Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 3)

• sunset
• September 6, 2014

"I am 47 year old female who has suffered many years from chronic pain in joints! It's been along road to finally have a Dr. go out of his way to clearly confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Its not even been a week yet since hydroxyoquine was introduced to part of my treatment! Wow! I not conquered this journey all the way yet but I will. This medicine has improved my ankle and finger joints 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 its incredible! Rheumatologist is the key! Great Care and the combination of two others is improving my life one day at a time! Don't wait! Ask your rheumatologist today what hydroxychloroquine can do for your rheumatoid arthritis."

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

Plaquenil (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"

• Diane...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2018

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "I've been using Plaquenil 3 months. It has helped my RA pain subside a lot. While my Rheumatologist says I'm in the beginning stages of RA, she nonetheless put me on the Plaquenil. However, my hair is falling out rapidly so I have weened myself off of it and will never use it again."

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

Plaquenil (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."

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

"I was diagnosed 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."

• 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 200mg x2 daily."

• Autumn
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2018

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "When first diagnosed 3 yrs ago, my rheumy wanted to try Plaquenil first. He did tell me that some people develop allergies to the drug. Sure enough, three months in I developed hives all over my body. Had to stop the drug. Now I have Kenalog injections every 5-6 months which have worked well for me. No side effects and I am returned to my pre-RA self. Plaquenil is a great treatment for many; just not for me. Every person's physiology is different. My GP has also been researching some older drugs that he thinks were back-burnered due to new biologics. I'm researching as well."

• C Wife
• December 9, 2017

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "I have been on Plaquenil for about 15 years without apparent side effects until this year. But this year I have developed severe swelling of the face and red rash on the upper half of my face. This also includes very difficult itching in odd places on my body, my eyebrows and eyelashes, my earlobes, my lower legs and lower arms, my scalp and of course where the red rash was. This was twice cleared up with heavy doses of antibiotics and Cortisone. However my rheumatologist took me off all arthritis drugs and we added them back little by little. When plaquenil was finally included with the other drugs again, it took about three days and my My face started swelling and the rash and and itching. I can only assume that this was the cause of my allergic reaction, even after all the years of use."

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

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "I live in Uk and having all treatment under the National Health Service. I have RA, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, blepharitis and interstitial lung disease ! Blimey I hear you say quite rightly. I say it every day. I take hydroxychloraquine in conjunction with methatrexate and etanercept and they seem to work well together. However since my methatrexate was reduced ( due to continual chest infections ) I have notice recurrance 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."

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2008

Plaquenil (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."

• Anonymous
• January 9, 2011

Plaquenil (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."

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

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "I am still trying to figure out what this drug is suppose to do cause I still get the soreness in the joints and the swelling especially in the shoulders and hands some nites its hard to sleep unless I take something for the pain in both"

• Grandma
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 8, 2020

Plaquenil (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 and getting bad have a 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!!!!"

• Kittyp
• 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."

• 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."

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

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "I tried this med for mild to moderate rhuematoid 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 dr 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!"

• JC071
• November 15, 2015

"Diagnosed with RA 3 years ago, was put on hydroxychloroquine 200mg 2xdaily. 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 with 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."

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

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "I was diagnosed with RA just recently in 2019 when I was 32. It started with fingers & toes then tender hotspots on arms & legs and upper back pain involvement a month after. I took Plaquenil with full adherence of 300mg/d dosage hence positive effect on fingers & 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 first 3 months), stomach pain (few times), diarrhea (persisted during 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 rheumo in coming weeks to discuss my never relieved morning upper back pain."

• 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."

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

Plaquenil (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"

• LisaS...
• 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 know 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. Only thing I know to keep the pain at bay is get up and move and don't stop until it's time for bed."

• Tribme
• July 5, 2015

"I was diagnosed w/RA 2014, put on Plaquenil on 10/2014, I delayed starting it out of fear, in March when I finally saw an actual RA Dr. & received answers that made sense and felt reassured, I started taking 200mg 2 x 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 BM's, always 1x 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 from has subsided. I feel like dancing. I still have a dull pain on top of my head. I have not felt this good in 2 yrs. Good thing."

• ohmia...
• 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."

• Bans
• May 14, 2016

"My RA Dr. Prescribed 200mg 2X P/Day - Approximately 1 month ago. I feel a great difference on 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 & nauseous, so I will continue to take this medicine! Aside from the 2 side effects I mentioned Plaqunil has relieved my pain substantially!"