Plaquenil Question....
 

I normally hang out on the MS forum as I was diagnosed with MS.

For the past few years I've been going through a lot of testing for some sort of autoimmune disease. I had a rheumy diagnose me with Lupus and Sjogren's just by feeling my joints. Needless to say, I got a second opinion. Fast forward to now, things are changing. I had some tests come up positive as well as some on clinical exam. My new rheumy started me on Plaquenil 200 mg in the a.m. and 200 in the p.m. I did a test week as I know an upset stomach is a side effect of Plaquenil. I did 200 mg for a week and did ok. I didn't have any significant bowel issues. I then went to the 400 mg a day and did ok, or so I thought. I have now been on Plaquenil for 4 weeks and my digestive system is not happy. I took a few days off to see if things calmed down and if, in fact, it was the medication causing the trouble or if I had something else going on that needed to be addressed. By the 4th day, things settled down. I started back up and so did the digestive issues. It could just be coincidental but I also don't want to go off the medication if it is protecting me from a flare up of whatever connective tissue disease I have.

My questions - For those who took or take Plaquenil, how long did the side effects last? Did they every calm down? What doses are you on as I'm wondering in my 400 mg a day is too much for me. Do you have any other advice or tips, other than to see my ophthalmologist every year, while taking this medicine?

Hello tkrik,

You need to ask your specialist if your ANA came in positive for Lupus and if so if you have skin involvement besides, as i have Lupus and plaquenil is an Anti-malerial drug mainly to help the skin but it does help joints also.

I'm taking it but only 200mg daily as i also take methotrexate which is a strong chemo med with side affects. When i took the plaquenil at first i was bad with an upset stomach, anxiety attacks was up the wall bad feeling of being enclosed plus feeling sick with nausea so i came off it and the rheumo persisted i needed it, as i also have SCLE of the skin, which i can't wait to post once i've done my 10 posts:) as i look like i've done 10 rounds in a boxing ring;)

Someone told me to take it at night as you sleep the side affects of and bingo nothing since and when i was put on the methotrexate the sister told me to do the same for that.

It also sounds to me personally after taking a cocktail of meds for years, your taking to much as it's upsetting your system.

Did you see an opthamologist before taking the drug as your supposed to, to make sure your eyes are ok because some people it affects with the retina.