Hydroxychloroquine

[Alice70]

I am trying out hydroxychloroquine for the third time as it was thought to be upsetting my stomache ,myself and rheaumatiod nurse now thick it was the prednisalone ,treatment at the moment while waiting for hydroxychloroquine to work is paracetamol and shortec (morphine) three times a day plus I am still taking 5mg of prednisalone, just gone into my fourth week of hydroxychloroquine, I believe hydroxychloroquine take 12 weeks to work I'm wondering if anyone else taking it found release before 12 weeks as I'm still in quite a bit of pain

[helenlw7]

Please skin mr rant. I’ve been on hydroxychloroquine 4 months, and it started working after about 3 weeks. I’m also on 15mg of methotrexate and 7.5mg of prednisolone daily. My issue with the hydroxychloroquine, and I’m sorry if you’ve already read my moans about it, is that I’ve successfully been on an antibiotic, Azithromycin, as a prophylactic for about 8 years with only 1 chest infection in that time. Unfortunately you can’t take Azithromycin with Hydroxychloroquine because it can cause heart and lung problems, so my lung consultant changed me to doxycycline. Unfortunately in December I had two chest infections and another one in January, culminating in pneumonia at the end of February and admission to hospital, where I still am. Because there were several points of infection in my body I have had 4 chest x-rays, and several other x-rays, ct scans, MTIs and ultra sounds, culminating in a PET scan last week. From that it’s been found that I have a pool of fluid under the skin of my hip so I now need another ultra scan with a surgeon present to remove the fluid!

[Alice70 in reply to helenlw7]

I have wrote a post on asthma lung foundation I read your post on there, and you would of thought I wrote it I've had same trouble with Azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine, I came of Azi yesterday and started on Doxycycline today even though I've taken Doxycycline for eight weeks before Azithromycin they didn't work ,I have HI bug thanks for your reply ,fed up with it all

PS I've had appiontment to have pre med for hip replacement, there is no way they will do hip with hip infection

[helenlw7 in reply to Alice70]

I’m glad it’s not just me. I was due to have a lung consultation on Wednesday but he’s cancelled it because it’s too risky with my lungs, but he won’t come and see me even though my ward is about a 5 minute walk from his office, and there aren’t any new appointments for at least 2 months. I haven’t actually seen him f2f since 2019! I’ve decided I’m going to email his secretary and ask her to forward my plan. I’m going to go back on Azithromycin and ask him to tell my gp. Then I’m going to do the same with the rheumatologist to tell her I’m stopping Hydroxychloroquine and she needs to find another drug, maybe a 3rd biologic. I’m keeping on with the hydro until I get out of hospital because of course they’ve stopped my methotrexate. I’ve decided I need to be more forceful (in a nice way) with the consultants because I’ve had RA for 20!year and asthma and lung disease 12 years.

[Alice70 in reply to helenlw7]

My rheaumatolgist wouldn't put me on methotrexate because of my breathing said it could make it worse, good luck with everything we need it

[helenlw7 in reply to Alice70]

My breathing was ok when I started mtx and I’ve been ok since.

[Nana-8 in reply to Alice70]

I tried Hydroxychloroquine for 3 months and I never got any relief from the RA or dry eye. I took it with my Leflunomide.

I had bouts of hand paralysis, distaste for any food and bothered my sleep. I was glad to get off it.

[Seatgeorge]

I'm afraid I didn't get on with hydro it sent me delusional, my mates would say I'm that anyway,howeverI tried it for a week and I did notice a difference in a short time,if you can tolerate it I hope it works for you.

[Madmusiclover in reply to Seatgeorge]

Similar. Didn’t work for me but does for many. 🤞🏼

[Wedgwood123]

I was on hydroxychloroquine for two years and I found I had a lot of side effects, once I came off it they all stopped

[welsh12 in reply to Wedgwood123]

What side effects did you have

[Wedgwood123 in reply to welsh12]

I had terrible leg pains which kept me awake every night, my hand started to tremor and my walking was abit shaky, it was my physio that suggested it was the drug that could be causing these side effects, and as I said I stopped taking it and informed my consultant. I was also on methotrexate and had already stopped this drug as it wasn’t having any effect and now I take Fitibn which I have to say after three years of trying different drugs this one is working

[welsh12 in reply to Wedgwood123]

Interesting I have those side effects and rheumatology are dismissal of them particularly hand leg tremors as hydroxychloroquine is reducing pain did side effects go away immediately after stopping ?

[Wedgwood123 in reply to welsh12]

Yes it was great to get a good nights sleep

[Coppernob]

I had to give up hydroxychlorine because it caused awful skin staining/bruising. Also, it didn't seem to do any good.

[KittyJ]

I was on it a long time and it worked well for me but it wasn’t a quick fix. Bear with it as 4 weeks isn’t long in RA meds world. 🤞🏻for you

[Airdale]

I take 200 mg of hydroxychloroquine daily for my rheumatoid arthritis,

and have had no issues with it. I don’t take anything else, so I don’t think

I could be much help to you. I’m sorry you are having so much trouble

[Alice70 in reply to Airdale]

Thank you for reply does help

[welsh12]

I found after around 6 weeks it worked but was taking methotrexate also

[Nana-8]

The US is so afraid to prescribe pain relief! Your lucky you can get an RX.

[Shelly1969]

I found taking "LOSEC" antiacid capsules 1hr before taking my Hydroxychloroquine l was put on 200mg of Hydroxychloroquine when l first stated it but my doctors agreed it was to much for my stomach as l just got tummy pains all the time now taking 100mg Hydroxychloroquine and Losec my tummy is much better hope this helps hope you feel better soon xx

[Alice70 in reply to Shelly1969]

Yes it does help thank you