Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 3)

• Tan...
• February 18, 2020

"Hydrochloroquine (Plaquenil) has been a blessing for me. It took about 5 weeks to take effect, but my RA is basically a non-factor now. I do occasionally experience dry eyes and a little scalp itch, but asserting that it's caused by hydroxychloroquine would be anecdotal at best. Have my eyes checked twice a year, and so far so good. After 5 years, I consider myself fortunate that this drug has worked wonders for me."

• Han...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 17, 2019

"I've had one of the worst cases of RA. I tried Methotrexate and it started messing with my liver enzymes, so the doctor took me off it. I've just been taking Hydroxychloroquine for a while now, and it's the magic pill for me. I do take a pain pill for shooting pains, and I take Hydroxycycline. The combination seems to do well. It's not a cure, but I'm able to walk, and there is no swelling except for my ankles. I'm telling you, I feel comfortable with Hydroxychloroquine."

• Sci...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2015

Hydroxychloroquine "I have been on Plaquenil for two months to treat newly diagnosed RA. The duration and intensity of the flares have been reduced, but I am still suffering with aches and swelling in my small joints and elbows. I have had mild nausea and am having my eyes monitored by my optometrist."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 28, 2014

"I have been on hydroxychloroquine for over a year. It has eased the pain in my hands for a while, but the longer I am on this medication, it is not working as well as it did. I am still having stiffness and pain in some joints. This is at 200 mg x 2 daily."

• san...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 23, 2020

Hydroxychloroquine "I have been taking Plaquenil for the last 6 months. It has worked so well to reduce my inflammation. Along with methotrexate, I have next to no RA symptoms. Do take this with water or food, as it can upset your stomach. Also, try to eat healthy, as I have noticed increased appetite on this medication."

• sun...
• September 6, 2014

"I am a 47-year-old female who has suffered many years from chronic pain in my joints! It's been a long road to finally have a doctor go out of his way to clearly confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. It's not even been a week yet since hydroxychloroquine was introduced as part of my treatment! Wow! I have not conquered this journey all the way yet, but I will. This medicine has improved my ankle and finger joint pain. It's only been a week! Yes, there are some minor side effects, but compared to the pain I was in over a week ago, it's incredible! The rheumatologist is the key! Great care and the combination of two other treatments are improving my life one day at a time! Don't wait! Ask your rheumatologist today what hydroxychloroquine can do for your rheumatoid arthritis."

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2008

Hydroxychloroquine "I've been on this medicine since I was 12. I'm now 21. I have yet to experience any major side effects. Just recently I've noticed that it upsets my stomach if I don't eat with it, but I guess it's because my doctor just upped the dose because I gained weight."

• Lou...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 16, 2020

"I was diagnosed with hydroxychloroquine for RA in 1996. During the next approximate 12 years, my doctors prescribed hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate (can't recall the timing on each). Then, after those 12 years of meds, I no longer had any RA pain. My doctor agreed to discontinue the meds. It has been 12 years since then, and I remain pain-free."

• Anonymous
• January 9, 2011

Hydroxychloroquine "I was diagnosed with RA in October 2010 and have been on Plaquenil (200mg 2x/day) and Celebrex (200mg/day) for 3 months now. I've noticed a slight improvement in my hands and fingers as far as morning/evening swelling goes, but the stiffness and pain still persist. I go back to see the RA doc next week and am hoping he can either increase the dose or add something else to the mix because I'm still not feeling all that great."

• una...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 29, 2015

Hydroxychloroquine "I live in the UK and have all treatment under the National Health Service. I have RA, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, blepharitis, and interstitial lung disease! Blimey, I hear you say quite rightly. I say it every day. I take hydroxychloroquine in conjunction with methotrexate and etanercept, and they seem to work well together. However, since my methotrexate was reduced (due to continual chest infections), I have noticed a recurrence of swelling and pain has increased. I am now on 80 mg of morphine (MST slow release) x 2 per day and oramorph (instant effect morphine) for breakout pain. Docs told me that they know the three meds work in conjunction with each other, but they don't know why! Who cares - give me the drugs. Hope this helps."

• RRL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2020

Hydroxychloroquine "This Plaquenil is one of the drugs my arthritis doc put me on. I was told by my eye care specialist that it was damaging my eyes and I needed to stop taking it. My eyes may never recover. I have been off Plaquenil for several years now, and my eyes still have not recovered. I didn't notice any positive results, probably since I took it such a short time, but it didn't take long for it to damage my eyes. DANGEROUS if you value your sight."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 8, 2020

Hydroxychloroquine "I have taken this medicine for 2 years. It helped my hands so much, more like 100 percent, but I can tell that my eyes are getting bad. I have an eye doctor appointment next month. What I didn’t know was it could cause your hair to fall out - it’s been falling out bad. I just found out yesterday that this is one of the side effects, so I am stopping this medicine. Hopefully, I can take something up. For all of you out there that have no side effects, you are so blessed!!!!"

• kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2018

Hydroxychloroquine "I tried this med for mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis, and after a few days of stomach aches, I started getting severe stomach pain that had me doubled over. I realized it had begun when I started taking the Plaquenil. I called my doctor, and we agreed I should not be taking it. Less than 24 hours later, my pain was gone. Not for me! Never again... it was a terrible experience!"

