Please share your experience on hydroxychloroquine/Paquinol

I was on hydroxychoroquine for OLP. It helped a lot, however, I had to quit taking it. It caused severe itching. I tried it twice. If it wasn't for the bad side effect, I would still be on it.

I am taking it daily for osteoarthritis for about 2 years.
I have had gastric problems but it was related to my chemotherapy.
Thia week I have had a considerable bleed in my right eye and I wonder if it is relaated?

@maghera , that sounds extremely scary. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way

I did on for the first month or two. Then my skin became very sun sensitive and had itchy skin. Stopped it shortly after and sun sensitivity and itches went away in a few days.

I was on it for about eight years, until my opthalmologist caught early signs of retinal toxicity and told me to stop the HCQ immediately. The plaquenil was helpful while I was on it, although I may have been a bit more sun sensitive.

If you do go on plaquenil, make sure you have your retinas checked every six months, not just annually, especially if you have been on it for several years.
Mine was caught at a six-month mark. Damage can still progress even after stopping as the drug has an insane half-life.

I was prescribed hydroxychloroquine for pain associate with GPA. However, it was affecting
my heart rate and I was off of it within 2 weeks. Irregular heart rates is a known side effect. Hope you do better on it than I did.

I also was put on hydroxychloroquine prior to a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis, which I am not convinced that is the only problem I have.
The next drug they put me on was mycophenolate (CellCept), which was a terrible chemo drug, with many side effects.
I do have asthma but that was not a good drug for me according to my pulmonologist.
I did a two week washout has instructed by my rheumatologist and then started on Azathioprine, which I'm currently taking without any side effects. My fatigue has diminished somewhat and I'm feeling better so we'll see how this works.
I wish you the best.

This is @joy79, I have been taking hydroxycholoaquine for 6 weeks. My rheumatologist doesn’t know for sure what I have. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Been in extreme pain all summer. Everytime I exercised I felt too tired and my fibro pain was bad. I can have a good day but if I vacuum or work a little then my pain increases. So I am still waiting for relief,

@srqqd so glad to hear that something is working for you! Thank you so much for your response. I will mention this drug to my rheumatologist. Very helpful. I’m grateful to everyone who’s responded.

@joy79 Hi Joy, I’ve read that It can take 12 weeks to see a difference! Seems like such a long time. I wish you well. I hope you will report back on your progress. I’ve only been on it for three days… I’m marking them off on my calendar! All the best to you.