Hydroxchloroquine also helps against rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and chronic hives etc and of course certain malaria
I take it ....for RA ..it helps ..turn down volume and slows momentum of progression
It is an immunosuppressive agent
It does this by interfering with cell structure communications .....immune cell signaling
Which is likely why it’s also effective against some parasitic diseases growing severe
I have read about HCQ being helpful for RA patients, and so glad it’s working so well for you! My late aunt suffered so with RA. Back in the 90s when she had it, there was not as much they knew to do. It is a cruel disease. I’m so sorry you have it!
I’m sure you know to get your eyes checked regularly when taking HCQ longterm, but just in case:
https://www.nature.com/articles/eye2016298
CQ/HCQ “inhibits the action of heme polymerase in malarial trophozoites, preventing the conversion of heme to hemazoin. Plasmodium species continue to accumulate toxic heme, killing the parasite.” Of course the little stinkers developed resistance to it in SE Asia and then in sub-Saharan Africa.
Apparently, it’s being looked at as a cure for giardia, too. I don’t know that much about it, but assume it must work in much the same way on giardia trophozoites. What a rotten stinky disease it is. A dear friend got it, right after recovering from dengue, poor guy. Another dear friend and I cared for him during his illness and agreed you *really* have to care about someone to nurse him through that. Pee-yew!
It also has some antiviral properties, but supposedly fairly weak. I lost interest in it for Covid after MABs became available.