Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 4)

• tdk...
• February 18, 2009

"I spent 10 years trying to get my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed - it runs in my family - but because I was considered 'young' (in my 20s) when the pain started, and because it started in my shoulders (just like my mother), numerous doctors didn't think it was RA. Finally, a Naval doctor diagnosed it and added Plaquenil when Mobic alone was not alleviating my symptoms. Since being on both, I have had very few flares. I have now been seeing a rheumatologist, and to eliminate the remaining flares, he has since added sulfasalazine, and I have been pain-free for over 1 year now."

• Ta2...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 29, 2017

"I have been on Plaquenil for almost 3 years now. Along with RA, I also have fibromyalgia, lupus, and scleroderma. I tried methotrexate, and it made me very sick, so my RA doctor said to just take the Plaquenil. Since being on the med, I have a very hard time staying well. What I mean is I catch every virus, cold, and flu coming and going. I have now been sick since Thanksgiving and just recently was told that I have pneumonia. I thought that if I took myself off the Plaquenil, my immune system might somehow perk up and be better. Well, I have been off of the Plaquenil for almost 2 weeks now, and good Lord, was that a mistake. I had forgotten how bad I hurt before the Plaquenil... I am back on it now and have no plans to stop taking it again."

• Kar...
• November 8, 2015

"I'm on week 5, and it has certainly changed my life. I was having constant flare-ups in my hands, and my joint pain was so severe it was depressing. I'm 43 years old and felt like I had the body of an 80-year-old. I am doing so much better. I've been on Celebrex twice a day for 4 years and constant cortisone meds, but this Plaquenil has helped me so much. My only downfall I've noticed is that I'm tired after I take it. Other than that, my pain has gone from constant to barely any. I get the odd day, but usually triggered by cold weather and due to my osteoarthritis."

• GCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2016

"Plaquenil was the first RA medication I was put on. It did not go well. I was on it for a total of 3.5 weeks, and during that time, I have never been so sick in my life. The nausea got worse the longer I was on it. I developed severe vomiting at about two weeks on it. I was debilitatingly exhausted all the time. I lost over 10 pounds in this short time because I couldn't eat and was getting so violently ill. It also gave me a horrible headache that lasted from day 1 until my rheumatologist discontinued it. After I stopped taking it, the side effects cleared up in about a week. Now that I am off it, I can tell it was helping the RA pain and swelling, however, the side effects were just too much for me."

• Ban...
• May 14, 2016

"My RA doctor prescribed 200 mg 2X per day - approximately 1 month ago. I feel a great difference in the improvement of pain relief! But, I do have to eat prior to taking, or I get nauseous. Also, I get very sweaty - dripping sweaty, it's terrible! But the RA pain is so much worse than being sweaty and nauseous, so I will continue to take this medicine! Aside from the 2 side effects I mentioned, Plaquenil has relieved my pain substantially!"

• Lar...
• September 15, 2016

"I was diagnosed with JRA at the age of 2, led a completely normal life until about 2+ years ago, went to see an RA doctor, and she put me on Plaquenil about 18 months ago. At first, it was amazing, zero side effects, and everything was great. For the past 3 months, my symptoms have gotten worse. In fact, I am having pain that I have never had before, including joint popping and feeling as though my hip is going to give out sometimes when I walk. I see my doctor next week, so hoping for something new. I have never taken any RA meds at all until now, and now I feel like I am 90 years old, and I am only 48. Exhausted and tired of being in pain."

• EJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2019

"I have RA. Diagnosed back in January of 2019. Taking hydroxychloroquine for a month. I started with one a day for the first two weeks. I had really bad diarrhea the first three days. I was very nauseous for the first week. Once I went up to two a day, I became a little lightheaded after taking the medication. Have to take with food. My RA symptoms seem to be irritated right now. I have left hip pain more regularly and right and left shoulder pain. My fingers have been swelling, which I never experienced before. I am finding this difficult, but I really hope that sticking with this drug will help in the long term."

• Lin...
• June 22, 2016

"I have been taking 200 mg of Plaquenil 2x/day for about 8 weeks. I notice stomach discomfort even though I take it with a meal. The one side effect I don't see mentioned anywhere is that it lowers my INR, and I've had to increase my warfarin dosage. I do see a great change in the amount of pain in my joints! I actually have days that I feel good again! Praise God!"

