Are you taking Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) for PMR?

I was taking Hydroxychloroquine 20mg for treatment of non-ankylosing spondyloarthropathy (na-Spa) for about 3months. Then I developed PMR. Has anyone else ever experienced this sequence of events? Could this be an adverse reaction of Hydroxychloroquine?

I have never had a negative reaction to Hydroxychloroquine and I’ve been on it for 18 years. I too had PMR last year, and I have never been pain free. I am much better after a six month course of methylprednisolone but never completely cured.

I was diagnosed with PMR on January 12, so I’m new to this. Have been on prednisone since then, was doing some good, but it would take till mid afternoon before I as pain free. The doc added Plaquenil at 30 days, so I’ve been on it for about 2 weeks and I believe it has helped. Most of the pain is gone by late morning and what pain I have early in the morning is much less. I’m just starting to taper the prednisone, started at 10 mg, went to 15, now I’m back to 10, soon to be 9.
So far I’m happy with the Plaquenil.

I was diagnosed with PMR April 2023. I have been on prednisone and leflunomide so far. Nothing is working out well for me at the moment. My rheumatologist prescribed hydroxychloroquine 20 mg daily. At present I have pretty bad joint pain due to a flareup of my PMR!!! Any information you can give me would be deeply appreciated!!!

I have been taking hydroxychloroquine for 20 years for other conditions, but still had a bout of PMR in March 2023. I have since relapsed, so I don’t think the hydroxychloroquine helps at all. I was told by my rheumatologist to take it anyway. I can’t imagine how much worse the PMR could be without it!

In !arch 2022 diagnosed with PMR started at 20 a day got off in May of 2024, my Dr. started me on hydroxychloroquine 200 mg a day to ween me off the prednisone. Been taking this since no side effects, no issues with PMR Will be on the HCQ until April 2025. My bruising also cleared up and have no or very little pain. Good Luck

Diagnosed with PMR January 2024. In July my Rheumatologist added HC to the Prednisone, and he told me I would probably be on it forever. It’s mainly a RA drug but it helps with the joints and it’s main ingredient is quinine.
I think it helped, I’m off of prednisone as of October 15, but still taking 400 mg of HC. No known side effects.

Hydroxychloroquine doesn't contain quinine.

Did not work for me. It didn't solve the PMR and I had sleep problems due to hydrochloroquine.

I tried Methotrexate and reacted badly, extreme fatigue 24/7, basically couldn't get head off pillow, felt terrible, couldn't think or function. Rheumatologist wanted me to take Leflunomide but I was hesitant so she put me on Hydroxychloroquine 200mg (The optimal dose was 400mg by my weight). It definitely helped me get my Prednisone down without constant flares and no side effects initially. 12 months later it is having minor effects on my retina and heart so I have stopped it just recently. My Rheumatologist wanted me to keep taking it after I ceased the Prednisone but I feel it has done it's job. I'm now on 2mg Prednisone and feel confident about stopping it within the next few weeks. However the game changer for me was realizing I had celiac disease which triggered the PMR. Going totally gluten free in the past 3 months has made a big difference to my pain levels.