Hydroxychloroquine and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2010

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I began taking Plaquenil 6 weeks ago and I am pleased with it. I'm now seeing the benefits and my rheumatologist says that I should continue to get even better over the next 3 months. Honestly, I'm okay with where I'm already at. The biggest surprise is that I'm receiving benefits that I didn't get from 20mg/day of prednisone! The hardest part was when I first began Plaquenil. You initially experience side effects without any benefit, but you just have to hang in there. The side effects start to improve significantly after 2 weeks. My side effects were nausea, loose stools, vomiting, and temporary changes in vision (full eye exam confirmed that everything is fine.) I would highly recommend this medicine!"

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2014

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed a month ago with rheumatoid arthritis. My doctor started me on Plaquenil 2 weeks ago. 300 mg 2x a day. I had to stop taking it after a week because it upset my stomach, causing vomiting, nausea, and extreme diarrhea. My doctor tried lowering my dose to 150 mg 1x a day to no avail. I'm hoping that she can put me on something that will work better as I have been in extreme pain for over a year. I am 30 years old."

• Eve...
• April 29, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in June 2013 at 39 years old. The pain was unbearable and debilitating. I started taking hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day, which didn't sit well in my stomach, I experienced extreme burning in the esophagus. Once I started using the brand name form of Plaquenil, I no longer experienced that side effect. I had bouts of loose stool, nausea, and headaches for a few months, but they have gone away. Plaquenil has done wonders for me. It does take a few months to really feel the benefits, but hang in there, it's worth the wait. My fingers don't feel like they are going to break off, I don't have pain all over my body, and hurray, no morning stiffness. I feel like a new woman."

• ith...
• September 9, 2019

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am a 63-year-old female who was diagnosed with RA after instigating a blood test for it out of desperation 3 weeks ago. My debilitating chronic pain in feet and random knee flare-ups has a name. My rheumatologist put me on prednisolone (reduced doses over 3 months) until the methotrexate starts working (once a week of 15mg for 2 weeks, 20mg once a week indefinitely). Plaquenil 300mg daily. I also take Vitamin D daily, 5mg folic acid once a week, plus curcumin and fish oil. I have been taking it all with breakfast for the last 8 days. I have had stomach cramps but no diarrhea. The prednisolone has been magic for pain-free sleep and movement. I will see in 2 months' time with only the latter 2. Trying to stay positive with yoga and strength exercises. Drugs, vitamins, anti-inflammatory supplements, eye tests, and blood tests, and maybe a nice wig are now part of my new reality."

• Sjo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 23, 2013

Hydroxychloroquine for Sjogren's Syndrome "I have been on Ranbaxy generic Plaquenil for 11 months now. I don't think it helps me very much, but I continue to take it because I am not experiencing any side effects. My condition is not well-controlled with this drug alone, and I will soon start an additional DMARD after recently finding out I am intolerant of MTX. My battle with Sjogren's has been so much more than glandular issues. It has attacked my biliary system, causing me to lose my gall bladder and have complex issues with the pyloric valve, lower esophageal sphincter, and sphincter of oddi. This causes a variety of symptoms such as bile and acid reflux, bile salt diarrhea, nausea, vomiting up bile, and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. I have signs of kidney disease too."

• lus...
• September 25, 2012

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in February 2012. Plaquenil has been the second medication we've tried. I've only taken it for 1 week and have a horrible rash on both arms and on the backs of my legs. It has caused diarrhea and headaches. I have stopped taking this medication and am currently waiting to see what medication we will try next."

• mus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2013

Hydroxychloroquine for Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "I just started this medicine a few weeks ago. My rheumatologist told me that it could take up to 12 weeks to work. I have had stomach cramps, diarrhea, headaches, and worsening of symptoms in my joints. I am not going to give up on this. I don't really want to rate it because I have not been on it long enough. I wanted to comment so that others could possibly get some encouragement to hang in there if possible."

