If you’ve been watching the news lately, I’m sure you’ve seen the latest that Hydroxychloroquine might help ease the Covid-19 virus. This is a drug that I know A LOT about and I thought I would share some of my knowledge about this drug and hopefully help you make an informed decision should the need arise.
Hydroxychloroquine is generally used to treat Malaria which is an intermittent and remittent fever caused by a protozoan parasite that invades the red blood cells. The parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes in many tropical and subtropical regions.
In 2011, I was diagnosed with Felty’s Syndrome which is a rare, potentially serious disorder that is defined by the presence of three conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) and a decreased white blood cell count (neutropenia), which causes repeated infections.
I was then put on Hydroxychloroquine and have been taking it twice a day ever since. I’m not sure what it does, but I can tell you if I don’t take it I literally can’t move without excruciating pain. It reduces my inflammation and without it I couldn’t do what I need to do to get through the day.
Things like typing on my keyboard, opening doors, turning on faucets and walking are all affected when I don’t take it. Sometimes I even lose my voice for weeks at a time because there’s a joint in the throat. It’s called the cricoarytenoid joint (CAJ), and it’s located near the vocal cords.
There can be side effects, but I have never had any issues with it of any kind. There is one important fact that you should know. You have to get your eyes checked yearly because it is known that some people who take hydroxychloroquine for more than five years and/or in high doses are at increased risk of damage to their retina, the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye. This is known as retinal toxicity or retinopathy.
Other Hydroxychloroquine side effects can be:
- headache, dizziness, ringing in your ears;
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
- loss of appetite, weight loss;
- mood changes, feeling nervous or irritable;
- skin rash or itching; or.
- hair loss.
I wonder if people like me who take it daily wouldn’t be immune to the Covid-19 virus, but I don’t want to take the chance so I’ll be at home until this is over.
Thanks for this, Rena. I hope you are indeed safe from Covid-19, whether due to this drug or not. Thanks for sharing the information.
I hear you. I am avoiding going out as much as possible. But it is nice to know you may possibly be safe by taking it. We have to wear masks in order to shop in New Jersey now.
I admit, I don’t know much about this. I don’t take it and I don’t think anyone in my family does either. It doesn’t sound like something I’d want to ever try!
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My brother in law, who is hospitalized with COVID-19, has been given this med every since his admittance. I hope it is having a good effect. Interesting about the lack of appetite – he has next to no appetite, which could be the COVID, or maybe this. Very informative blog post; thank you.
This was so interesting I hope it turns out to be part of the cure. It is so great that our medical scientists could repurpose this older drug.
i actually didnt know much about this so thanks for this great information
There’s really still so much to learn about this new sars-cov-2 virus which makes us all so vulnerable. In the meantime, you’re right about staying home. We all need to protect each other. xoxo
Thank you! Very informative.
I read a distressing article from a lupus sufferer shortly after the stuff started getting attention – she was suddenly having a hard time getting hers. I hope you haven’t run into that!
Hi Rena, interesting piece. I knew some of your medical HX but didn’t know you were on this drug. My neighbor takes it for rheumatoid arthritis, but her doctor actually took her off it saying it lowers the immune system. But every case is different. And yes some docs are using it with patients who are ill with Covid19.
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I’m so grateful I live in a time when there are medical ‘helps’ available. I’ve been hearing a lot about this drug. Good to have a little more info! Stay safe and well!
I try to stay inside as well. I try to avoid going out especially for unnecessary stuff and I just pretty much use what I have on hand.
I’m glad that Hydroxychloroquine helps you so much. I hope you have enough, I saw that there was a shortage and some patients were not able to get what they need.
How interesting to read about someone who has firsthand experience with this drug. It was good to read about it and learn some more.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge about Hydroxychloroquine . It’s really important to have an idea before taking in something you are not sure of. Staying at home and observing cleanliness will be a great help.
I did hear about this medicine on the news and that they use it to treat malaria. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m learning more.
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This was a fascinating read. There is so much misinformation out there on the internet. Thanks for sharing your story and how you’ve used this medication.
I didn’t know about this. I haven’t been following the news very much lately though. It’s interesting to hear about though. I wonder if it will work.
I’ve read that if you take it before and after, it’s easier to cure covid-19. I hope that this means that you are protected from taking it. But it’s better not to risk it!
So many people have done little to no research on this drug. It has been available for a long time. I am glad you know your stuff!
Hopefully your supply will not be interrupted. I have a friend in New York who takes this drug for a similar reason and has been told she can’t have it at all right now. 🙁
Thanks for sharing your story and your own experience with this drug. It sounds like a pretty useful medication to treat certain conditions, and hopefully for the COVID-19 too.
I agree with you I have been prescribed hydroxychloroquine Plaqunel. doctor told if you lose eye sight that is fine but you can walk around without pain.
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