I've been on hydroxychloroquine since my diagnosis in 2011. One rheumatologist once suggested stopping it - to see what happened - and pain and other symptoms were back within a week. Been taking it ever since. So it works for me. Yes, my RA has progressed, but I think, as does my present rheumatologist, symptoms would be worse without it. Now, also taking Rinvoq for RA and a cocktail of other meds for a host of other autoimmune conditions.
Always consult your doctor with your concerns. Everyone is different and reacts differently to medications.

Hydroxychloroq is a wonderful drug. I took it for 10 years. Kept my joints from twisting. It's never made me sick.

Diagnosing inflammatory arthritis can be a difficult journey. Having negative bloodwork, sernegative, can make it more difficult. Many of us have gone thru this unfortunately. Best advice I can give is to start recording your symptoms in a daily diary. Include the time the symptoms occur, be descriptive about where (e.g., toe joint(s), finger joint(s), elbows) and what the pain feels like (e.g., sharp, dull, aching). There are distinguishing characteristics of RA, Psoriatic Arthritis, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis etc. Knowing your symtoms can help lead to a diagnoses. Stay strong. Big hug 🤗

It often happens that people don't realize hydroxychloraquine is helping them until they stop using it. It kind of creeps up on you. I had the same problem. Then I started taking it again, and I'm glad I did. I also have Enbrel weekly. Do you have Sjogren's as well as RA? I do, and both meds help me.

RA drugs typically take quite a while to work. be sure to give them a long enough trial.