hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hi Dolores Sorry to hear you are another RA person,
I guess ive got the "Pleasure" of many years trial and error as ive been diagnosed for about 30yrs now (yes I was young )
I have a Lot of problems with medications and can't take Any of the Non Steroidal Anti inflamitories, they did put me on Hydroxychloroquine ( Plaquenil ) and I had a Severe Reaction to it known as a stevens johnson reaction, now take heart they say this is Rare !
but I do warn anyone taking Plaquenil to keep a watch on your Blood tests and your Temperature as I got flu like symptoms and a very sore throat which I ignored I then got a high fever - again ignored it till finally I was near comatose & Delirious with 42c (107 f ) and had a mouth Full of ulcers I had to be on iv in hospital for a week and unable to eat solids for about 3-4 weeks. This Scared the Daylights out of me and I refused all medications for some time after But now with a Very Good Rheumatologist I am on medications that are helping and looking at my next visit to give a TNF Blocker a Try.
you Need to Try these and you need to Trust your Rheumy if you don't then get another one I think over the years ive gone thru 8 before finding this one.
the fact that you can take ibuprofen is a good sign if you have tummy troubles make sure you Never take it without food even a glass of milk will help
Take Care hope to see you around the site

BadDay
I'm so sorry about what happened to you. I can't imagine how you got thru it and still have the spirit to help others with that experience! You are very strong and courageous. Thank you for sharing that story with me. I have been prescribed hydroxycloroquine 3 times and I feel bad cause my rheumy has tried to reason with my fear. I say to myself I can't afford to be I'll with side effects that might make me loose days of work! The irony is I'm on workmans comp due to my knee making a poping sound and then the pain was terrible I was moving furnisher at work, its what I do for living. I have been out of work since last week. Way I see it my body needs something for my flares and pain yet my denial and perhaps ignorance tells me I will be fine in the future. Anyhow, I'm so grateful to have found this group/forum I read the stories and my heart goes out to everyone in pain! I pray for all to get relief. I gotta say I have tried 2 things that have cut my pain down considerably and that's fish oil and cutting refined sugar from my diet...I'm a sugarholic! But done that experiment and felt hardly no stiffness in morning and after sitting for awhile my mind was a bit sharper and my mood was improved! Oh and lots of tumeric in all my foods!
I hope you are doing ok... keep me in posted of your progress and I will keep you posted IF I decide to start my meds! I just don't want my rheumy to be mad or give up on me.
Love ya
Dolores777

I have been on it for about 5 years now.
It is the only thing that ever let me feel normal-you know get rid of the fever fatigue malaise.

Have the eye tests done yearly but really even that is so rare at todays doses. My eye doctor says he has seen two cases in career and they reversed when the medication was stopped.

Hi psbg

Peggy how is the Rituxin treating you? I pray its gjving you the relief you deserve! Thank yo for your reply and the words of encouragment I have yet to start my Hydroxycloroquine! But j have read ALL the replies and its so true what works for some doesn't for others, its just we are all made different! So far I am getting worse my body is not flaring but rheumatoid is rheumatoid it will not STOP hurting! Pain is my companion always...my rheumy is not going to be happy but its the way it goes. I'm not trying to be a rebel but fear is in the way of my reasoning! I will keep you posted; for now I'm on 600 mg of ibuprofen.
Please tell me how you are doing and feeling
Prayers and a big Hug to you!!!
Dolores777

Horsegirl93

Thanks for sharing I am so happy to know that Hydroxycloroquine is working! So reasuring to know, I read it does wonders for some and my rheumy said he has other patients on it for some time and they are doing great! I am currently on 600 mg of ibuprofen due to a bad case of bursitis in my knee and left elbow. I wake up pretty sore but life goes on until I decide to take my Hydroxycloroquine...my rheumy wants me to start at 400 mg a day.
Please stay positive and hope your Dr. Considers slowly taking you off of Prednisone and hopefully the Hydoxycloroquine itself can help you!
Take good care of yourself and let me know how things turn out for you
A big Hug to you
Dolores777

Sjkly
Thank you so much for your reply I can't tell you how much this forum supports all my fears and questions
I really am grateful for the experience you have shared with me! I am hopeful I will rest my fears and do something about taking my Hydroxycloroquine! I'm taking ibuprofen currently and its working so far!
Hope you continue to feel good and I will keep the eye doctor appointment in mind
Thanks
Dolores777

Dolores I'm so thankful for friends like you This is the only place where you can truely find out what works for folks and the side effects from the meds. I too have gained lots of weight had lost 22 pounds before i had to jack up on prednisone so I'll have to start from scratch. Up and down. Lol. Glad your daughter is better and I hope she has no flares again EVER!!'
Hope you have a great pain free day.
Peggy

I've actually lost 23 pounds so if ur on prednisone and gaining weight plaquenil will actually help even u out and stop weight gain

Delores, I think of myself as the queen mother of side effects with meds. The only problem I had was some diarrhea with generic plaquenil. I was fine with the name brand. Of course, it's $100 a month!!! LOL.... They do say a very rare side effect can be with the eyes, so just get your eyes checked every 6 months to a year.

Hi guys thank you ALL for the great support and encouragement...I want to say I'm still a chicken about taking my plaquenil
On June 9 th I was at work (custodian for 11 years now) and j pjcked up a table to move it and my knee felt like it popped out of place and like a caveman I popped it back in place, afterwards I kept working and then sudden pain went tk the urgent care and was diagnosed with anserine bursitis. They slapped a knee sleeve which made it feel secured and 800 mg ibuprofen and on workers comp for 7 weeks, my WC Doctor had me go to physical therapy and was told it might need surgery! No surgery for now though...had an MRI which Doctor said it was arthrits!! Then he said get back to work!!!! Now m back with fatigue and pain, I'm so mad at my body being in PAIN ALL THE TIME
I am greatful to each and everyone of you who replied with your plaquenil experience it has made me give it some more thought about taking this med. I am at the point that the side effects can be probably not
as bad as the body aches and pain and fatigue.
Will keep you all posted love and peace to all
Dolores777