Does plaquenil cause muscle weakness?

Author

James Holden

Published Mar 03, 2026

Does plaquenil cause muscle weakness?

Hydroxychloroquine (brand name Plaquenil) side effects range from more common, mild issues such as headache, nausea and stomach pain to serious but rare conditions such as heart problems, muscle weakness and convulsions. Side effect risk may increase with higher doses and long-term treatment.

Likewise, people ask, what are the most common side effects of Plaquenil?

Common Plaquenil side effects may include:

headache, dizziness;
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
loss of appetite, weight loss;
feeling nervous or irritable;
skin rash or itching; or.
hair loss.

Subsequently, question is, what does plaquenil do to your body? This medication is also used to treat certain auto-immune diseases (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis). It belongs to a class of medications known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). It can reduce skin problems in lupus and prevent swelling/pain in arthritis.

Correspondingly, does hydroxychloroquine cause fatigue?

Several medications used to treat RA can cause fatigue as a side effect, including: Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall, Otrexup) Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)

Can you just stop taking hydroxychloroquine?

Treatment with hydroxychloroquine may be continued indefinitely as long as it is effective and no serious side effects occur. If you stop hydroxychloroquine treatment for more than a few weeks there is a risk that your condition may worsen.

Who should not take Plaquenil?

Do not take Plaquenil if you have previously experienced changes in your eyesight when taking medicines for rheumatoid arthritis or malaria. Plaquenil should not be used in children under 6 years. Plaquenil should not be used in children over 6 years for long periods.

Is plaquenil an anti inflammatory?

What is Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil®)? 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®.

What is the difference between Plaquenil and hydroxychloroquine?

Chloroquine is not effective for malaria prevention. Chloroquine is used off-label to treat porphyria cutanea tarda. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is an anti-malarial drug used to treat several forms of malaria as well as lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

How long can you stay on Plaquenil?

A lower dose may stop them. Do not lower the dose on your own. Plaquenil stays in your body for about 3 months. If you must stop it, it will take a while for the side effects to go away.

What are the long term side effects of Plaquenil?

Hydroxychloroquine treatment can cause bone marrow depression, anaemia, aplastic anaemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, and porphyria exacerbation. Risk factors include use of high doses and long-term use. Periodic full blood counts are recommended for patients on long-term therapy.

Does plaquenil make you gain weight?

Weight gain, on the other hand, isn't a known side effect of Plaquenil. If you have changes in body weight while you're taking Plaquenil, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to help you manage a body weight that's healthy for you.

Can plaquenil cause body aches?

a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body--skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Are there withdrawal symptoms from plaquenil?

There is no official data regarding hydroxychloroquine or Plaquenil withdrawal symptoms. But some studies have shown that people may have disease flare-ups after stopping treatment.

Does hydroxychloroquine cause blood clots?

Because hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been associated with lower levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, and the tendency of blood to clot — all cardiovascular risk factors — researchers looked at the association between HCQ use and the occurrence of heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots (in lungs or deep veins).

What drugs does hydroxychloroquine interact with?

Hydroxychloroquine may interact with other medications

Heart drug. Taking digoxin with hydroxychloroquine may increase the levels of digoxin in your body.
Insulin and other diabetes drugs.
Drugs that affect heart rhythm.
Certain malaria drugs.
Antiseizure drugs.
Immunosuppressant drugs.

What are the side effects of hydroxychloroquine 200 mg?

Common hydroxychloroquine side effects may include:

headache, dizziness;
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
loss of appetite, weight loss;
feeling nervous or irritable;
skin rash or itching; or.
hair loss.

Can plaquenil cause heart palpitations?

Summary: In a new report, a team of pharmacists and clinicians found evidence suggesting that patients who received hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 were at increased risk of electrical changes to the heart and cardiac arrhythmias.

What are the symptoms of hydroxychloroquine?

Hydroxychloroquine may cause side effects.Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

headache.
dizziness.
loss of appetite.
nausea.
diarrhea.
stomach pain.
vomiting.
rash.

Does plaquenil affect your sleep?

Even anti-malarials, such as hydroxychloroquine, can cause sleep difficulties and strange dreams. Taking such medications earlier in the day can be helpful in mitigating these effects.

Does plaquenil give you energy?

Over time, Plaquenil helps reduce inflammation around the heart and lungs and improves symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and cognitive dysfunction. And patients report more energy because it's a mild stimulant.

What symptoms of lupus does plaquenil treat?

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is used to treat malaria, and researchers have found that this drug also helps with lupus flares. These drugs work well with mild to moderate cases of lupus. They can help ease lupus symptoms such as joint swelling and skin rashes.

Is it better to take plaquenil in the morning or night?

Dooley says, “Many immunosuppressants must be taken as two doses per day, with at least eight hours between. If you're late taking a morning dose, you should still take the second dose at the right time.” Dooley says time of day also matters less with Plaquenil® (hydroxychloroquine). But, it's best taken with food.

Can you take plaquenil every other day?

To lower the daily dosage, to adjust for low weight, or if there is kidney damage or kidney failure, HCQ may be taken every other day or tablets may be broken in half. To reduce stomach upset, HCQ is best taken with food or milk.

Which is better for RA plaquenil or methotrexate?

Otrexup (methotrexate) is the first-choice treatment for many types of cancer and arthritis, but it has many side effects. Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) has been shown to improve physical function in up to 80% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

What autoimmune diseases are treated with Plaquenil?

Due to its cost-effectiveness, safety and efficacy, HCQ is especially used in rheumatic autoimmune disorders (RADs), such as systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite this widespread use in the clinic, HCQ molecular modes of action are still not completely understood.

How does plaquenil help arthritis?

For RA and lupus, Plaquenil is prescribed as a disease-modifier, meaning that it: Decreases pain. Lessens inflammation. Prevents joint damage.

Does hydroxychloroquine lower BP?

Clinically, patients with lupus treated with hydroxychloroquine present a lower prevalence of thromboembolic events [13, 14] and chronic treatment with hydroxychloroquine reduced hypertension and improved endothelium-dependent relaxation in conduit vessels from SLE mice [15].

Does plaquenil contain quinine?

Quinine is not a component of our drug Plaquenil, the active ingredient is hydroxychloroquine,” a spokesman said.

Can you drink alcohol while taking Plaquenil?

May I drink alcohol while taking Hydroxychloroquine? There is no particular reason for you to avoid alcohol while taking Hydroxychloroquine however do not exceed the recommended weekly alcohol limit, (for men not more than 17 units, for women not more than 11 units).

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Does plaquenil cause muscle weakness?