Early side effects of hydroxychloroquine

[MagsaTrini]

HI all, I started hydroxychloroquine yesterday ... 200ml twice a day with food......

Would appreciate your experiences with early side effects please

Thanks in advance

[AuntTea]

If you're bothered by side effects try tapering your dose. Instead of doing the 200mg twice a day I did 1/2 tab once a day for 3 days and increased by 1/2 tab every 3 to 5 days until I worked up to the 200mg twice a day.

[MagsaTrini in reply to AuntTea]

Great idea,c thanks I will try that

[Hidden]

I started it as well as methotrexate and found that I got a nasty rash (looked very like a Lupus rash actually) across my face on the day I took both. So my GP told me to avoid taking it on Methotrexate day. After this I was fine until, 2 years on, it gave me a slow type of anaphylaxis - so the initial rash must have been a warning I'm thinking. I agree about taking half dose for a few days and let your body acclimatise to it.

[daisyd]

Make sure you are taking hydroychloroquine from Zentiva, I had terrible side effects from the cheaper brands the Doctor will have to write placquinil on your prescription

[MagsaTrini in reply to daisyd]

Will bear that in mind for next months , thanks

[Cas70 in reply to daisyd]

Wow! This is exactly my finding too. Thanks, I see Consultant Friday and will ask him to write it up this way. Thanks.

[Mommy-madness in reply to daisyd]

I'm a pharmacists wife and I agree .

[daisyd]

Sorry spelling Hydroxychloroquine

[Jean52]

Hi, don't want to put you off this med as its meant to do great things, but from my experience on that drug it affected my eyesight badly. I already had bad eyesight prior to taking it, but after starting it, my eyesight started to deteriorate badly. Needless to say, I had to come off it, and never take it again. I'm now registered severe sight impaired. I wish you look.

[MagsaTrini in reply to Jean52]

Sorry to hear your bad experience with it, sending hugs x

[SLEEPINGDOG in reply to Jean52]

I've been taking Hydroxychloroquine for about 2 years now and my eyesight deteriorated too, but a new optician's prescription and 2 cataract ops seemed to sort it out. Trouble is - I don't know what side effects are relevant, so I don't know what I should be looking for, my feet are swollen, so I wear compression sox. I got totally exhausted just strolling around the Garden Centre following my wife yesterday and slept through my favourite TV programmes. What a b*****r ! But I didn't know the contribution that Hydrox.... made to all this!

[whisperit]

Hello, I started about 4 months ago, with the same dose as you. For the first three weeks or so, I had an acid stomach and grumbling guts. At one point, this was really bad, with cold sweats, dizziness and nausea.

However, I am also taking prednisilone and have a long history of gastritis, for which I have taken omeprazol or lansoprazol on and off for years.

Things have settled now, after I have become very careful to space both my meds and any foods that might be gastric irritants.

Otherwise, no problems...fingers crossed!

[MagsaTrini]

Thank you, only other meds I take is levothyroxine for thyroid / Hashimoto which I also space out. Only day 3 I'm currently suffering bad tummy, excess wind, blurred vision, headache and excess sweating

[GloomyEeyore]

I have been taking Hydroxychloroquine for almost 18 months. Was told to have an eye test done before starting it. My first prescription was dispensed as Quinoric and I didn't react very well to it. I had terrible acid and felt very nauseous. My GP gave me another prescription, this time putting on it that it had to be given as Zentiva brand. Had no problems with this brand at all. My dose is two 200mg for two days, one 200mg for one day on a repeating cycle.

[MagsaTrini in reply to GloomyEeyore]

Yes, it's Quinoric that I started on Friday.... I will get the original brand next month

[daisyd in reply to MagsaTrini]

I wouldn't wait a month, I would ask for another prescription before then, lots more information on the sticky blood web site on here

[Freddi1019]

What I found was the medicine from one place did not upset my stomach, whIle another store did upset my stomach. .....not all generics are alike.

[Henrys8]

I was fine to begin with then noticed my skin was terribly itchy so I take anti-histamines and no side effects at all.

[Jaybz]

I had initial all-over itchiness, slight rash on head and minor hair thinning (all over, not in clumps). Also had a slight issue with heartburn and nausea, but all symptoms were minor, and did subside after 4-5 weeks. I used a coal-tar shampoo for the scalp, which seemed to do the trick. Apart from that, it wasn't too much to worry about, and I don't really notice any side-effects now-- just be sure to take with a little food otherwise you could get a bit of nausea.

It seemed to be effective for me to a degree. Certainly the major joint pain has subsided.

I've been advised to have regular eye exams and notify doctor if any changes in vision occur.

I hope it works well for you!

[MagsaTrini]

Thanks for that... Yes having with food. I was told to have eye test from specialist not opticians before treatment which was all clear, every 6 months from now . Will def try the coal tar shampoo as my scalp and skin feel in fire at times . My main symptom is nasea, tummy upset with lots of uncomfortable wind

[shrop]

I started on Quinoric hydroxychloroquine 3 months ago with a prescription from my Specialist. My GP prescribed a different version the following month and I experienced terrific headaches. I returned to my GP and he re-prescribed Quinoric. My headaches ceased. Thankfully. Since taking this antimalarial drug my 'flares' are less frequent and I feel a lot better in myself. Still struggling with lethargy though. Good luck - hope your symptoms get easier for you.