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Real members of myRAteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Has anyone taken Hydroxychloroquine for RA? Did it work for you? Whether it helped with symptoms, how long it took to notice results?

A myRAteam Member asked a question 💭
Fort Worth, TX

I was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. My rheumatologist prescribed Hydroxychloroquine, and I’ve been on it for about three months now. While I’ve seen some improvement in my RA markers—they’ve gone down by about half—I’m still experiencing pain and need to take Prednisone to manage it.

During these past few months, I also made significant dietary changes, and I’m wondering if those might be contributing to the improvements in my lab results.

Has anyone else had success with… read more

July 15, 2025
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A myRAteam Member

I’ve been on it for about for about 21 months, it does seem to help I could see results within 3-6 months.
I added methotrexate after 7 months when I didn’t see any improvement with the hydroxychloroquine alone.
I also take prednisone for flares.

July 15, 2025
myRAteam

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a commonly prescribed DMARD for treating rheumatoid arthritis. It's important to understand that this medication works to slow disease progression, but it may take time to see full benefits. Using prednisone for pain management during early treatment is common while waiting for DMARDs to Show Full Answer

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a commonly prescribed DMARD for treating rheumatoid arthritis. It's important to understand that this medication works to slow disease progression, but it may take time to see full benefits. Using prednisone for pain management during early treatment is common while waiting for DMARDs to take effect.

Many myRAteam members use hydroxychloroquine as part of their treatment plan. While some find it effective on its own, others may need combination therapy with other medications to achieve optimal symptom control. For managing symptoms during early treatment, consider these complementary approaches alongside your medication:

- Mindfulness and meditation techniques
- Gentle massage therapy when appropriate
- Regular light exercise as tolerated
- Hot therapy for joint comfort
- Maintaining dietary changes that seem to help

Remember that finding the right combination of treatments often requires patience and close communication with your rheumatologist. If you continue to experience significant pain after several months, your doctor may need to adjust your treatment plan.

July 15, 2025

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