Hydroxychloroquine

jrichardson
jrichardson Member Posts: 7
edited 21. May 2009, 07:22 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi .... new to this, but here goes! I have osteoarthritis & psoratic arthritis & wondering if anyone with same arthritis has any experience with the drug Hydroxychloroquine

Comments

  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi, I have OA but, I'm afraid I hav'nt heard of the drug you mention. My OA is in my spine and quite a few other joints.

    Welcome to the forum, glad you found us. I expect someone will come along later, who knows about this drug, as we have lots of people here with all sorts of arthritis! :shock: :) Love Sue
  • jrichardson
    jrichardson Member Posts: 7
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    woodbon wrote:
    Hi, I have OA but, I'm afraid I hav'nt heard of the drug you mention. My OA is in my spine and quite a few other joints.

    Welcome to the forum, glad you found us. I expect someone will come along later, who knows about this drug, as we have lots of people here with all sorts of arthritis! :shock: :) Love Sue

    Thanks for the reply & welcome, its going to take me awhile to learn how to use the forum pages.
    My OA is also in my spine, neck, hips, hands, feet etc & the psoriatic arthritis mingles in with flare ups whenever it likes.
    I have tried without success, because of side effects, Methotrexate, Lefunomide, & Sulfasalazine, so now the consultant has put this Hydroxychloroquine forward to try.
    I thought it would be good to see what other people had to say about the drug, for warned is for armed as they say. I think the best info for consideration is from people who have had experience.
    Thanks again for the welcome & reply.
    Jean :)
  • roczko
    roczko Member Posts: 92
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Jean

    I have RA and tried hydroxychloroquine but it did little for me.

    I do remember having my eyes checked before I started and was due to have a further check in a year's time but it had already been stopped before that. I think it can damage the retina at the wrong dose.

    Good luck with it.

    Patrick
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Jean

    Bumped up a thread for you - may be of interest to you. Pleased to see you have joined us on the forum! :D

    We always say on here with meds that everyone is different and what works for one may not for another person, or one may have side effects and others not. Even so, it is a good idea to get more idea about meds from others who "know" before or whilst taking them.

    Luv
    Elna
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • kathbee
    kathbee Member Posts: 934
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi

    I have been on Hydroxolchloroquine in the past
    it was given as a triple therapy along with Sulphasalazine
    and Leflunomide for the RA, but it didnt help at all.

    Now I take Leflunomide and MTX for a number of years now,
    and whilst I still get flare ups and stiffness, it
    is not as bad as it was.

    Hope you go ok with it.

    Kath
  • elaine5000
    elaine5000 Member Posts: 33
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    jrichardson wrote:
    Hi .... new to this, but here goes! I have osteoarthritis & psoratic arthritis & wondering if anyone with same arthritis has any experience with the drug Hydroxychloroquine

    Hi - I have Inflammatory Arthritis (not sure which type) and been taking Hydroxychloroquine for over 18 months now. It did take 6 months to work for me so don't give up on it too soon if you find it's not working quickly...I nearly did. I have had 12 really good months on it with just the odd niggle here and there.

    I am taking 300mgs daily which is my maximum dose for my weight. 400mgs is the normal max dose. Unfortunately I cannot reduce it to maintainence dose of 200mgs because I start to flare at that.

    It is one of the kindest DMARDs with generaly mild side effects compared to some of the others and these normally wear off very quickly. If any are troublesome talk to your GP about them.

    Two things though:

    1) Make sure you have regular blood tests to check all is OK whilst on it. Mine's every six months.

    2) Make sure you have your eyes checked at least annually (mine's every six months at the hospital but I suffer with dry eyes too) as there is a very slight risk of it affecting the eyes.
    My Ophthalmologist says it is very rare though and he hasn't seen a case in his career.

    All the best and hope it works for you
    Hugs
    Elaine
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,351
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I'm with Elaine
    I am on it an so far so good!
    I did have the runs abit at first, but made sure I took tabd in the middle of a meal until I got used to it.
    I am on 400mg. been on it since sept.
    Good luck
    Toni xx
  • page35
    page35 Member Posts: 1,081
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi
    i started taking it about 6wks ago. its not working yet but was told it takes about 3months, so im hoping.
    i had a slight sicky feeling for first few days of taking it but thats all :D
    hope it works for you :D
  • suziev
    suziev Member Posts: 252
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    yep am on it too, i would say took 6 months to work only problem i have is that my skin doesn't like the sun now :(
    and from advice on this forum i get my eyes tested every 4 to 6 months.

    suzie
  • emmarose33
    emmarose33 Member Posts: 86
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    yes, I have.
    It was okay. . .didn't actually do much and I had to come off it because I came out in a rash, although it wasn't clear which medicine was causing the rash.
    It did make my eyes go a bit funny.
    Sorry it's not all positive, but it wasn't awful.

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