What is the downside of taking hydroxychloroquine?

muscle weakness. unusual bleeding or bruising. bleaching or loss of hair. mood or mental changes.

What are the long term side effects of hydroxychloroquine?

Long-term use and high doses of hydroxychloroquine are risk factors for the development of cardiomyopathy. Cardiac failure, conduction disorders (including QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes) and sudden cardiac death are consequences of the cardiomyopathy.

What should I avoid while taking hydroxychloroquine?

Hydroxychloroquine should not be taken with other drugs that could cause heart arrhythmias (irregular heart rate or rhythm). Taking hydroxychloroquine with these drugs could cause dangerous arrhythmias. Examples of these drugs include: amiodarone.

Who should not take hydroxychloroquine side effects?

What is the most serious side effect of hydroxychloroquine sulfate Plaquenil )?

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: severe dizziness, fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, seizures. This medication may cause serious eye/vision problems.

Hydroxychloroquine's dangerous side effects

Does hydroxychloroquine affect the brain?

Hydroxychloroquine may potentially result in adverse effects on the central nervous system, mainly irritability, nervousness, emotional changes, nightmares, and even true psychoses [3, 4].

Can hydroxychloroquine affect blood pressure?

Hydroxychloroquine can cause a serious heart problem.

Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV.

What can hydroxychloroquine do to your heart?

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation and a dangerously rapid heart rate called ventricular tachycardia.

What are the benefits of taking hydroxychloroquine?

Over the long term hydroxychloroquine can reduce pain, swelling and joint stiffness. If you have lupus, it may also improve the rash. It may be as long as 12 weeks before you notice the benefits. Hydroxychloroquine is often taken in combination with other drugs such as methotrexate.

Does taking hydroxychloroquine make you immunocompromised?

Please note that hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) does NOT suppress your immune system and does not increase any risk for a more serious illness from COVID-19.

Does hydroxychloroquine make you gain weight?

Abnormal weight gain is a side effect of long-term doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine treatment.

How does hydroxychloroquine make you feel?

Hydroxychloroquine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies, or to become more depressed. If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

Can you be in the sun while taking hydroxychloroquine?

Our results have shown that photosensitivity during medication with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is uncommon and that there is no need to stop this treatment due to sun exposure.

Does hydroxychloroquine affect the liver?

Hydroxychloroquine therapy has not been associated with liver function abnormalities and is an extremely rare cause of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

What is the safest drug for rheumatoid arthritis?

Methotrexate is widely regarded as one of the safest of all arthritis drugs, though it carries some potential downsides. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting are its most frequent side effects.

How long can you be on hydroxychloroquine?

You may continue to get better for up to 1 year. Most people who take Plaquenil also take other medicines for pain and stiffness.

Does hydroxychloroquine cause blood clots?

A new study in Arthritis & Rheumatology shows that monitoring patients' blood levels of hydroxychloroquine can predict their clotting risk. In 739 patients, clotting occurred in 38 patients (5.1%).

Is hydroxychloroquine an anti inflammatory?

Conclusion: HCQ may exert simultaneous anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects in patients with HIV infection and inflammatory arthritis. If larger studies confirm this observation, it may be the drug of choice in this population of patients.

How long can you take hydroxychloroquine for rheumatoid arthritis?

Hydroxychloroquine does not seem to confer increased risk when used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis without contraindications in the short term (up to 30 days) compared with sulfasalazine, but confers an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality when used long term.

Is hydroxychloroquine harmful to kidneys?

Cyclosporin, d-penicillamine, and gold are associated with kidney adverse effects, including increased serum creatinine levels, proteinuria, and hematuria (7). In contrast, methotrexate, azathioprine, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine have relatively little kidney toxicity (5,7).

Does hydroxychloroquine affect Covid vaccine?

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are lysosomotropic drugs that affect antigen-presenting pathways and B-cell activation. Chloroquine inhibits antibody responses to vaccines, but reports about this effect apparently have not been called to the attention of investigators in the field of COVID-19.

Is hydroxychloroquine good for arthritis?

Hydroxychloroquine is used in the treatment of arthritis to help relieve inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain and also to help control the symptoms of lupus erythematosus (lupus; SLE). A common brand name for hydroxychloroquine is Plaquenil®.

Can you take Vitamins with hydroxychloroquine?

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between hydroxychloroquine and Vitamins.

Can hydroxychloroquine cause shortness of breath?

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: severe stomach/abdominal pain, severe nausea/vomiting, easy bleeding/bruising, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), seizures, shortness of breath, swelling ankles/feet, extreme tiredness, dark urine, yellowing ...

Does hydroxychloroquine lower heart rate?

Cumulative dose of hydroxychloroquine is associated with a decrease of resting heart rate in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a pilot study.