Allergies, Asthma, Arthritis, Xolair & Plaquenil

May 22, 2008

Ok, I'm back at it again with arthritis meds along with my Xolair and

associated asthma meds - Advair (500/50), Spiriva, Albuterol.

I was diagnosed w/Serro negative rheumatoid arthritis almost a year ago

and after having a bad experience with methotrexate (which is known to

cause lung disease although others on this board have gotten along ok

w/it) I was afraid to take Plaquenil. The stiffness and pain finally

drove me to start it 4 nights ago at just 50 mgs once in the evening.

It's normally prescribed at 200 mgs twice a day. I'm nervous because I

have a long history of unpleasant drug side effects.

While consulting w/my pulmo recently I thought she said something about

the Plaquenil helping (as in making better) one of my allergic

complaints so I assume that the anti-inflammatory properties of

Plaquenil must reduce the allergic inflammation also?

Again, has anyone tried Plaquenil who has severe allergies (My IgE was

409 before Xolair and on Xolair over 1200)???? I've been having a

rather bad time for several weeks - can hear myself wheezing softly

(actually thought it was the cat purring until I held my breath and

noticed the cat " stopped " purring!!!) and even my hubby can hear it.

So, the current treatments are not really enough to keep the allergies

truly under control right now.

I guess that theoretically the dose is so low on Plaquenil that it

shouldn't have any effect although I think it is causing nightmarish

disturbing dreams. I thought I was a bit more irritable too plus there

was decreasing nausea the first 3 nights. On the other hand, I'm

hoping I'll be able to work up gradually to the normal dose. It would

be good to control two different diseases (although several docs have

told me that arthritis, allergies, and asthma are all related) at the

same time.

It's doubtful that any influence on Xolair or vice versa is known since

Xolair is so new and it works on different systems (I assume) and in a

completely different way.

Plaquenil comments, anyone?

Thx

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