What is Hydroxychloroquine?
Hydroxychloroquine (hi-DROCKS-ee-KLOR-oh-kwine) is a medicine that helps reduce inflammation and is used in the treatment of several different forms of arthritis. Hydroxychloroquine has been used for many years to treat rheumatoid arthritis to help relieve joint inflammation, swelling, stiffness and pain. In addition, hydroxychloroquine is widely used in patients with systemic lupus for the treatment of arthritis and rashes, as well as in patients with juvenile arthritis. Hydroxychloroquine is also known by the brand name Plaquenil.
How is it Taken?
Hydroxychloroquine is available only by prescription from your doctor. It comes in tablet form, to be taken once or twice per day. If the medicine bothers your stomach, take it with meals to lessen the chances of stomach upset, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
* Medication Tip - To help reduce the chances of stomach upset, take hydroxychloroquine with food or a glass of milk.
How Long Does It Take to Work?
Hydroxychloroquine takes a long time to build up in the body. You may not see any benefits from it for one or more months. However, you’ll know it’s working when you notice a decrease in the swelling, stiffness and pain in your joints or a reduction in inflammatory skin rash.
Can It Be Taken with Other Medicines?
You can take hydroxychloroquine with other medicines, but only as your doctor directs. When you start taking hydroxychloroquine, tell your doctor about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter products. Your doctor may also prescribe hydroxychloroquine along with other drugs used to treat arthritis, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prednisone, methotrexate or sulfasalazine. Taking the drugs in combination can help increase the benefits of drug treatment and reduce the side effects of individual drugs.
What Are The Side Effects?
Most people have no side effects from hydroxychloroquine. Usually the side effects are minor and last for a short time. Side effects can occur at any time during treatment or even for many months after you’ve stopped taking hydroxychloroquine. In most cases the benefits of taking hydroxychloroquine outweigh the risks. You may experience the following side effects, which typically go away when your body adjusts to the medicine or when the dose is lowered. Call your doctor if any of these side effects lasts more than a week:
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Nausea or vomiting
Headache, dizziness
Skin rash, itching
Black spots in your vision.
If you experience side effects while taking hydroxychloroquine, contact you doctor as soon as possible. Hydroxychloroquine stays in the body for a long time, so it is usually safe to stop taking it for a few days until you can reach your doctor.
Possible Eye Problems
In rare instances, deposits from hydroxychloroquine may form in your cornea, the transparent outer covering of the eye. You won’t be able to tell the deposits are there, but you may notice a blurry ring when you look at lights. The deposits won’t harm your eyes and vision generally returns to normal within several weeks of continued drug treatment. In rare cases that usually follow prolonged or high dose use, hydroxychloroquine may cause injury to the retina, which includes the nerves from the back of the eye that enable you to see. Recent studies suggest the risk of this effect is only 1 out of 5,000 patients who take hydroxychloroquine. Regular visits to an eye specialist who is familiar with this effect can help identify retinal changes early and reduce the risk of this side effects. If you experience any change in your vision while you are taking hydroxychloroquine, discontinue the medication until your doctor or a specialist can determine the cause of the change.
*Caution - You should have an eye exam every 6 to 12 months while taking hydroxychloroquine. In very rare cases, hydroxychloroquine can cause a change in the eye’s retina. This is nearly always reversible when you stop taking the drug.
Who Should Not Take this Drug?
People who are allergic to any type of anti-malarial medication or who have an abnormality of the retina (in the eye) should not take hydroxychloroquine. Women who are considering becoming pregnant or who are pregnant or breast-feeding should discuss hydroxychloroquine use with their doctors.
Take Medications Wisely
To get the most benefit from hydroxychloroquine, take it as directed. Taking any medicine incorrectly can result in serious side effects. To avoid problems, follow these tips:
* Take the right amount, as prescribed by your doctor
* Tell your doctor if you: are allergic to any medicines; are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs; have any other medical problems, especially eye or blood problems, or diseases of the liver, nerves, brain or stomach.
* If you forget to take your medicine, resume your regular dosing schedule the next day.
* Keep this medicine away from children.
For More Information
Contact your local Arthritis Foundation chapter for a list of brochures about different forms of arthritis and related conditions, treatment options and self-management techniques. Services including self-help courses, support groups and exercise classes also may be available in your area.