Should I keep taking my meds?

[Mmafox]

Hi everyone. So I’ve been having flares all summer up to now and now the dr increased my hydroxychloroquine but each time I take it my stomach cramps up and I have the worst diarrhoea. I sweat and feel dizzy. It’s been a week and I forgot to take my meds for 2 days and on those days I felt fine that’s how come I realised that it was the meds making me cramp up. I don’t know what to do now coz I can only see my rhuemie in December and the help line will only respond after 3 days. Should I hold off the meds till then or suffer? Don’t know if the meds are being absorbed if I’m flushing them out like that...

[Jebren]

I would hold off the meds. Do they have you on bentyl as well or any other meds?

[Mmafox in reply to Jebren]

I’m not on any other meds. I think I will hold off and just take painkillers for now. Thanks.

[Oshgosh]

I should ring the helpline anyway,at least you will be in the system

[Mmafox in reply to Oshgosh]

I will do thanks.

[Hidden]

Mmafox, I had bad cramps (and...gas 😬) my first week or two of Hydroxychloroquine. Luckily I was warned a head of time that this would probably happen until my body adjusted. Now things are ok 👌. Good suggestion from OshGosh to call the help line anyway. You may find it’s better to continue them and get the adjusting over with since you may be half way there, instead of starting anew? I’m no doctor, nor do I play one on TV (ok, that was a commercial here in the US. It may not translate or be numerous in the UK).

BK

[Mmafox in reply to Hidden]

I was on hydroxy 200mg then it was increased to 400 mg now I’m having stomach problems. I was on 400mg a year ago then it was reduced so I’m wondering why my body is acting up. Surely it must be used to it by now.

[Hidden in reply to Mmafox]

You would definitely assume so. Hopefully you’ll get your answers soon.

[damage]

Hydroxychloroquine should be taken with food. If not it will cause nausea

Diarrhea, sweating, terrible stomach pains. Always take this medicine with

food.

[Mmafox in reply to damage]

I always take it with food but thanks for the heads up

[Bessy01]

I was on it for 5 years then they changed the brand then I started with stomach problems. Given I wasn’t feeling any benefit from the meds I made a decision to come off it and have been for 5 months my stomach is so much better now and I don’t feel any worse. I suppose time will tell.

[Mmafox in reply to Bessy01]

Suppose so

[Barbara17]

Could you try a different brand of hydroxychloroquine? I’m on Zentiva and it seems to be well tolerated.

[Mmafox in reply to Barbara17]

I will try but Quinicor has always been nice to me