hydroxychloroquine side effects: Hello everyone, I have... - NRAS

NRAS

37,263 members46,132 posts

hydroxychloroquine side effects

Stowe profile image
20 Replies

Hello everyone,

I have been on methotrexate for 5 months and bar a few mild symptoms haven't come off too badly. Am still on 7ml of steriods a day, which will be tapered in a month or so, at the moment with the two drugs I don't have hardly any pain, but do get frequently tired. My problem is I have been asked to start hydroxychloroquine, which I started on Sunday, first day went well, then started to feel sick at work today, then developed a banging headache tonight. Has anybody else had these symptoms and can you take headache tablets whilst on this medicine?

Many thanks in advance for your replies.

Stowe

Written by
Stowe profile image
Stowe
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
20 Replies
PinkLamb profile image
PinkLamb

Hi Stowe,

Sorry to hear that you are not feeling too well..

Whilst we are not trained to give advice, I just wondered do you take folic acid??

If this was me, and these symptoms continue I would get some advice from my rheumy team...

Good luck

Stowe profile image
Stowe in reply toPinkLamb

Hello Pinklamb,

Thanks for the reply, yes I am on Folic Acid 6 days a week, yes I thinking yoo that I would ring the nurse in the morning, not really that happy about continuing on these as I seem to be getting a lot of symptoms fairly quickly and at once. Problem is when your working and driving it makes in difficult to deal with these problems. Hay hum, onwards and upwards. Hope your ok.

PinkLamb profile image
PinkLamb in reply toStowe

Hi Stowe,

Hope that you get it sorted out soon....

Your health is much more important than your work!!! I used to be like that, not anymore... Our health is priceless...

All the best love

X

Stowe profile image
Stowe in reply toPinkLamb

Yes you are right, at the moment I try to be fair and go in if I can, but equally don't if I really don't feel well. To be fair to my work they have been really good and very kind, which is probably why I will go the extra mile for them. Thankfully the headache is easing but still don't feel great. Hoping to feel better after a good nights sleep. It's funny but most of the time I forget I have RA and then I have a reaction to a medication and it's a wake up call. I hope your health is ok.

PinkLamb profile image
PinkLamb in reply toStowe

I'm glad to hear that your headache is lifting..

I hope that you soon get relief 😌

I haven't been feeling well for some time now, but I won't bore you with it all... Haha 😂

Best wishes x

Stowe profile image
Stowe in reply toPinkLamb

Sorry yo hear that you haven't been feeling well, you more that welcome to tell me if you want yo talk about it. X

PinkLamb profile image
PinkLamb in reply toStowe

Good morning Stowe.

Aw thank you for your kind words, that means so much ❤️, I'll be OK thankyou, you try and not let it get you down don't you??

It's not gonna get me down today, even though I'm in a lot of pain...

I hope that you are OK this morning...

Have a good day..

X

Stowe profile image
Stowe

Hello Dspooky01,

I wasn't advised that I could take anything and I think because I have had minimal symptoms with the methotrexate I didn't think to ask. 😣. That will teach me. Thanks for replying.

Aspirin is contraindicated with Methotrexate ie you can't take it. Paracetamol is OK though

Stowe profile image
Stowe in reply to

Thank you

purl profile image
purl

Hi, I take both. Do you make sure you take hydroxy with or after food? Same for methotrexate, tends to stop any sick feeling for me.

I also take ibuprofen for inflammation and paracetamol for pain.

Contact rheumy nurse to ask which one they recommend.

Stowe profile image
Stowe in reply topurl

Hello Purl,

Thanks for replying yo me, yes take the medication with food, I am going to ring the nurse and ask for the medication to be reduced or stopped as the side effects, were coming thick and fast last night.😥 not pleasant. I think it took me by surprise as I haven't had that with the methotrexate or steroids.

Jackadoodle profile image
Jackadoodle

Hi, the Rumy consultants in this area are recommending that we taper off the hydroxychloroquine and I think that there has been a paper relating hydroxychloroquine and eye problems, any other information I would would be interested as well to see if an other persons have any more details about this.

Stowe profile image
Stowe in reply toJackadoodle

Hi jackadoddle,

Thank you for the reply, thankfully I haven't had any eye problems on the Hydroxy, but had only taken the tablets for 2 days, will see what the nurse / consultant says, not happy yo carry on with it to be honest.

JFlay profile image
JFlay

Hi, I take my hydroxychloroquine with a cup of milk, not had any problems since doing that. Worth a try?

Stowe profile image
Stowe

Hello Jflay,

Thank you for letting me know this, I'll see what the nurse has to say and if I do have to continue on it I'll give the milk a try, anything is worth trying to not have any side effects.

HCQ may have been a cause of my tinnitus - or it could have been the Sulfasalazine, or both! If you get it, contact your consultant and ask to stop the HCQ.

Stowe profile image
Stowe

Hello, thank you for replying, I just waiting to hear from the nurse and what j can do.

Quiltergirl profile image
Quiltergirl

I don't take methotrexate, but i have been taking hydroxychoroquine for 1 1/2 years. I've don't remember any problems with headaches when I started. It has caused alopecia (hair loss) as does methotrexate. You need yearly eye exams , as it can cause severe eye damage. I was told by my eye doc that this is rare, and usually just found in higher does for malaria. RA is what causes my fatigue. I hope this helps and you feel better.

steveholmes101 profile image
steveholmes101

an I tell u a story, I have had RA for 7 years and all the time I have had it I have been so sleepy and if I brushed the drive I needed a sleep, i moved house it was to much it gave me shingles.

I was told by my nurse to stop all medication .then I got my energy levels back so one of my pills was doing it, I ouldent stop methertrexate, so I stopped hydrocoliquine and never looked back, it may not work for you

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Sulfasalazine side effects

Hi all just need a bit of advice. Started sulfasalazine on Tuesday had a headache within an hour of...

Hydroxychloroquine side effects

Hey I've been on 400mg hydroxy for the past 9 months and am decreasing my dose to 200mg. I've...
heyitsmee profile image

Hydroxychloroquine Side Effects?

Hi all- sorry I haven't posted in ages. So I've had a 100% official Diagnosis now- Anti CCP Postive...
AmandaMc profile image

Sulfasalazine side effects

Hi Everyone I am on my 4th week of taking Sulfasalazine (at full does of 2 in the morning and 2...
Janeye profile image

Side effects from biologics

Hello all I am wondering what are the most common side effects people experience from taking...
Mouseling profile image

Moderation team

See all
KateL-NRAS profile image
KateL-NRASAdministrator
Donagh-NRAS profile image
Donagh-NRASAdministrator
Nicola-NRAS profile image
Nicola-NRASAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.