Home > Conditions & illnesses > Arthritis > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs > Plaquenil-Hydroxychloroquine Drug Information

Plaquenil-Hydroxychloroquine Drug Information

Plaquenil is the brand name for the generic drug Hydroxychloroquine which is manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis. It is available in 200 mg tablets.

This drug is prescribed in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis though it is primarily an anti-malaria drug. In rheumatoid arthritis, it is very often used when other therapies and drugs do not give the desired results.

Used for

Action

How this medication works is not exactly clear but it does seem to prevent inflammation and this is how it relieves the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis. In malaria, it seems to prevent the malaria parasites from breaking down the hemoglobin in the RBCs or red blood cells.

Side Effects

There could be side effects when this medication is being taken. Some of the ones to look out for are skin rash and itching, nausea, vomiting and dizziness, headache, muscle ache and cramps, tiredness and weakness, swellings and even shortness of breath. There could be more serious side effects like anemia, a decrease in white blood cells, vision impairment like color blindness and blurred vision or even loss of sight. In psoriasis patients, this drug could make the symptoms worse so it must be given with caution and the person must be monitored closely.

Caution

You need to inform your doctor about all the medications that you are on to prevent the occurrence of drug interactions as well as all the ailments you have or might have had. You need to definitely tell him if you suffer from psoriasis, any kidney or liver disorders, any kind of allergy or any eye complaints. In all probability, your doctor will ask you to go through an examination to make sure that you can take this drug with no problem. Eye tests are a must three or four times a year when you are on this medication so that in case of any retinal damage, the medication can be stopped. The elderly will have to be monitored closely when they take this drug. Any change from the normal must be reported to the doctor as soon as possible because in the case of allergies, things could get serious very quickly.

Contraindications

The drug is contraindicated in anyone with macular ailments of the eye, people who are allergic to this type of drugs, children who are below six and in women who are expecting a baby or nursing a baby. It should ideally be avoided in people with liver and kidney problems as well as the very old.

Other readers of this article found the following related searches helpful:

  • Rhi

    My Rheumy told me that if I get a rash from Plaquenil, that I should stop the medication immediately.  So, for those who are asking, it is NOT psychosomatic, and is a real side effect of this medication.

  • Donmolo

    I’ve been on Plaquenil for six years and have my eyes examined twice a year. No vision problems yet. Some itching in the summer but nothing I can’t live with. 10 years ago I had an serious itching problem that 9 doctors including Mayo could not resolve it went on for four years. After an attack of Polymialgarheumatica I was put on Plaquenil. Within a month
    the itching was gone. It could have been a coincidence but no one has been able to explain the relationships.

  • Nurseed93

    Does this drug causes the palm of the hands and the sole of the feet to get very thick and dry?  My husband has been on this drug for one month now.

  • Gadget3

    I have been taking the generic brand of plaquenil for about 6 weeeks now and it has been good however the past few days after I have taken a shower I am itchy. I don’t show any sign of a red rash just itchy and it is getting worse each time. Any comments???

  • Mrvmize

    I had a bad reaction to the generic and can only take the brand name, however the co-pay is too high.

  • barbara

    I have taken plaquenil for 15yrs.  I have lupus and it did help the swelling and itching.  I do suggest that you have your eyes check every six months. I had to come off for about a year for toxicity. My eyes were okay. My sides effects are few.

  • annie stephens

    will plaquenil thin your blood?

  • PATJESSH

    I HAVE SJOGRENS AND TAKAYASU DISEASE (SEVERE ARTERITIS) I AM ON PLAQUENIL 200MG ONCE A DAY, BUT NOW I THINK MY HAIR IS THINING BEEN ON MEDS 2 YEARS IF I STOP THE MEDS WILL MY HAIR GROW BACK ?

  • gwonder

    Personally, I think if you have side effects with the generic you will have them with the name brand.  But if you take any form of it, please, please get your eyes checked at least every six months.  I took this medication for at least 4 years and got my eyes checked every six months. It seemed to be working well for me.  The RA did not get any worse. But my eye sight slowly got worse.  I thought it was because I was getting older.  Well this past April I was sent to a retina specialist and his examination was inconclusive.  I went back last week and my retinas have been damaged with the toxins that placquenil can produce.  Needless to say, I was taken off the medication immediately.  My retina specialist says the retinas will not recover. Once there is damage it doesn’t get better.  So please make sure your eyes get checked frequently.

  • Judy

    I have been on plaquenil 400mg and predisone 60 mgs for 5 months now for suspected lupus.  But I do not have lupus after all test results have come back I want to get off the plaquenil immediately; is that safe.  I have already cut down on the prednisone to 30 mgs.  The side effects of both have been awful and now that I know it for nothing it is very upsetting. Want my normal self back, but I was told it may take 2 months. 

  • Jacobs_lillian

    Hi, I just started this med,one week,woke up with a very bad headach and am slightly dizzy,so far no rashdont know if I should call my ra dr.or if its too soon ,had my eyes checkd before taking this med.was told eyes are ok.I’ll  wait and see what happens with the headach.

  • Mary ANN Garman

    Did you have any side effects except for the rash you had? I have ra and they want me to start this but I’m affraid to?

  • 2anxiousann

    Interesting! I shake too, but dr. “shakes” it off. Didn’t even think it the Plaquinil. I’ve been on it for 3yrs and have had a slight tremor since I started.

  • 2anxiousann

    I’ve had Sjogren for yrs because of other meds. There’s nothing wrong with at least trying a different drug. I got off Hydroxy for 2 wks. Just the symptoms of RA/Lupus pain returned nothing else. I went back on it but have to find something else. The side effects are making me sick. I’ve been on it for 3 yrs with no problem and was fine. Now, diarrea,nausea,anemia,dizzy. I’d rather not change but I can’t do this. It’s worth trying something else, not end up in a hospital recovering from side effects from a drug that’s s’pose to be helping. Listen to your body. I’m on Pred. too and tapering.