Recently Diagnosed…help

RosieGal22

New Member

Joined : Aug 2022

Posts : 1

Posted 8/28/2022 4:21 PM (GMT -8)

I was recently diagnosed with RA and my my rheumatologist wants to put me on Hydroxychloroquine. Has this helped anyone with RA? Major concerns? Side effects? Google only helps with so much.
Any diet recommendations? Things to avoid? I know it’s different for everyone but I don’t even know where to start.
Any and all tips are greatly appreciated!

Tomnh

New Member

Joined : Aug 2020

Posts : 10

Posted 8/30/2022 8:49 PM (GMT -8)

That’s a great med, got ten years of few symptoms with the two little white pills. Good luck hope it works as well for you.

Lynnwood

Forum Moderator

Joined : May 2005

Posts : 8110

Posted 8/31/2022 9:39 AM (GMT -8)

Been taking Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) almost 20 years to control my Systemic Lupus.

No problems, no side effects. Works best when taken with food, and a small chance of issues with eyes -- have your ophthalmologist to do a Field of View Test annually.

More on Plaquenil and the Eyes here, plus a simple test. http://www.sw-eng.com/plaquenil-eyes.html

CaMama

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2005

Posts : 1915

Posted 11/9/2022 6:37 PM (GMT -8)

before biologicals were out, plaquenil was the only med that gave me relief. It is subtle as it works, but one day you realize how much better you are. I had some initial GI issues the first few weeks, but they went away. You do need to get your eyes checked twice a year - but one ophthalmologist told me the eye issue happens with MUCH MORE than 400 mg a day (200mg 2x a day). Plaquenil is typically helpful to people with Lupus, I have psoriatic arthritis which mimics a lot of lupus symptoms, the doc thinks that is why it worked so much better than the 2 dozen meds I tried before that.
As with any med, lots of water is a big plus.
Good luck!

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