I get shortness of breath and chest tightness after taking Hydroxychloroquine for fever. Why?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. According to your statement, you have been suffering from shortness of breath, chest tightness without any cough, and cold. Shortness of breath, chest tightness can result from some conditions which are mentioned below. Anxiety is a common condition associated with chest tightness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea, etc.

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) occurs when stomach acid travels back up from the stomach to the esophagus and associated with chest tightness, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, etc. Muscle strain typically occurs from intense activities like reaching or lifting when twisting related with the same clinical features. Costochondritis is the inflammation of the cartilage in the rib and associated with the same type of features. Even PUD (peptic ulcer disease), valvular heart diseases, pulmonary HTN (hypertension), esophageal rupture, pericarditis, hiatus hernia, etc can cause chest tightness with shortness of breath.

Treatment depends on the causes. So you should undergo ETT (exercise tolerance testing), echo, endoscopy of upper GIT (gastrointestinal tract), barium swallow test, CBC (complete blood count), etc for detection of underlying causes which are responsible for your sufferings. You should also undergo FEV1 (forced expiratory volume), ABG (arterial blood gas) analysis, spirometry for pulmonary function test, reversibility test, etc for the diagnosis of bronchial asthma as your pulmonologist has diagnosed earlier according to your prescription. (attachment removed to protect patient identity).

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your case several times and found nothing significant. You have a rapid heartbeat, sometimes high BP (blood pressure). I think it may be due to anxiety or tension, maybe you suffered from acid reflux too. According to the last prescription, you are on Rabeprazole, Domperidone, and analgesic like Tramadol, Paracetamol, etc.

According to your statement, I think you have been suffering from anxiety with acid reflux that causes your chest tightness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, etc. You can take syrup. Gaviscon (two teaspoons four times daily after meal), anxiolytic like Clonazepam or Bromazepam once at bedtime for anxiety and insomnia along with your current medications.

No need to undergo any investigations under these circumstances. Please become mentally strong and strict on your current medications. I think that is enough for you now and knock me in case of any other query.

I want to add something. You had taken Hydroxychloroquine for fever. Some common side effects of this medication are chest pain or tightness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, etc. Sometimes it also causes raised blood pressure among the rare complications, shortness of breath is one of them. So all of your present clinical features may resulted from the side effects of Hydroxychloroquine.