Hydroxychloroquine: Hope everyone well,advise plz. I... - NRAS

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Hydroxychloroquine

Ninnin67 profile image
13 Replies

Hope everyone well,advise plz. I mayb just being over anxious but ive been on above drug for 6wks 400mg,to start with no side effects at all.Yest got new script same meds but white colour instead of yellow. Well within 30mins of taking i had weird taste and odd sensation in my tongue,subsided buy lunchtime. Took meds again and hey ho same weird effect.

Is this just me??

Also on metho 20mg and folic acid

Help would be wonderful

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Ninnin67
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13 Replies
Deniseelk profile image
Deniseelk

I suspect it is the coating. It’s extremely bitter if you touch your tongue with it rather than just swallow the tablet down. I hold mine between teeth and take with big swig of water so no tongue touching!

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

Hiya Ninnin67. Hydroxychloroquine is available to prescribe by quite a few different pharmaceutical companies. Some have issues with the brand Quinoric & are fine on Plaquenil but these are only two of the more commonly prescribed ones. The only difference are the excipients... the fillers - colours, lactose, enteric coating (or lack of) may be different though the same quantity of the active ingredient, HCQ, remains the same. So, it could be you’re reacting to an excipient, whichever it may be.

If it was me I’d ask if you could have the name of the one you're ok on added to your repeat prescription, that way you should ensure that your Pharmacist dispenses that one brand name only rather than just picking any old HCQ. I think the yellow ones are made by Blackrock, a generic (unbranded) tablet.

Unfortunately cost is the issue & obviously the less expensive one at that time will be prescribed so speak kindly to your GP, failing that your Rheumy or Nurse. Pharmacists as a rule will choose to dispense the less expensive of whichever is available in order to be in receipt of more profit & also avoid any potential losses.

Brushwork profile image
Brushwork

The yellow ones were probably coated with a protective agent, the white ones not. Just try to swallow them straight down.

I had same problem.

The white, uncoated ones are cheaper.

FunBalloon profile image
FunBalloon

Yeah I agree with everyone above. I always have the white ones which are uncoated. If I let them touch my tongue it burns due to the bitterness. But please double check with your pharmacist. Mistakes can happen and you certainly want to be on the safe side x

Beastpig1 profile image
Beastpig1

The white ones are extremely bitter on the tongue. Just swish it down with a big mouthfull of water!

Caza profile image
Caza

Agree with what NMH said. I cannot take the white ones they me sick but the yellow ones from Baldock are absolutely fine. My gp has put this on my script but still they try to give me the white ones as NMH said they’re cheaper

Mandalou profile image
Mandalou

The white Quinoric taste absolutely disgusting! Big gulp of water needed.

Mx

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

I was just about to take a white quinoric as I read this. It does taste disgusting if it gets stuck on the way down. I find now that if I get a lot of saliva in my mouth before I put it in my mouth so that it is kind of floats and doesn’t touch my tongue directly then I can take a big gulp of water and wash it down. Fortunately I only have to take one 200 tablet a day.

Wizard12 profile image
Wizard12

Ask your pharmacy to give you what you have had before and get them to make a note of it so you always get the same

Pulfs profile image
Pulfs

Agree with all the comments it's very bitter . I try to gulp it down with lots of water 😝

Anniebl24 profile image
Anniebl24

I agree but you cannot always get the yellow ones.

medway-lady profile image
medway-lady

I get this with Azathyoprine and its horrid. Not found a cure sorry !x

mistymeana profile image
mistymeana

Some brands are bloody awful! The one I'm currently taking is one of them. The one thing I have found that tends to help is swallowing it with a spoonful of yogurt (as long as the pill doesn't accidentally touch your tongue). Unfortunately I wasn't aware my current lot would fall into the vile category so was unprepared. As I'm having to hole up indoors and I'm lactose intolerant I have got just get on with it as I can't get to any of the big supermarkets that have flavoured lactose-free yogurt. My son is getting quite used to the gagging noises now.

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