Hydroxychloroquine

Hi @Fergie

Bless you Stickywicket says it so well. This flare may well die down, but the RA will still be there. Hydroxy is by far one of the safest DMARDs (Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). When I first started it all I got was belly churning solved for me by taking half way through a meal.

When you give it a try let us know how it goes ((()))

I have taken this for a couple of years now but I have stopped because it's now affecting my eyes lots of floaters i asked the optician and after tests agreed it was that drug

Like you, I tried to manage with supplements and self help for just over a year after my RA diagnosis ( hands and feet too.) then I became worried about permanent damage to my joints so I started methotrexate. ( low dose) I was given hydroxychloroquine a year and had bad reactions to it and couldn’t see any benefits so stopped. I now continue to take lowest dose I can (12.5mg) of methotrexate weekly and manage my general health through a diet and supplements regime under the care of a complementary therapist ( who’s a former GP). My immune markers have stayed low ( although still above the higher end). I also do Pilates and swimming to keep moving. It feels like my health is as good as it can be. But I’m still hopeful about getting out of RA land!

Hi, I was prescribed hydroxychloroquine (as a ‘low-level’ alternative to Methotrexate) just after diagnosis. Just after 3 months of taking it, my symptoms completely disappeared. They remained this way for 6 years.

After such a long period of stability, my rheumatologist agreed I could trial reducing the dose. 3 months later, symptoms returned and escalated. I am now on hydroxychloroquine and Sulfasalazine (with rheumatology pushing to add methotrexate). After 18mths, my symptoms are starting to stabilise.

I had no issues on hydroxychloroquine, but wanted to be on as few meds as possible. I regret trying to reduce it though, as I feel it triggered a flare, which may have long-term effects.

I’d go for it, because it was transformative for me!

My sister was on this drug for a long time and it helped her but no one told her to get her eyes tested while taking this. She now has permanent damage when she looks up it’s all dark so make sure you ask about eye tests and this drug they took her off it immediately and she now has to wait to see if time repairs some of the patches hopefully. Be careful.