• Kil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 14, 2017

"I am a 54-year-old female, just diagnosed with RA two months ago. I also suffer from fibromyalgia. Started taking Plaquenil exactly one month ago, along with Lyrica. Had only been taking the Plaquenil for two weeks when I had a severe reaction: dizziness, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Was hospitalized for 4 days and am still recovering from drug-induced vertigo. This is week three of vertigo, I can't drive or work and have no benefits. I was hopeful this drug might help me, now my future is uncertain because I can't work and have no income. It's Thursday, and tomorrow my mortgage and other bills are due, and here I am literally spinning out of control."

• bla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2019

"This is the site, is where I found I am taking 3 other meds that are advised NOT to be on when taking hydroxychloroquine, when starting this one. Had 5 days of 200 mg 2x/day and have decided to stop. Severe vertigo this AM, followed with increased BP, irritability. The scary thing (beside heart & liver damage that could occur while on the other 3 meds) is the very long half-life of this drug. Cannot find out if it can be dialyzed. The pharmacy printout did not mention what I found on this site. My 'go-to' site for checking interactions did not mention my other drugs. Cannot really rate the drug as to RA, due to my short use of it. So, thank you for the info, it may have saved my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 9, 2019

"Hydroxychloroquine is a good drug for mild arthritis, however, the length of time it takes for the drug to leave the body is worrying when you are faced with losing your sight and possible progression after you stopped taking the drug. Also, check the dose is correct for your ideal weight so you are not over-medicated."

• Ole...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 16, 2021

Hydroxychloroquine "My wife had sudden onset RA in 2000, and Plaquenil allowed her to go on to finish her military career. Twenty-one years later, she’s able to still work through occasional flare-ups. She gets her eyes checked and has seen no problems associated with some of the side effects. Her ophthalmologist says her eyes look great, and her RA doctor seems to have her RA under control."

• Dj9...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2019

"I was first diagnosed with RA about 10 years ago, been slowly getting worse since then, especially my hands. Started taking hydroxychloroquine 200 mg, 1 and 1/2 tablets each evening 2 1/2 weeks ago. In the last week, I have developed the worst constant dry mouth, my eyes are so dry they feel like sandpaper. Just now I read that this medication is used to treat dry eyes and mouth issues in another disease. I left a message with my doctor earlier today. Other than that, my RA has actually been worse overall since starting this medication, so I'm going to stop until I hear back from her."

• bja...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2022

Hydroxychloroquine "I developed sudden paralysis in my right leg about a year ago. After being hospitalized and subjected to a variety of medications, my condition deteriorated until I needed a walker to even stand up and was only staying awake about 3 hours per day. Finally, I asked to be tested for RA. Very positive results. On my first visit to the rheumatologist, she prescribed hydroxychloroquine. I had reacted severely to other medications, so I started with 1/2 prescribed dose - one 100 mg pill with supper daily. Within two days, I could stand and walk independently for short distances. Within a week, I was walking and driving and staying awake throughout the day. This was like a wonder drug...and then I started to get serious cramps in my intercostal muscles so that I felt that I was being crushed and could not breathe. I ceased to be able to feel my hands and feet. It took over two months for this to stop after quitting the pills, and I still show some liver/kidney damage."

• Sis...
• August 12, 2019

"I started taking this drug, hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day for rheumatoid arthritis. Immediately, I had extreme itching along both of my forearms and the sides of my neck all day long. I had no relief and extreme abdominal pain, like the worst cramps imaginable. I took Benadryl and Imodium D for the itching and stomach cramps and loose stools. After 5 weeks, suddenly, I could no longer see the time on my clock, my stove, microwave, TV channels, etc. I got alarmed and stopped taking the drug, my vision was blurry, and my eyes could no longer focus on signs, labels, even my own eyes. I could no longer see my pupils in the mirror. Stopped the drug and now I need to wear glasses all day."

• Sor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 1, 2020

"I've had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 26 (1978). Over the years, I've been on many drugs. I started taking Plaquenil in 1987. I was on gold shots and an NSAID and not doing well at all. A rheumatologist put me on Plaquenil. He said if I didn't get enough relief, they would put me on a new drug called methotrexate. I had some improvement with Plaquenil, but 2 years later they did put me on methotrexate. At one time, I was on those two drugs, plus sulfasalazine and Orencia. It was changing my diet that got me off of those other drugs, but I still need to be on the methotrexate and Plaquenil. I feel pretty good, but I still have flare-ups occasionally. I have had no side effects from the Plaquenil. I just got the generic hydroxychloroquine with my last refill, so I'll have to see if there's any difference. Since I didn't have a great deal of improvement and still have to take the MTX, I'll give it a 5."

