This trial will address the safety of withdrawing hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in patients with systemic lupus erythematous who are 60 years of age or older. In this older population the benefits of HCQ are expected to decrease since disease activity decreases with advancing age. The study will test whether HCQ can be safely discontinued in stable/quiescent patients.

Participants will be in this study for about 1 year, during which time they will come to 7 visits in the research clinic. The first visit will take up to 2 hours and will include blood and urine sampling and completion of self-assessment questionnaires. Subsequent visits will take up to 1 hour. Participants will be randomized to receive either the active drug hydroxychloroquine or placebo. The treatment will be blinded to both the participant and the investigator. Diaries will be requested in which the participant keeps track of dosing of the study medication.