Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 4)

• Ta2ed...
• 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 Fibro Lupus and Scleraderma. I tried Methotrexate and it made me very sick so 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, 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 I the plaquenil that 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."

• tdkeand
• 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."

• Karen...
• 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 yrs old and felt like I had a body of an 80 yr old I am doing so much better I've been on Celebrex twice a day for 4 yrs and constant cortisone meds but this plaquenil has helped me so much My only down fall I've noticed is that I'm tired after I take it other than that my pain has gone from constant to bearly any I get the odd day but usually triggered by cold weather and due to my osteo arthritis"

• cheta...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 13, 2022

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "I thought it might be helping, I thought I tolerated it well because my eyes were ok. I was wrong. My heart rate went up a couple years into taking it, Drs blamed pain, then fatigue got worse to the point that I lived in my recliner. Then I developed more problems that slowly got worse: dizziness, extreme fatigue to the point that I couldn't concentrate on basic tasks, racing heart & near fainting, uncontrollable sinus infections, daily migraine, my skin was all messed up with rashes and rosacea. I started dropping weight fast, food went right through me. Heart had problems not caused by heart, gut had probs not caused by gut. Finally the blood Dr's tests showed Hemolytic Anemia bad, I was reacting to the plaquenil in other ways too. 3 months off & I'm near recovered. Watch that stuff!! 8 years, GONE, I was near death w/Drs blaming RA & misdiagnosing as other things!"

• EJano
• 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 seems 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."

• GCav
• 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 the 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."

• Baba
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 2, 2020

"I used this drug hydroxychloroquine for several years for rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, it did nothing to stop the progression of my illness and eventually gave me a very bad rash. Of course I had to stop taking it and the Dr. prescribed something else which did work like a miracle - my inflammation completely disappeared!"

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

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

• Dj95
• 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 200mg, 1 and 1/2 tablet 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. Otherwise than that, my RA is actually been worse overall since starting this medication, so I"m gonna stop until I hear back from her."

• LindD
• 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!"

• LaraP
• September 15, 2016

"I was diagnosed with JRA at the age of 2, lead 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 a amazing, zero side effects and everything was great. For the past 3 months my symptoms have gone 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 old 48. Exhausted and tired of being in pain."

• blacki
• 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 hydroxchloroquine, when starting this one. Had 5 days of 200mg 2x/day, and have decided to stop. Severe vertigo this AM, followed with increase 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. Can not find out if it can be dialysised. The pharmacy print-out, did not mention, what I found on this site. My "go-to" site for checking interactions, did not mention my other drugs. Can not 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."

• Bird
• 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 decision factor in coming off it. Dry mouth didn't help either."

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

"I am a 54yr old female, just diagnosed with RA two months ago. I also suffer from fibromyalgia. Started taking Placquenil exactly one month ago, along with Lyrica. Had only been taking the Placquenil 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 cause I can't work and have no income. Its Thursday and tomorrow my mortgage and other bills are due and here I am literally spinning out of control."

• Sorrow
• 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 2 drugs, plus Sulfasalazine & Orencia. It was changing my diet that got me off of those other drugs, but I still need to be on the Methotrexate & Plaquenil. I feel pretty good, but I still have flareups 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 & still have to take the MTX, I'll give it a 5."

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

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) "I was put on plaquenil about 12 years ago and was told I could not take if 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 was told to come every six months. Then all of a sudden was told I had macula degeneration from plaquenil. I feel like neither my eye doctor nor my rheumatologist was watching out for my eyes."

• Carle...
• 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 B 19. This can cause joint pain in the small joints, especially in adult women. My joint pain would flare up for a couple 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's 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!"

• blue
• 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 different 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 manufacture and now am continuing to go back up hill and feeling so much better. THANK YOU ZYDUS"

• Sissy
• August 12, 2019

"I started takingthis 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 Imonium 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"

• Covid...
• 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 it's own issues. My Dr. said that I developed Steven Johnsons syndrome from the allergic reaction. I can't personally imagine ever having to use this drug again."

• Started...
• 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 is 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!"

• Dano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2019

"I have been diagnosed with RA the doctor prescribed hydroxychloroquine 2 tablet/daily 200mg. I started with one tablet daily for 2 weeks then started taking 2 and after 1 day I developed swollen lips and probably glands, rashes on my hands feet and chest. I stopped."

• Nanny...
• 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 Hydoxychloroquine. 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 inflamation 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 with 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!"

• alyth
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2017

"A wonder-drug to me when I first took it. Almost all the pain in hand joints stopped within a week - after 10-15 years of continuous pain which I had just ignored, but couldn't now face going back to. I'm still almost entirely pain-free in the joints - just a shadow of it in the evening when I'm tired. I do have side-effects though. Terrible constipation and trapped wind, getting worse at present and making me feel sore inside. Also headaches and irritability in the evening, though these are worth putting up with for the increased clarity of thought in the daytime. The 'horrible' feeling someone talked of - I had just a week of it. Like another body, full of pain, just behind the new one. alternating like an alternating current..."

• Jo Jo
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2020

"I have been getting the generic Hydroxychloroquine for 2 months. I have noticed more aches and discomfort returning. I feel like I had more pain free days when taking the medication by a different manufacturer."