE button.
6. To start a new patient assessment, tap “RESET”.

Notes:

• To initiate hydroxychloroquine treatment, maintain the default dosage at 400 mg to determine the maximum appropriate dosing level for that patient.
• A recommended weekly dosing schedule promotes achieving optimal therapeutic levels while avoiding toxic thresholds. Typically, this schedule suggests higher doses (400 mg) from Monday through Friday, followed by a lower dose (200 mg) over the weekend. Adjustments can be made for convenience to accommodate patient preferences.