Thank you for your interest in asking....

I developed severe itching all over my body. I would not swear that it was the Plaquenil that caused the itching since I was already taking it for maybe a month or two. However, since it was the only new medicine I was taking then, and there was no unusual food intake, I called the rheumy clinic and I was told to stop it. I was given several anti-histamine, but to no avail. Just two weeks after the incident, the itch became pain. Its the same pain I am experiencing in my skin now.

In case, the rheumy would get me back on Plaquenil, I dont know what to do...

Strange reaction. I have heard of itching from plaquenil...rare...but it has occurred with some on the Sjogren's forum I participate on. And 3/4 of the board is taking Plaquenil, so quite a few people take it (most without a problem). However, I have not heard of the itching turning into pain...and then staying permanently.

If these nerves were in fact damaged and it started with itching, then as the damage got worse the pain ensued. Certainly could have been a coincidence...with your PN. I have never heard of Plaquenil causing PN.

It is well known that Plaquenil takes 3-6 months before levels build up in the body and when most notice ANY improvement. So I'm not surprised if a reaction took months to happen...IF it was the Plaquenil.

If an autoimmune disease is confirmed, I can see them wanting to try Plaquenil again. Not sure what you should do in that case, especially since you don't know if it was the Plaquenil or not...and didn't go away when you stopped it.

I believe that chloroquin is related to the fluoroquinolones.

I've seen it linked to them chemically a few times.

I'd say...if you had the severe itching...that would be a sign of avoid it in the future.

This drug has always been problematic for many reasons.

I'd be interested in seeing anything on this relationship. Plaquenil is not an antibiotic, nor even in that class. It's use as an antimalarial is achieved by decrease immune cell function...but not technically an immune suppressor either. Actually it's called a DMARD when prescribed for AI disease. At least this is my understanding...but gosh knows I've been wrong before.

The antimalarials, are related to the fluoroquinilones chemically.

Here is one article:
http://www.myquinstory.info/?p=57

Lariam also is in this family.

It is a chemical connection. And a potential problem for some patients.

Because Plaquenil is really not used much... the number of reports on it will be less.

Here are the Drugcite reports:
http://drugcite.com/?q=plaquenil
Click on neurological and the symptoms will be listed.
Because it is really not a commonly used drug, the number of reports is much less than for commonly used drugs.

Thanks MrsD.

I really thought Plaquenil was used quite a bit with up to 50 million people with autoimmune disease and it's first line for Sjogrens. RA, and even pretty widely used in Lupus as well. I know at least 3/4 of the Sjogren's board uses it..with the other 1/4 trying alternative / natural supplements and of course a few that had side-effects and had to stop.

Pruritus is about .57%, so not many, but I now think she it's possible she had a reaction to the Plaquenil that may have permanently damaged the nerves (since it didn't go away after stopping it...actually it got worse and started the pain after resolving the itch.

I wouldn't take it again, if I were her....AND BY ALL MEANS, IdiopathicPN should stay Flouroquinilones also based upon what Mrs D found...for multiple reasons now.

Sadly, I think every treatment has side effects of some sort. It's almost like having to choose the disease effects or the consequences for the treatment. This is when most us of turn toward something natural like vitamin supplements and balanced diets. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't....both it's worth the try.

There was more info on the site MrsD provided that I wanted to comment on, but it crashed while I was using it and now it won't come up (an hour later). I'll check again in the morning and edit my posted if possible.

DrugCite.com does go down. I think they update it or do maintenance.

When I was working, I rarely saw scripts for Plaquenil. I worked relief and moved around quite a bit, in different neighborhoods, etc. This drug was rarely on the shelf in most of the places I visited. In the old days, when the patent was still valid, there was some movement. Typically one patient per store would be the average IMO. (many stores I worked at were very busy, doing hundreds of orders daily).

It is not even listed on Patientsville website. (drug reactions)
http://www.patientsville.com/drugsatoz.htm#P

Here is Askapatient:
http://www.askapatient.com/viewratin...name=PLAQUENIL
The itching factor seems fairly commonly reported, IMO on that site.

When you go on a forum on the net, you are seeing people from all over the country... it can give a false sense of how common something really is. And I think some doctors are afraid to use Plaquenil now. They will give Imuran or another autoimmune suppressant. Just my opinion based on experience.