40 % of women by age 50 will develop female pattern hair loss. This means that 40 % of female patients who use Plaquenil will develop female genetic hair loss - not from the drug itself but because that is the expected frequency in the population.
Of the 26 cases in the literature, 12 cases (46%) were reported to have regrowth while on treatment with hydroxychloroquine, with 3 of those 12 cases experiencing relapse in hair growth.
Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) can cause hair changes, and some people have reported curling, even though it is not in the prescribing information.
Hair loss. It's possible to have hair loss while you're taking Plaquenil. In addition to hair loss, some people taking the drug have reported changes in hair color. It's not known how many people have had hair loss or changes in hair color while taking Plaquenil.
Hydroxychloroquine has been reported as variably effective in inducing significant hair regrowth in adults with alopecia areata.
Avoid taking an antacid or Kaopectate (kaolin-pectin) within 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take hydroxychloroquine.
Using Plaquenil for a long period of time may harm the retina, causing serious vision loss. People with retinal damage from Plaquenil are not aware at first that they are losing vision.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common side effects of hydroxychloroquine. And some people may also experience stomach pain.
Treatment options for alopecia areata include: Corticosteroids: anti-inflammatory drugs that are prescribed for autoimmune diseases. Corticosteroids can be given as an injection into the scalp or other areas, orally (as a pill), or applied topically (rubbed into the skin) as an ointment, cream, or foam.
A person who experiences drug-induced alopecia will usually notice thinning hair as opposed to patchy hair loss. However, the hair loss may be more apparent on the top of the scalp. Other early signs of alopecia include a noticeable increase in the number of shed hairs in hairbrushes and shower drains and on pillows.
Keep taking hydroxychloroquine until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop taking it just because you feel better. If you stop, your symptoms may get worse again.
No clinical trial has reported that Hydroxychloroquine can make you gain weight. However, bloating or weight gain can be experienced by some people because of water or fluid retention in the body. You should inform your physician if you experience severe or unusual weight change.
Like all medicines, hydroxychloroquine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Side effects are more likely when you first start taking it or when your dose is increased. You'll usually feel better after a week or two.
Plaquenil works very slowly. In 1 to 3 months you should start to feel better. You may continue to get better for up to 1 year. Most people who take Plaquenil also take other medicines for pain and stiffness.
Hydroxychloroquine is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). It regulates the activity of the immune system, which may be overactive in some conditions. Hydroxychloroquine can modify the underlying disease process, rather than simply treating the symptoms.
However, some of the medications commonly used to treat RA – including hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), methotrexate and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen (Naprosyn) or celecoxib (Celebrex) – can cause reactions such as rashes or sunburn with ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.
Plaquenil isn't known to interact with alcohol. However, certain side effects from Plaquenil could be worsened by drinking alcohol. Examples of these side effects include headache, nausea, and dizziness. (For information about Plaquenil's side effects, see this article.)
And, until recently, for those with alopecia areata, there was no treatment to make the hair grow back. But on Monday, the Food and Drug Administration approved baricitinib, a drug made by Eli Lilly that regrows hair by blocking the immune system from attacking hair follicles.
Alopecia areata is a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. Hair follicles are the structures in skin that form hair. While hair can be lost from any part of the body, alopecia areata usually affects the head and face.
The drug, branded as Litfulo, has been approved for people aged 12 years and older suffering from severe alopecia areata (AA), a condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair to fall out, often in clumps.