hydroxyachloroquine help

[astrajewel]

hi everyone, I have had major side affects on this medication ,rib pain shortness of breath and very unwell with it, so had to stop them with advice from gp seen my rheumatoid doctor on Friday and she says she has never heard of the symptoms I explained to her, and wants to start me again on them after a ct scan has anyone else had severe affects from them i felt she didn't believe me,I would love to hear from anyone who has suffered affects from hydroxachroroquine

thanks mary

[ITYFIALMCTT]

That sounds miserable.

While you're waiting for someone more knowledgeable to reply - I did a quick search and there are people who've reported hydroxy side-effects in general (that include breathlessness). E.g., ehealthme.com/ds/hydroxychl...

On this forum, people's reports: healthunlocked.com/search/h...

[Caza]

Hi, I've been taking hydroxychoroquine for over four yrs with no problems. However I do get breathless when in a flare which started before I started the meds. One of the links in the previous answer I noticed was hydroxychoroquine & mtx so maybe an unclear answer.

[Deniseelk]

Have a look up costochondritis . It is another common complication of RA and is very painful. Worth getting checked out by your GP as they may prescribe an anti inflammatory or physio. Best of luck.

[DaniBeeLcLa]

Hi Astra! I feel your pain! I get this sucky thing every winter...it comes with the rain. Until you can get some relief from your doc, try moist heat(damp towel in the microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds), tiger balm after. Hopes this helps!

Dani

[astrajewel in reply to DaniBeeLcLa]

hi Danni thank you will try that, all this pain is a pain lol

cheers mary

[astrajewel]

hi all thank you so much for all the responses, I'm so greatful for all your replies and help on this

keep well

mary x

[nomoreheels]

Me neither, not from HCQ but it does sound familiar, costochondritis perhaps? It's when the cartilage that joins your ribs to the sternum become inflamed, it can be painful enough to warrant a steroid injection. Your GP is probably erring on the safe side as HCQ being a specialist med his knowledge of it & side effects will be limited compared with your Rheumy. He'll prescribe it regularly & know exactly how press to your ribs so you'll hit the roof! No, seriously, it's not something that can be detected from a blood test so he will either confirm or rule out costochondritis by examining you, if it is that of course. Another reason I'd hazard a guess is breathlessness, that could be due the pain, not lung connected. When you have such pain you're not breathing in deeply enough, could be confused with breathlessness?

Only my twopenn'orth. I hope whatever it is it's there's a simple solution & if it is the HCQ something else works well for you. Let us know how you get on.

[astrajewel in reply to nomoreheels]

hi thank you so much, I appreciate your tuppence worth lol every little bit of information is a great help it means when I go to rheumatology or g.p it will let them think I know what I am talking about, it did feel like my ribs had been hit with a baseball bat when trying to breath and so painful

take care and thank you so much

mary x

[Dogrose]

Yes it gave me a fairly severe asthma attack every time I took it, I stopped after only five days of trying, I didn't even ask for permission, i just stopped. My rheumatologist said it was an unusual reaction but not unheard of.

[shimur]

yes,I had palpatations,shortness of breath ,headaches and just felt lousy. I doctor didn't believe me either. I stopped it but my body is still recovering

[TansyR]

I started out on HCQ when first diagnosed with RA. I was very sick on it. Dr. Said to stay on it and hoped my body would eventually tolerate it. After 6 weeks of constant nausea and sickness I had to stop. I do believe some of us cannot tolerate this drug. Maybe you will eventually be able to do this drug. It works quite well for some people I know. It's hard to suffer with the RA and have to also deal with side effects of the drugs to help.

I do wish you relief from the drug's side effects

TansyR

[Jollyjill]

I’m now on Plaquenil for the second time. Awful rash and still some painful joints. Will be switching to a biologic