Can I eat a breakfast burrito with sour cream after taking hydroxychloroquine hyclate?

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Last updated: July 27, 2025View editorial policy

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Eating After Taking Hydroxychloroquine

Yes, you can eat a breakfast burrito with sour cream 30 minutes after taking hydroxychloroquine 100mg, as there are no significant food interactions that would affect the medication's absorption or efficacy. Hydroxychloroquine does not have specific food restrictions that would prohibit consuming dairy products like sour cream or other breakfast foods shortly after taking the medication.

Hydroxychloroquine Administration and Food Interactions

Hydroxychloroquine is commonly used for various conditions including:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Other autoimmune conditions
  • COVID-19 (though this use remains controversial)

Key points about taking hydroxychloroquine with food:

  • Hydroxychloroquine can be taken with food to minimize gastrointestinal side effects
  • No specific food restrictions exist for hydroxychloroquine
  • Dairy products including sour cream do not interfere with the medication's absorption
  • The medication does not require fasting or specific timing around meals

Common Side Effects and Management

Gastrointestinal side effects are among the most common with hydroxychloroquine:

  • Upset stomach or nausea (reported in 10-25% of patients) 1
  • Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain (6-23% of patients) 1

Taking hydroxychloroquine with food, as you plan to do with your breakfast burrito, can actually help reduce these gastrointestinal side effects rather than cause problems.

Important Considerations

While there are no food restrictions, be aware of these important aspects of hydroxychloroquine use:

  1. Dosing: Standard dosing varies by condition, but typically doesn't exceed 5 mg/kg real body weight daily to minimize risk of toxicity 2

  2. Long-term monitoring: For patients on long-term therapy, regular ophthalmologic examinations are recommended due to potential retinal toxicity, especially after 5+ years of use 2

  3. Drug interactions: While food doesn't interfere with hydroxychloroquine, certain medications might. These include some antacids and medications that can prolong the QT interval 2

Conclusion

You can safely consume your breakfast burrito with sour cream 30 minutes after taking hydroxychloroquine 100mg. Taking the medication with food may actually help reduce gastrointestinal side effects that some patients experience.

References

Research

Safety of Hydroxychloroquine among Outpatient Clinical Trial Participants for COVID-19.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences, 2020

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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