Hydroxychloroquine and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2020

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "It took several doctors and approximately 3 years before I was properly diagnosed with UCTD (Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease). My rheumatologist prescribed 200 mg of HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) twice a day. I’ve been taking it religiously since the middle of July 2020. It took exactly 10 weeks to the day to kick in, but after that, I felt much better and almost normal again. I began running again, starting at 3-5 km a run and got up to 8.5 km. Then, the day after that 8.5 km run, I started to feel worse. It’s been a week now, and I still feel horrible: muscle weakness, slight nausea, muscle aches. Hopefully, this is simply a flare-up and will go away again. The only side effect I have from HCQ is the occasional itching on my arms and legs. It happens about every 3 or 4 days. That is sometimes unbearable, but disappears in 20 minutes. I will continue taking HCQ and see where the journey takes me. I get my eyes checked regularly due to the HCQ therapy."

• Sbe...
• December 10, 2017

For Lupus "I was recently diagnosed with SLE and started Plaquenil 200 mg once a day. It's been over a month now, and I feel absolutely no difference in joint or muscle pain, but I do have terrible nausea 24/7 from it, with or without food, and take Nexium as I’ve had GERD for years, but take it 4 hours apart from the Plaquenil as directed. My hair is falling out like crazy. I go to a new rheumatologist next week, as the first one was horrible, and I can’t ask her a question without getting a response of, 'Ask your PCP.' What do I need her for, then? She’s the specialist, not my PCP. I take Percocet for the pain, which is the only thing helping me right now. Want off this malaria drug."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2018

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "Starting experiencing improvement after a month of taking it. Six months in, and I have significant improvement in my quality of life. Fewer flares, and I can play with my grandchildren (I'm 54). I still have the occasional flare and some body ache, but I can work with it. Other than the initial side effects of nausea and diarrhea (only lasted a couple of weeks), I'm good to go."

• Anonymous
• September 24, 2011

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "This medication has really improved my quality of life. It took a while to start working, but after 3 weeks or so, my pain decreased dramatically, and the malar rash is completely gone. Make sure to take this medication with food to avoid nausea."

• Cho...
• August 5, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA when I was 30 years old. I'm 37 now. My rheumatologist started me out on Methotrexate, which put me in the hospital for severe flu-like symptoms for an extended period of time. I have just started Hydroxychloroquine, I am on 200 mg once a day and have noticed it leaves me feeling out of sorts, and I often have headaches along with nausea despite taking it with meals. It has caused me to miss work on several occasions. I'm hoping that with time some of the side effects will subside, and I'll be able to enjoy a better quality of life."

• Moo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2022

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Took 200 mgs, was supposed to build up to 400 mg a day. I stopped day 3, uncontrollable watery diarrhea that would not subside. Nausea all day. Weakness in all muscles. Feeling like you are going to faint. I would rather suffer from RA than deal with these terrible side effects."

• Kik...
• August 16, 2016

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "Not sure what I have. High anti-CCPs. Started with left hand finger and joint swelling that did not go away with some joint knuckle pain. Then having some knee and ankle joint pain in the mornings that would go away by afternoon. Stiff neck below the skull area to neck spinal area. I would get occasional calf and foot spasms. Muscle weakness and strength gone. Once I started the drug, I felt like the drug was doing nothing but giving me undesirable side effects. The nausea lessened with time along with the feeling of loss of balance. I felt like my brain was in a fog for quite a while, and my energy level is lower with some fatigue about half an hour after taking the drug and always with food. These side effects became more tolerable. Seventeen weeks before improvements."

• GRo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2020

For Lupus "My ears still ringing with using hydroxychloroquine over a year ago - they just haven't stopped, and nobody can seem to help me. I think that's really messed up. I've seen an ear, nose, and throat doctor. I've seen my primary care doctor, and nobody can help me, and the medication did nothing but make me feel worse."

