Treating PMR with Prednisone and Hydroxychloroquine

Posted by joeblo746 @joeblo746, Aug 17, 2022

My doctor just added Hydroxychloroquine to my PMR treatment. He said it helps Prednisone do it's job. Seems like there are more side effects associated with it then there are with the Prednisone. Does anyone know if the Hydroxychloroquine helps. Also heard Hydroxychloroquine can take up to three months to build up enough in your system to be therapeutic.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

debbiebas216 | @debbiebas216 | 3 days ago

I just started on hydroxycloroquine. I’ve been on prednisone for 5 months so hoping it helps. I’m in pain every morning subsiding by afternoon. How long were you on H before you felt an improvement? I’ve read that it could take up to 3 months to kick in. And when you went on H and said that it helped you get off of P, what was your taper schedule? Right now I’m supposed to taper 1 mg every 2 weeks, but I’m trying every other day 5mg with 6 mg.

randersonccc | @randersonccc | 2 days ago

I’ve been on prednisone for 2 years and have been only able to taper to 3 mg per day. And at that I have some issues. My rheumatologist added Hydroxy 400 mg 8 months ago. It does help the pain and mobility issues in the neck and shoulders and hips. However, I have had an interesting side effect of slight blurred vision until it starts to wear off. Say at 10 hours after taking. I monitor with my ophthalmologist also. Not sure if it has affected my cataracts but maybe. My hope is that this will burn out eventually and I can be off both but it’s getting late for me I’m 77. So day to day I hope. It does take about 3 months to notice a difference in mobility and pain. Hope this helps.