• Tor...
• October 6, 2018

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "Hydroxychloroquine has been a miracle drug for me. I've been on it for 6 years. I first got sick in 2010. I struggled with strange, debilitating symptoms for 2 years before being put on Plaquenil by a rheumatologist. I had a high positive ANA (antinuclear antibody test), positive rheumatoid factor, and low complement levels. My symptoms were Raynaud's, extreme sensitivity to cold, all-over body pain (muscles, joints, skin, tendons, everything hurt), GERD, migraines with aura, heart palpitations, nausea and diarrhea, flu-like feelings, fatigue, dizziness and weakness, and tingling and numbness that would come and go. I was barely managing to function. I was put on Plaquenil finally when my rheumatologist looked at my nailfold capillaries-they were abnormal in a way that suggested connective tissue disease. Within 3-4 months, I started to feel better. I got better and better over the next 6 months. By the time I'd been on Plaquenil for a year, I felt almost normal again with only the occasional bad day."

• Geo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2020

Hydroxychloroquine for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA just recently in 2019 when I was 32. It started with fingers and toes, then tender hotspots on arms and legs, and upper back pain involvement a month after. I took Plaquenil with full adherence of 300 mg/d dosage, hence a positive effect on fingers and toes and body tenders hit in only on month 6, however, it did not help me with upper back pain at all. AS was ruled out with HLA-B27(-), movement capacity, and clean spine MRI though. The side effects: skin rash (persisted during the first 3 months), stomach pain (a few times), diarrhea (persisted during the first 3 months, now occasionally), and muscle twitches (intensive first month, then milder, and I ignore them, maybe not due to HCQ). Nevertheless, I'm going to visit my rheumatologist in coming weeks to discuss my never relieved morning upper back pain."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2012

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "This is the fourth medication I have tried for rheumatoid arthritis. I took it for one week and developed headaches and severe diarrhea. I had blood in my stool. I have had similar experiences with other medications."

• EJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have RA. Diagnosed back in January of 2019. Taking hydroxychloroquine for a month. I started with one a day for the first two weeks. I had really bad diarrhea the first three days. I was very nauseous for the first week. Once I went up to two a day, I became a little lightheaded after taking the medication. Have to take with food. My RA symptoms seem to be irritated right now. I have left hip pain more regularly and right and left shoulder pain. My fingers have been swelling, which I never experienced before. I am finding this difficult, but I really hope that sticking with this drug will help in the long term."

• Sis...
• August 12, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started taking this drug, hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day for rheumatoid arthritis. Immediately, I had extreme itching along both of my forearms and the sides of my neck all day long. I had no relief and extreme abdominal pain, like the worst cramps imaginable. I took Benadryl and Imodium D for the itching and stomach cramps and loose stools. After 5 weeks, suddenly, I could no longer see the time on my clock, my stove, microwave, TV channels, etc. I got alarmed and stopped taking the drug, my vision was blurry, and my eyes could no longer focus on signs, labels, even my own eyes. I could no longer see my pupils in the mirror. Stopped the drug and now I need to wear glasses all day."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2018

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "Starting experiencing improvement after a month of taking it. Six months in, and I have significant improvement in my quality of life. Fewer flares, and I can play with my grandchildren (I'm 54). I still have the occasional flare and some body ache, but I can work with it. Other than the initial side effects of nausea and diarrhea (only lasted a couple of weeks), I'm good to go."

• JCa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2019

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "I’ve been taking 200 mg hydroxychloroquine a day for 2 years now. Can’t tolerate a higher dosage because I get diarrhea, but even with the 200 mg, I feel much less tired! Kidneys and eyes are regularly checked and are fine."

• Moo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2022

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Took 200 mgs, was supposed to build up to 400 mg a day. I stopped day 3, uncontrollable watery diarrhea that would not subside. Nausea all day. Weakness in all muscles. Feeling like you are going to faint. I would rather suffer from RA than deal with these terrible side effects."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Been taking Plaquenil for three months. Severe headaches and loose stool, itching along with internal tremors."