• Gab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am a 74-year-old female who was diagnosed with RA and some other autoimmune disease that I can't pronounce, 3 months ago. I was put on Plaquenil 400 mg once a day, which I decided to divide into 2 doses, one in the am and one in the pm with food. I had such stomach pain, abdominal pain with cramps, and nausea all day, which I thought was my IBS. And yes, my IBS had kicked in because of this medication and actually made it far worse to the point that I had to see my gastro doctor to get tested for stuff, which all returned negative. I got off of the Plaquenil, and everything went away about 2 weeks later. I waited 14 days and started again to see if it truly was this medication, and bingo, the same thing happened. I tried it later again with just 200 mg because I didn't want to give up, but it did the same thing again as it did with 400 mg. It also made my hair fall out and made my joints hurt worse, and caused muscle pain. Go figure. I am off it now, it's not for me."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2019

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "I took this medication one time for UCTD (undifferentiated connective tissue disorder), and the side effects are horrible. Nauseous, and no appetite for the whole day. I fell asleep for 3 hours, and I woke up with a terrible headache, and the aching in my hands and body is worse. Prior to this, I started a gluten-free diet with vegetables and fruits and herbal remedies, and I was actually able to start working out in the gym. I still have pain, but not like I experienced on this medication. By reading the experience of others on here, I see how much they improved, so I guess some people do well on it and some don’t."

• bik...
• June 25, 2014

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "Been on hydroxychloroquine for 2 weeks now, yes, nausea was an issue at first, but easily resolved if you eat first. It has dramatically changed my quality of life. I have more energy, and in a year and a half, I wake with no pain and stiffness."

• Hem...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 7, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Diagnosed with severe RA, approx. November 2015, Rheumatologist put me on hydroxychloroquine and Humira. Methotrexate was out of the question because of my kidney condition. Have been through the Humira, Enbrel, and was on Xeljanz until prostate cancer was found. Have been on just the hydroxychloroquine for about 5 months, and the RA is no worse than it ever was. The entire time, I've had stomach issues, vomiting, no appetite. These are also side effects of my polycystic kidneys, so I didn't give it much thought. Decided to stop the hydroxy because of the nausea, etc. It's only been 2 days, but my stomach feels much better."

• Rwr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started this drug six weeks ago. In week six, my side effects appeared. I had been so hopeful. Thought I was doing well with no side effects. Then they came. Horrible rash, anxiety, mood changes, no sleep, headache, and nausea. I had to stop the medication. I knew of the side effects that could happen, but I figured they would have happened right away. Not so. Now I find out they happen as the slow-acting medicine begins working. Even in week six, it didn’t relieve any of my pain or symptoms. I’m so disappointed I had to stop this medicine. For those who tolerate it and it works for you, I’m so happy you have found something that works. Blessings."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2021

For Lupus "I've been taking this drug for about three months for lupus. The only symptoms I had were nausea, but I took it on an empty stomach. I also experienced darkening on certain parts of my body, but the main symptoms I'm getting are psychological, it makes me kind of foggy-headed. But when I'm on it, my lupus malaise and pain are really under control and my liver function goes down to normal. The benefits are worth the brain fog."

• MAH...
• November 24, 2015

"Although my tests came back negative for RA, my doctor did prescribe Plaquenil for the inflammation present in my system and the extreme pain and stiffness I was feeling in my hands at only 52. Right away, the nausea began along with terrible sleepiness. This only seemed to occur on my AM dose, though, which debilitated me in the morning. I tried taking it earlier, which helped. Then I did some digging and realized that the only difference was that I only take Meloxicam in the morning. Reading the list here about the same interacting confirmed my suspicion. Once I stopped taking them at the same time, the nausea stopped. No more throwing up every morning! Because of side effects, I can't rate this high. But it's really helped my OA symptoms."

• Bli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started on this a few days ago and have terrible nausea and headaches. I feel panicky. Do side effects wear off, and how long does it take? I take 200 mg one day, then 400 mg the next."

• Oli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2022

For Lyme Disease, Arthritis "Hydroxychloroquine. Tried for 3 weeks. Minimal pain relief. Terrible insomnia. Nausea. Anxiety."