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Did hydroxychloroquine make you nauseous with diarrhea?

Posted by kmg218 @kmg218, Feb 24 5:52am

Newly diagnosed with RA after a couple years of thinking it was OA with no meds given till now. I also have IBS and a very sensitive stomach to meds of any kind. Tried hydrochloroquine but it made me so sick. The doctor then said to try it at night and when I read it causes insomnia I didn't because I can't sleep either due to RLS....I feel like a mess and failure and don't know where to now turn as far as relief. No NSAIDS allowed so only tylenol arthritis which does nothing. Anyone else struggle with these issues and meds prescribed? thanks for any thoughts....

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kmg218 | @kmg218 | Apr 29 5:46am
In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Hello, @kmg218, As you mentioned, I combined your update on the effects of hydroxychloroquine with your..." + (show)
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Hello, @kmg218,

As you mentioned, I combined your update on the effects of hydroxychloroquine with your previous discussion so members you connected with could see your update:

"Did hydroxychloroquine make you nauseous with diarrhea?"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/did-hydrochloroquine-make-you-nauseaus-with-diarrhea/

It is good to hear that the unwanted side effect has started to subside, but you ask a good question of how long other members like @fairn, @reets70, and @omnipair314 were on it before they started to notice any symptom relief for their RA.

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@JustinMcClanahan thank you....its hard to take something daily and see no difference in your body pain...I can't take any NSAIDS due to my kidney EGFR number. Refuse steroids, saw the effects of them on my mom who suffered with lupus for 35 years before passing...ugh. Its not a good place to find yourself! thanks to anyone who can offer thoughts....

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esgsf | @esgsf | Apr 29 9:06am

I have been taking this medication for over 2 years and it has been worth the side effects experienced in the beginning, but it definitely took time. I too had insomnia when I took it at night. I switched to mornings and it helped. It did cause loose stools but normalized after a few months. It took 3+ months but I began to notice improvement for both my Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren’s disease. My daughter was diagnosed with Sjogren’s too, and she began the medication a year ago. Same side effects for the 1st few months, but leveled off after 3 months and made a major difference in her symptoms-especially mouth sores.
I have 3 autoimmune diseases and this med is an anchor in my treatment plan
Hoping for the best for you. Autoimmune conditions are very tough and so many meds are hard to tolerate or have side effects that are intolerable.

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kmg218 | @kmg218 | Apr 29 10:51am
In reply to @esgsf "I have been taking this medication for over 2 years and it has been worth the..." + (show)
Profile picture for esgsf @esgsf

I have been taking this medication for over 2 years and it has been worth the side effects experienced in the beginning, but it definitely took time. I too had insomnia when I took it at night. I switched to mornings and it helped. It did cause loose stools but normalized after a few months. It took 3+ months but I began to notice improvement for both my Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren’s disease. My daughter was diagnosed with Sjogren’s too, and she began the medication a year ago. Same side effects for the 1st few months, but leveled off after 3 months and made a major difference in her symptoms-especially mouth sores.
I have 3 autoimmune diseases and this med is an anchor in my treatment plan
Hoping for the best for you. Autoimmune conditions are very tough and so many meds are hard to tolerate or have side effects that are intolerable.

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@esgsf Thanks for that hope! I'm not experiencing sleep issues from it but have restless leg syndrome and take med for that so taking at night seems to work for me. I will continue on with it and hope that by July or so I might feel some relief from body pain...appreciate your response so much!

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fairn | @fairn | Apr 29 5:56pm
In reply to @kmg218 "I wrote before about struggling with side effects of hydroxychloroquine. I pushed through and am tolerating..." + (show)
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I wrote before about struggling with side effects of hydroxychloroquine. I pushed through and am tolerating it by taking it at night (200 mg) with dinner. Nausea and diarrhea have subsided. It has been three weeks now and I am curious for those who use this for their RA, how long was it before you felt anything as far as symptom relief? Thanks....

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@kmg218 I have had some degenerative disk and arthritis in my spine, particularly the lower spine. Within about 2-3 months I was noticing a definite improvement and now, 7 months later, I do not have pain unless I overdo physically or have a flare from catching a virus. I also have inflammation in my hand and in my left TMJ and that's better. I don't know that it has helped my eyes much and the fatigue is still miserable, but I do think the mouth dryness is improved. I also have lost a lot of weight (too much), but that started before I began the Hydroxychloroquine so I think it's tied to something else that we're still trying to pin down. Hope that's helpful!

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sillyduffer | @sillyduffer | Apr 30 4:28am

Hello everyone
I was prescribed this drug, dosage 200 mg daily, for OLP in February 2026. I haven't suffered from any long lasting ill effects - only positive ones on my OLP.
A reduction in the occurrence of mouth ulcers, pain, and bleeding from the gums when brushing my teeth.
I believe that 200mgs per day is within the safe dosage limits.
Good luck to everyone with OLP, and I hope that it works for you.
Cheers
Deb

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kmg218 | @kmg218 | Apr 30 6:00am
In reply to @fairn "@kmg218 I have had some degenerative disk and arthritis in my spine, particularly the lower spine...." + (show)
Profile picture for fairn @fairn

@kmg218 I have had some degenerative disk and arthritis in my spine, particularly the lower spine. Within about 2-3 months I was noticing a definite improvement and now, 7 months later, I do not have pain unless I overdo physically or have a flare from catching a virus. I also have inflammation in my hand and in my left TMJ and that's better. I don't know that it has helped my eyes much and the fatigue is still miserable, but I do think the mouth dryness is improved. I also have lost a lot of weight (too much), but that started before I began the Hydroxychloroquine so I think it's tied to something else that we're still trying to pin down. Hope that's helpful!

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@fairn That is so very helpful. I too have arthritis and disk issues in my spine, mostly my pelvis and I can barely move in the morning. I am so hopeful I see positive results. thank you for your response...

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