Plaquenil: Uses, Side Effects, and What You Need to Know About This Antimalarial and Autoimmune Drug

When you hear Plaquenil, a brand name for hydroxychloroquine, commonly used to treat malaria and autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Also known as hydroxychloroquine, it’s one of the few drugs that crosses over from infectious disease to chronic immune disorders. It’s not a cure, but for millions, it’s a daily tool to keep inflammation under control and prevent flare-ups.

Plaquenil works by calming down an overactive immune system. That’s why it’s prescribed for lupus, a condition where the body attacks its own tissues, often causing joint pain, rashes, and fatigue, and rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that targets the joints, leading to swelling and long-term damage. But it started life as an antimalarial—back in the 1940s, doctors noticed soldiers who took it for malaria also had fewer joint problems. That accidental discovery changed how we treat autoimmune diseases today.

It’s not risk-free. Long-term use can affect your eyes. That’s why regular eye exams are non-negotiable if you’re on Plaquenil for more than five years. The risk is low if you stick to the right dose and get checked, but it’s real. Some people get stomach upset, headaches, or dizziness. Rarely, it can cause serious heart rhythm issues, especially if you already have heart problems or take other meds that affect your heartbeat. It’s not something you start or stop on your own.

Plaquenil doesn’t work like a fast-acting painkiller. It takes weeks—sometimes months—to show results. That’s why patients often get frustrated early on. But if it works, it can reduce the need for steroids and other stronger drugs. Many people stay on it for years without issues. Others switch when side effects pile up or the drug stops helping.

What you’ll find here isn’t just textbook info. These posts dig into real experiences: how Plaquenil fits into daily life, what it’s like to get monitored for eye damage, how it interacts with other meds like statins or antidepressants, and why some people question whether it’s still the best choice today. You’ll see how it compares to newer biologics, what to do if you miss a dose, and how to tell if your symptoms are from the disease—or the drug.