• Bir...
• March 27, 2020

"Been on hydroxychloroquine for RA for a year. Weight gain, awful, losing hair. Drug started to not work very well. But the weight gain was the deciding factor in coming off it. Dry mouth didn't help either."

• Olg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 1, 2021

Hydroxychloroquine "I have been on Plaquenil for over two years now for my moderate to severe RA. Having tried multiple medications that made little to no difference, I was excited about the drug that finally helped. I am taking it in conjunction with a weekly injection of Actemra. Now I am dealing with vision problems that worsened in the past two years and an uncontrollable irritability and low mood. Things are so bad mentally that I lost all my social connections and am having a very hard time communicating with the closest family members. I am in my late thirties, and I feel like my life is falling apart because of the devastating effects this drug has on my mental health."

• blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2020

"6 weeks on hydroxychloroquine for RA. Using this manufacturer for the first 4 weeks. Then was given a different manufacturer that was shaped differently, and within 2 days started the red itchy patches and joint pain. Continued to take a few more days and continued to go downhill. Got my doctor to order a new prescription of this manufacturer and now am continuing to go back uphill and feeling so much better. Thank you, Zydus."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2016

"Took this for my ankylosing spondylitis. By week two, ankle, toe, and hand pain lessened. The 5 knives I felt stabbing and twisting along my spine from neck to sacrum were gone by week three. The inflammation, aching, and stiffness are still a problem at this point. I didn't think this medication would work this quickly, and I'm hoping it continues to relieve even more pain. If so, I will give it a ten!"

• Cov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2020

"I was prescribed Plaquenil for my RA a few years ago. After 2 weeks on the drug, I developed the 'Plaquenil rash.' It began on my stomach and, with days, consumed my entire body. It was the most painful thing I've experienced. I felt that I was being burned from the inside out. I was put on a prednisone IV, and that had its own issues. My doctor said that I developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome from the allergic reaction. I can't personally imagine ever having to use this drug again."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2016

"I have been started on Plaquenil for a virus I contracted in Haiti after I worked 2 weeks after the devastating earthquake. I had 3 viruses that infectious disease found. The culprit was human Parvovirus B19. This can cause joint pain in the small joints, especially in adult women. My joint pain would flare up for a couple of weeks at a time, then subside. Since August, I have had unrelenting pain in my hands, wrists, elbows, forefeet, ankles, and knees. Because this is uncommon, my medical providers have been unsure of a treatment. I finally saw a rheumatologist who wanted me to try Plaquenil. He said he doesn't know if it will help, but I am giving it a try! I have just started the treatment and I feel very out of sorts!"

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2016

"Tried methotrexate twice, and both times it caused chronic ulcerative colitis, so my consultant put me on hydroxychloroquine. Started on 2 tablets a day, but after 3 weeks, I cut it down to 1 as it was upsetting my stomach. It halved my inflammation in about 5 weeks! BUT! After taking it for 3 months, I began to get very constipated, and after 4 months, I had blood when I passed a stool, so I stopped taking it, as I thought my UC was coming back. Now, 6 weeks later, I am suffering from chronic indigestion and have to drink several sachets of macrogol per day to be able to go to the toilet. My doctor's not given me any indication as to how long this will last or if my stomach's been permanently damaged, so I am going to make an appointment to find out!"

• ash...
• May 16, 2015

"I started hydroxychloroquine (200 mg 2x daily) Feb 2015. It is now May 2015, and I feel no relief. My rheumy keeps trying to taper me off prednisone, but as soon as I get off, I flare up again. I'm currently pregnant with twins, so my options for treatment are pretty limited. Obviously, everyone is different, but this drug has not given me any relief at all. Dr. will be starting me on methotrexate after pregnancy. I'm 28, diagnosed Nov 14."

• Nig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2022

Hydroxychloroquine "I have been diagnosed with early-stage RA. Creaky and stiff joints in the knees mainly. Some pain in the wrist joints. After six weeks on hydroxychloroquine, I have been wonderfully surprised with the almost elimination in joint stiffness in my knees. Wrist inflammation has also been significantly reduced. Extremely happy with the results. No side effects as I can report."