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.

Now I'm curious about how widely it's used. I know (quite well) the pharmacist at the Walmart, so I'm going ask next time I'm in there, roughly how many patients take it just for that store. It may not be as many a I would think.

The incidents (and severity) of side-effects seems lower overall with plaquenil vs any of the immune suppressants. Just the huge risk of infection with immune suppression would top the list. I literally came very close to death from an infection (an abdominal wall hematoma) while on Cellcept. There are also some other hefty side-effects with some of these cancer drugs and immune suppressors used for AI disease. Plaquenil has always been describe by the doctor as low-man on the totem pole.

If it can be tolerated (nausea topping the list of complaints), it really does help with some of the AI disease symptoms. But as for IdiopathicPN...based upon what she said happened (even though it's unknown whether it was the plaquenil), I think it would be too risky to try...IMHO

It is a tough decision all around!

It might be that the quinolone side effects are genetically mediated as well. Certain people may get them easily, and others not.

Going to drugchecker at drugs.com
and finding this:
Click on moderate interaction risk, for Plaquenil here is an example of neuropathy risk while using Lipitor:
http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactio...-0-1298-0.html

Plaquenil is an inhibitor of the enzyme: CYP450 2D6
This would be a hint as to its selective toxicity in some patients.