35 patient evaluations for Hydroxychloroquine

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Jul 7, 2012 (Started May 01, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (diarrhea, skin rash)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 200 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: After a few months of break from this drug, my new rheumatologist wants me back on it. So far, no side effects like last time.

Apr 19, 2012 (Started May 01, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (diarrhea, skin rash)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: I started taking hydroxychloroquine as soon as I was diagnosed with lupus. I had a lesion on my nose (a white bump) that disappeared after a month of taking the drug (the bump had been there for over a year). I had hives when I started the drug (dosage 200mg) and my doctor told me to take the drug every other day until my body got used to it. Once the hives ended, I started taking it everyday, and after a year, my dosage was increased to 400 mg. At the highest, I took 600mg, but only for 6 months, and the dosage was decreased again to 400 mg, which I took for 3 years. I just stopped the drug 2 weeks ago on my own, cold-turkey, and have had no adverse reactions. If anything, I feel and look healthier than I have in years.

  • 2 helpful marks

Jun 24, 2012 (Started Jan 15, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for mixed connective tissue disease)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhea)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 200 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: The best is to take this medication at night so that you sleep through any side effects, I also find drinking milk really really helps reduce side effects. Do not eat brussel sprouts with this medication unless you want your partner to kick you out of bed (toot-toot)
Cost: < $25 monthly

  • 1 helpful mark

Oct 2, 2012 (Started Jul 02, 2012)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for Sjogren's syndrome)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for fibromyalgia)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for muscle and joint pain)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for pain in lower back)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for pain)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 200 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Do your research many pharmaceuticals are more harmful than beneficial.
Cost: < $25 monthly

  • 1 helpful mark

Oct 29, 2010 (Started May 03, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for fibromyalgia)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for pain)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for inflammation)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (stomach pain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 400 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: felt Not me and headaches and stomach pain....
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: stomach pain

Jun 22, 2010 (Started May 03, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for fibromyalgia)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for pain)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for inflammation)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 400 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Easing my pain for awhile......
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: stomach pain

  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 18, 2010 (Started Sep 15, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for Improve mobility)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 400 mg Daily

  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 11, 2008 (Started )

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for Other)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Advice & Tips: I did not really notice it help, but it didn't make anything worse. Many people I have spoken to have had a positive experience though.
Cost: < $25 monthly

  • 0 helpful marks

Apr 8, 2011 (Started Dec 02, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 400 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly

  • 0 helpful marks

Apr 14, 2011 (Started Dec 07, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 200 mg Daily

  • 0 helpful marks

Sep 17, 2009 (Started Aug 20, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (stomach pain, flatulence)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 200 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Plaquenil - when I first started it, it was very efiicacious. but did also have immediate side effects of stomach upset, gas, and hair loss. I have decided that the benefits outway the side effects and so am still taking it (200 mg twice a day). my doc did initial blood tests, and also warned me to get eye exams regularaly.
Side effects: stomach pain, hair loss, flatulence

  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 8, 2009 (Started Sep 15, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (stomach pain, eye muscle twitching (fasciculations), darkening of hyperpigmentated skin spots, tachycardia (fast heart rate), flatulence)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 400 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Noticed an increase in pain and stiffness when I was not taking it....My ANA tripled as well
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: darkening of hyperpigmentated skin spots, tachycardia (fast heart rate), eye muscle twitching (fasciculations), stomach pain, flatulence

Jan 12, 2009 (Started Sep 15, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (stomach pain, eye muscle twitching (fasciculations), darkening of hyperpigmentated skin spots, tachycardia (fast heart rate))
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 400 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: It tastes really nasty
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: darkening of hyperpigmentated skin spots, tachycardia (fast heart rate), eye muscle twitching (fasciculations), stomach pain, flatulence

Dec 11, 2008 (Started Sep 15, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (stomach pain, eye muscle twitching (fasciculations), darkening of hyperpigmentated skin spots, tachycardia (fast heart rate))
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 400 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: It helps control Lupus.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: darkening of hyperpigmentated skin spots, tachycardia (fast heart rate), eye muscle twitching (fasciculations), stomach pain, flatulence

  • 0 helpful marks
Last updated:
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