• Anonymous
• October 31, 2010

"I had pain in my knees, feet, wrists, elbows and shoulders. Sitting down and then getting up again was quite painful, some days I could walk only very slowly. After 8 weeks of taking hydroxychloroquine and meloxicam, I felt much better, but my joints were still somewhat swollen. My rheumatologist was ready to put me on stronger medication. I asked to give it a while longer before taking that step, since I felt so much improved. After 4 months of tracking my progress, the doctor now says I won't need the stronger medicines. The hydroxychloroquine was just very slow-acting for me. I am very glad my doctor was willing to work with me, and I recommend patience with this medicine. By the way, I've experienced no side effects to date."

• Kit...
• April 24, 2009

"I was diagnosed with sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis in 1998. Plaquenil quickly helped the swelling and pain in my hands, wrists, and elbows. After 4 years, a new doctor questioned whether I really had RA, and she took me off Plaquenil. Less than two years later, my hands seemed to freeze up, and I actually wore splints because of the pain. A new rheumatologist quickly put me back on Plaquenil. I have my eyes checked by a retina specialist twice a year. My only pain now is osteoarthritis in my knees and back, and I exercise and take occasional anti-inflammatories for that. I am grateful to Plaquenil when I remember how bad my pain and the swelling were before Plaquenil."

• spu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2017

Hydroxychloroquine "I am still trying to figure out what this drug is supposed to do because I still get the soreness in the joints and the swelling, especially in the shoulders and hands. Some nights, it's hard to sleep unless I take something for the pain in both."

• JC0...
• November 15, 2015

"Diagnosed with RA 3 years ago, was put on hydroxychloroquine 200mg 2x daily. After 4 months, nearly all my symptoms had gone! Then the hair loss started, and about a year from onset, I began to look like I had the mange; so, being a complete peacock, I took myself off of the medication. Not a good idea, 2 years of being symptom-free, and I had forgotten how badly RA sucks! Four months passed, and all of my symptoms returned, accompanied by a new symptom of chronic joint popping (and more discomfort and pain) in nearly every joint in my body! So, back to the hydroxychloroquine and hoping for the same relief acquired initially. I'm not ready to go Vin Diesel, so maybe I'll just invest in some baseball caps."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 18, 2022

Hydroxychloroquine "I was put on Plaquenil about 12 years ago and was told I could not take it for more than 5 years. I went to my eye doctor every year and was told nothing about the damage, nothing about damage to my eyes. Because I was on this, I was told to come every six months. Then all of a sudden, I was told I had macula degeneration from Plaquenil. I feel like neither my eye doctor nor my rheumatologist was watching out for my eyes."

• Geo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2020

Hydroxychloroquine "I was diagnosed with RA just recently in 2019 when I was 32. It started with fingers and toes, then tender hotspots on arms and legs, and upper back pain involvement a month after. I took Plaquenil with full adherence of 300 mg/d dosage, hence a positive effect on fingers and toes and body tenders hit in only on month 6, however, it did not help me with upper back pain at all. AS was ruled out with HLA-B27(-), movement capacity, and clean spine MRI though. The side effects: skin rash (persisted during the first 3 months), stomach pain (a few times), diarrhea (persisted during the first 3 months, now occasionally), and muscle twitches (intensive first month, then milder, and I ignore them, maybe not due to HCQ). Nevertheless, I'm going to visit my rheumatologist in coming weeks to discuss my never relieved morning upper back pain."

• bat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2019

Hydroxychloroquine "Been taking Plaquenil for RA for around 6 months. Then, about 3 weeks ago, started having muscular pain, not as bad as the joint pain I used to have but enough to be concerned. Muscle weakness, painful, as if I worked out for 2 hours. Praying it is a dosage problem."

• ohm...
• July 1, 2010

"I have been taking hydroxychloroquine for 3 years. It took a few months before I really noticed a difference, but now I am almost pain-free. I take it with leflunomide, it wasn't working by itself. I have not had any serious side effects. I get my blood checked every 2-3 months and my eyes checked twice a year. I have a flare-up now and then, but they are nowhere near as painful as they used to be."

• Lis...
• September 19, 2016

"Better than the biologics or methotrexate that caused my lungs to burn up. However, after 7 years of 200 mg b.i.d., I think the time has come to quit this too. I have been experiencing nausea and liver pain for the last few weeks, and just recently, vomiting and hives followed by four hours of dry heaves. My liver (under and just beneath my right rib cage) feels painful and swollen. The biologics are nasty too, and my internist said 10 years is max on them as they are known to cause kidney/liver failure in his experience (42 years as an internist). I am not sure where to go from here. This is an awful disease. Diagnosed at 48. The only thing I know to keep the pain at bay is to get up and move and don't stop until it's time for bed."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2012

"This is the fourth medication I have tried for rheumatoid arthritis. I took it for one week and developed headaches and severe diarrhea. I had blood in my stool. I have had similar experiences with other medications."

• Tri...
• July 5, 2015

"I was diagnosed with RA in 2014, put on Plaquenil in 10/2014. I delayed starting it out of fear. In March, when I finally saw an actual RA doctor and received answers that made sense and felt reassured, I started taking 200 mg 2 times a day. Took as prescribed for about 2 months, during which time, I began having the worst constipation! Severe enough where that pain was unbearable! I am a regular person when it comes to BMs, always 1 time a day, sometimes 2! But when I went to 3 days and no movement, just cramping and sitting on the toilet praying this would be the day I get relief. To top it off, I was not feeling any better with my RA. I had no relief from pain, aches, stiffness, numbing, fire, inflammation, it wasn't working."

• Anonymous
• November 12, 2010

"I have been on hydroxychloroquine 200 mg for 4 weeks. I can't believe how good I feel. I have rheumatoid arthritis. The tired and aching joints and welts on my body have subsided. I feel like dancing. I still have a dull pain on top of my head. I have not felt this good in 2 years. Good thing."