Hydroxychloroquine, h plyori and antibiotics

[Dacceber]

Hi all

I've been taking 200mg of hydroxychloroquine for the last 4 years and everything is pretty stable with my health.

Though recently I've had a lot of gastro issues, stomach pain, bloating, nausea and acid reflux. My GP has done tests and tonight called me to say one has come back positive for a h plyori infection. Hes prescribed 2 antibiotics and a stomach protector (omneprazole which I've been taking for a couple of weeks since I first saw him and has been helping with the stomach issues). The two antibiotics are at my chemist waiting to be collected tomorrow, not sure what they are yet but NHS website says...

The antibiotics most commonly used are amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole.

I'm allergic to penicillin so it wont be the amoxicillin.

Anyway, GP said that one of the treatments prescribed can interact with hydroxychloroquine and told me not to take todays or any more for a week while I'm on the antibiotics. I didnt think to ask what it was called or what the interaction is (find phone calls much harder than a f2f)

Couple of concerns are... 1. What will just stopping the hydroxychloroquine for a week do? 2. Doesnt it stay in system for a long time and will it be safe?

I think I'll chat to the pharmacist tomorrow when I collect them to see what they think but also in the meantime wondered if anyone had any similar experiences?

Thanks

[hootie26]

I’ve had stomachache issues in the past, in fact my GP did tests but he and I never bridged the gap to Lupus. I saw my RA and thats when things started to workout. I have gone about two months w/out using hydroxychloroquine because my script expired. When I saw my RA he asked how was I doing on it. He was shocked when I told him I was six weeks without it. That was when he told me that I’d have to take it for the rest of my life. More importantly he told me that even after the time w/o taking it that it was still in my system. I think you should be fine for a few weeks, you may experience some joint tightness. Good luck

[Dacceber in reply to hootie26]

Hi hootie26

Thanks for your reply.

Hope you're doing ok.

I had a chat with the pharmacist when I picked up the pills and they said I should be ok for the week so just going with it. Started yesterday so missed two hydroxychloroquine so far and all ok joint wise. Feel extra tired but on very high dose antibiotics so probably coming from that.

Good to hear your experience and that 6 weeks off them didnt cause lots of problems. I lived in hope one day I can come off it, I went on it originally for palindromic arthritis but my illness/symptoms have progressed and developed over time and since starting the hydroxychloroquine its really helped keep things stable

Wishing you all the best

[kt11]

Hiya, I take Hydroxy and when I need antibiotics I have Doxycycline which is fine, Im allergic to Penicillin too. I hope this helps xx