Did hydroxychloroquine make you nauseous with diarrhea?

@jsbart1 sadly you have to go through the stages to reach those biologics. A friend of mine takes methotrexate injections weekly as she has IBS so that may be something offered to me but I have to try the oral first and fail so it seems...ugh

I took Plaquenil for many years for RA and tolerated it very well. It worked really well for me for quite a few years. I had to come off of it because I developed retinal toxicity. I started it 25 years ago and the dosage I took was larger than is recommended today, so that probably explains the eye issue.
Everything I've tried since has been problematic , so I sympathize with what you are going through and understand your feelings of being a mess. I have those same feelings .
I was allergic to Methotrexate. I had a bad reaction to the first infusion of Simponi Aria. It brought on a host of Cardiac issues. Last year I had a PM implanted and then was in the hospital with pericardis 10 months later.
My rheumatologist is not interested in trying me on another biologic since I had such a severe reaction to the Simponi Aria. So I am getting by on Sulfasalazine and 5 mg of prednisone which isn't ideal. And perhaps isn't really doing a very good job managing my RA, which might explain the pericarditis.
I too can't take ibuprofen because I have had cell changes in my stomach.
I hope you can find something that you can tolerate.

These RA meds are so individualized. @missy245 It's not surprising you had that reaction to Simponi. I had a milder one with feeling short of breath, to the point of panic. But slowing the drip and benadryl IV worked for me. Years later I still make them follow the protocol, not taking chances. I was on Remicade for 4 years, then it just stopped working. And taking methotrexate was the worst; I was in a kind of depression where I couldn't wake up enough to do anything. Talk about disability.

The hardest part is we have to go through these kind of "experiments" to find what helps. Then click "Hugged" because we care about someone who's been through this like we have.

@kmg218 I always take plaquenil with a meal and drink a full glass of water. I had IBS for years and it seemed that doctors' didn't believe it was a real thing. You know how you feel on plaquenil and it sounds like it's not right for IBS.

I've found these support groups helpful in learning to trust myself better.

@jw9 I'm an allergic kind of person. Pretty much being allergic to almost everything that grows. So I was scared about taking Simponi . I took a 25 mg Benaryl before I went and then they gave me another 25 mg before the infusion. I can't imagine what might have happened if I didn't have all that Benadryl in my system..
My rheumatologist said that Remicade and Simponi are made by the same company and the main difference is that Remicade has a mouse and human starter and Simponi is a 100% human starter.

Yes, trusting myself better is an issue I have too. The evening that was admitted for pericarditis, my husband had to convince me to go to the ER. I just thought that it was more of the pain from the chronic gastritis I've dealt with for years.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/hydroxychloroquine-oral-route/description/drg-20064216
One side affect in this report is: Stomach or bowel problems–Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

@kmg218 I have been on hydroxychloroquine for 20 years and have never had one day of side effects.

@missy245
You have to be stubborn to keep going through chronic illness! And I am glad I dropped the MOUSE (Remicade!?) when I did!

@reets70 Oh that gives me hope...I have not started it again, I will in the upcoming week or so and plan on taking it in the evening as per the doctor, hoping that I can sleep through the side effects of nausea, now the diarrhea may be a problem if that occurs again this time. Its nice to hear someone who has not had any issues with it. thanks!

@kmg218 I couldn't tolerate generic hydroxycholoroquine -- it gave me diarrhea. But I can take the brand name version, Plaquinel, with no side effects. My rheumatologist told me many of her patients have the same experience with this particular drug -- can't tolerate the generic, but can tolerate the brand. Unfortunately, the brand costs way more. But if you can afford it, it might be worth a shot.

@bayhorse I got diarrhea too and sick... my rheumatologist said to drink milk with it and take it at night...i did and that worked for about 9 mos. then i was suffering again from diarrhea so quit taking it last Oct..i feel fine and cannot tell of any difference...each of us are so different...i would not want to be a dr. these days with all the options...but i do think it has a lot to do with the dr. I am wishing you good luck!! Im Irish..so maybe it will help...