has anyone else had this reaction to hydroxychloroquine? My consultant said he had heard of it but never seen it before. I have dark "staining" on left side of my neck which starts at my jaw line and goes down to my collar bone. It has started to creep around to the front of my neck and a new patch has started on the right side of my neck now. (if they join up will my head fall off?!) I have a "sun-tanned" left hand and what resemble large freckles spreading up my left forearm - my arms are starting to look like they belong to 2 different people. I have also now got light brown "splodges" along my jaw line, leading to my cheeks. I have been referred to dermatology and i am there on the 15th but, as you can imagine, I am finding this upsetting. Yes, my hair hides my neck and I "can always wear make up and long sleeves" but how bad is it going to get? my consultant said that even if I stop the hydroxychloroquine , there is no guarantee the staining will go. I just want to burst into tears.
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pattypatchwork
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Staining from hydroxychloroquine usually happens on the lower legs/chins and not typically the face (although it can, just not super common). I have seen this and it’s not uncommon in the rheum world if you meet people who have been on this stuff forever. It’s typically in gravity dependent areas and brown but can be blue in color as well. It will sometimes lighten when you stop hydroxychloroquine but doesn’t really go away completely from what I’ve seen. Some just continue on because it’s not that aesthetically bothersome and they absolutely need the medication.
I don’t think brown patches on the face are from hydroxychloroquine. Have a dermatologist look at it. There are tons of autoimmune disorders that cause what looks like coalescing freckling and skin changes. Get another opinion in my opinion. 😜
Thank you for your response. I see a dermatologist on the 15th of this month so will hopefully know more. My autoimmune consultant wasn't 100% sure it is the tablets and has asked the dermatologist for a 2nd opinion
I had ...well, have something similar (dark patches). Although, I'm not only taking the same treatment as yourself (sorry, I can't spell it) but also immunosuppressants and steroids as well.
Nevertheless, it's all over my legs and gradually made its way to my my chest and arms. It started in October 2020 and eventually, I saw my dermatologist last month who said it was a skin infection caused by the medication I was taking. I've been provided 3 months worth of antibiotics and a shampoo to wash my skin with everyday for 14 days and then once a week thereafter.
Can't provide the name of the infection unfortunately, as the clinic letter hasn't been issued yet but it may or may not be this. All in all, you'll be in good hands as the dermatologist will be able to pinpoint exactly what it is.
By the way, mine is slowly clearing up. So, try not to panic. It will get sorted
Hi I was on hydroxychloroquine and developed brown staining on my lower arms when taking it. I had olive skin and then darker patches, it looked like a ‘tigers coat’ . . personally because of where it was it didn’t bother me and was just something else I had developed because of RA and other co- morbidities. I found thinking of far worse side effects of the condition and drug related problems seemed to help me deal with it, it wasn’t my lungs, kidneys or heart that were being damaged. I came off hydroxychloroquine and went onto biologics and gradually over a number of years it faded.
Thank you for your reply and you are right in what you say- it could be far worse. My consultant did say that if it the medication causing it then I may have to make a choice between staying g on the medication which it potentially the best for my condition or cone off it and go on a weaker one. I'll know more after the 15th.
HiI have brown patches on my face which started roughly 8 years ago( I had been taking hydroxychloriquine for 17 yrs prior) to it starting. I stopped hydroxychloriquine last summer due to having an allergic reaction when dose got put up, but pigmentation is still there. Hydroxychloriquine can cause this.
Hi pattypatchwork! Light tan spots appeared on the very edges of both lower eyelids after I was on plaquenil for about 8 or 9 years. After stopping plaquenil (for different reason), few years ago (2017), most of the spots faded. I’ve just checked and see the darkest (and first I recall developing ) is still there although it’s not very noticeable. I can’t remember if I discussed these with docs way back when (memory? What’s that? Lol) but I recall thinking this is just skin darkening which is a side effect from the drug.
Yours is obviously far more wide spread— if it was that way with me I’d ask the docs about it.
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Feeling a bit lost...,
Inflamed neck muscles/weakness 
Hydroxychloroquine toxicity 
Info: For those who are having problems getting Plaquenil because it has been de-branded by Sanofi.
