Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Aug 01, 2022

Pros & Cons


Hydroxychloroquine Pros and Cons

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  • 80% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis benefit from hydroxychloroquine treatment.
  • Hydroxychloroquine controls symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, minimizes joint damage, and reduces the risk of complications in the future.
  • This medication causes fewer side effects in children compared to some other lupus medications.
  • Some people who cannot tolerate newer biological agents may tolerate hydroxychloroquine well.

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  • It can take up to 6 months to get the full benefits of this medicine.
  • Hydroxychloroquine alone does not usually control rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, and most people need to take other medicines as well.
  • Hydroxychloroquine can cause permanent eye damage. You need to get regular eye exams during treatment with this medicine.
  • This medicine may not be right for you if you have certain health conditions like heart disease, QT interval prolongation, eye disease, liver disease, psoriasis, or porphyria.