Hydroxychloroquine and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Ric...
• April 13, 2017

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Love this drug, compared to the others. I am 55 now, and first took it 30 years ago. My RA then came on lightning fast, nodules and all. I went from totally normal to almost wheelchair in weeks. The weight of a bed sheet on my toes was too much. Two Plaquenil a day and 2400 mg of ibuprofen a day (that's 12 regular doses!) and I went into total remission. Of course, my stomach is crap now. After 25 years of remission, the RA returned. Different now that I'm older (55), more subtle. Chose Plaquenil again, and working wonders, but for my permanent damage. Get your eyes checked, a must. Some hair will fall out, but hey, I'm glad I still have some to fall out. WEIRD dreams. Irritability. Will lose weight! TAKE WITH FOOD to avoid cramps."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2014

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed a month ago with rheumatoid arthritis. My doctor started me on Plaquenil 2 weeks ago. 300 mg 2x a day. I had to stop taking it after a week because it upset my stomach, causing vomiting, nausea, and extreme diarrhea. My doctor tried lowering my dose to 150 mg 1x a day to no avail. I'm hoping that she can put me on something that will work better as I have been in extreme pain for over a year. I am 30 years old."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2011

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Plaquenil for 11 months. It took 6 months to the day for it to start working and then, heaven set in. The pain diminished significantly. I have a flare up now, for the first time and wondering what to do. I've taken Aleve, but no luck. I only seem to have a flare up during that particular time of the month, maybe something to do with water retention or hormones. Only side effect so far is upset stomach, take with food and in the middle of the day and much better."

• Eve...
• April 29, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in June 2013 at 39 years old. The pain was unbearable and debilitating. I started taking hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day, which didn't sit well in my stomach, I experienced extreme burning in the esophagus. Once I started using the brand name form of Plaquenil, I no longer experienced that side effect. I had bouts of loose stool, nausea, and headaches for a few months, but they have gone away. Plaquenil has done wonders for me. It does take a few months to really feel the benefits, but hang in there, it's worth the wait. My fingers don't feel like they are going to break off, I don't have pain all over my body, and hurray, no morning stiffness. I feel like a new woman."

• ith...
• September 9, 2019

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am a 63-year-old female who was diagnosed with RA after instigating a blood test for it out of desperation 3 weeks ago. My debilitating chronic pain in feet and random knee flare-ups has a name. My rheumatologist put me on prednisolone (reduced doses over 3 months) until the methotrexate starts working (once a week of 15mg for 2 weeks, 20mg once a week indefinitely). Plaquenil 300mg daily. I also take Vitamin D daily, 5mg folic acid once a week, plus curcumin and fish oil. I have been taking it all with breakfast for the last 8 days. I have had stomach cramps but no diarrhea. The prednisolone has been magic for pain-free sleep and movement. I will see in 2 months' time with only the latter 2. Trying to stay positive with yoga and strength exercises. Drugs, vitamins, anti-inflammatory supplements, eye tests, and blood tests, and maybe a nice wig are now part of my new reality."

• Anonymous
• June 25, 2016

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking Plaquenil for about 4 years, 200 mg twice a day. I have been having severe stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. I just now realized it's the Plaquenil because I didn't take it for 3 days due to the nausea and vomiting. I took it again today and got so sick that I had to throw up. Now, I realized it's the Plaquenil. I have been to a gastroenterologist and have done all kinds of tests. I will not be taking this medication again. My rheumatoid arthritis is nothing as bad as the nausea and vomiting. Maybe this will help someone. I don't know what I will take for this RA pain. I feel so sorry for anyone who has this RA. I was not diagnosed with this until I was 65 years old."

• Ros...
• July 23, 2014

Hydroxychloroquine for Lupus "This medication worked great for me except for some stomach upset, which I was tolerating because I wanted to stay off Prednisone. However, three weeks into taking the medication, I developed an allergy to it and broke out in hives all over my body. So, I had to discontinue, sadly. Very sorry not to be able to take this medication as it seems the best one for controlling my Lupus with the least side effects."

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

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• mus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2013

Hydroxychloroquine for Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "I just started this medicine a few weeks ago. My rheumatologist told me that it could take up to 12 weeks to work. I have had stomach cramps, diarrhea, headaches, and worsening of symptoms in my joints. I am not going to give up on this. I don't really want to rate it because I have not been on it long enough. I wanted to comment so that others could possibly get some encouragement to hang in there if possible."

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2008

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

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

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "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!"

• Kgi...
• April 27, 2010

For Lupus "I was diagnosed with lupus, along with rheumatoid arthritis. I started taking this medication about 4 weeks ago, and over time, it has minimized the inflammation I was experiencing, along with the chronic pain in my hips and knees. I never thought I could say that I am about 80% out of pain, which is a miracle! For me, taking it with food is a must. I have a little stomach cramping, but I can tolerate that. So far, so good."

• Lin...
• June 22, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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!"

• Sis...
• August 12, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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!"

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 18, 2015

For Lupus "It's been a year and a half on hydroxychloroquine at the high dose at first, which gave me brown urine, headache, and no appetite. Doc cut the dose in half, and I was okay, except for an irritated tummy. I asked if I could again cut the dose in half, which worked out to like 100 mg a day. I felt like my old self, but the doc thought it was too low a dose. I turned down prednisone altogether and waited out the hydroxychloroquine. I saw the rheumatology doc the other day and took a list of concerns, he said not related to lupus...(burning skin in the private area, tummy issues, brain fog, dry mouth at the front, and a few others). I had a culture on urine and nothing...but bilirubin in urine and trace ketones too, so I'm gonna double-check that out. Rheumatology thinks I should go off this."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2008

Hydroxychloroquine for Lupus "Been taking for one week. Too soon to tell if it will work but long enough to learn that taking it with fatty food such as peanut butter or cream cheese lessens the stomach discomfort - for me anyway."