Re: Newbie with Questions!!

[Guest guest]

I was on Plaquenil several years and don't recall having that problem, but

you should call your doctor about it. If for nothing else, to put your mind

at ease.

I'm not aware of RA causing high BP.

Be careful with the Plaquenil and make sure you get regular ophthalmic

exams. It can cause eye problems. I was pulled off it for that reason.

Good luck, Dorothy

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of keptoz

Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 2:30 PM

Subject: [ ] Newbie with Questions!!

Hi all - I'm a new member here & so happy to have found this group! I

was diagnosed with RA just 10 months ago. No RA factor in my blood,

but a very high SED rate, so we started with just NSAIDs, but I had

trouble stomach tolerating them & my Rheumy is now started to notice

some disfigurement in my hands & crunching in my joints. So - I've now

started Plaquenil.

I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone could help me

with...

At my last Rheumy visit, my BP was 140/90.I have never in my life had

bp this high! My pressure usually is high if its 85/60. Usually the

nurse has to ask me if I'm still alive in there - you know? So this

really freaked me out. Dr said its probably from the Naprolen (NSAID)

I'm taking, but I'm wordering - could it be from the RA itself??

Also - with the Plaquenil. I'm starting slow with 200mg/day b/c I have

a very sensitive stomach - after a week, I'm going up to 400 mg/day.

So far my stomach is fine, but I have had the worst Sore Throat! I

started on Wed & throat started bothering me Wed night - so its been 4

days now. I just looked at the drug info sheet & it lists all the

minor side effects (stomach, dizzy, etc) & then says " If Any of These

Other More Serious Side Effects Occure, Call Your Dr ASAP " & lists

Sore Throat!! I really just thought maybe I was getting sick, but now

I'm scared - what could that be? I'll call her first thing in the

morning when her office opens. I tried to search the web, but didn't

find much. Anyone else get a sore throat on Plaquenil??

..

<http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=101478/grpspId=1705061498/msgId=

114695/stime=1215371006/nc1=5191947/nc2=5191951/nc3=4990213>

[Guest guest]

MY BP hasn't been affected. I'm hypotensive and still remain so to this day. 

I'm lucky if my bp is 70/90 most of the time.  I take NSAIDS and other

medications as well but it still stays the same.  Plaquenil takes about 6 months

to build up in the system to begin working.  We do tend to get a lot of

infections with RA or it seems several of us do anyway.  It might be a good idea

to let your doctor or the pharmacist know that you are experiencing a sore

throat to see if its something to be concerned about.  I don't think I had too

many side effects with that one, I had more with the Sulfasalazine.  I started

out on 400mgs of the Plaquenil right away, but my rheumatologist always makes

sure she is protecting my stomach with prevacid or some sort..especially taking

NSAIDS and sulfasalazine, the stomach needs to be protected.

From: keptoz <keptoz@...>

Subject: [ ] Newbie with Questions!!

Date: Sunday, July 6, 2008, 2:30 PM

Hi all - I'm a new member here & so happy to have found this group! I

was diagnosed with RA just 10 months ago. No RA factor in my blood,

but a very high SED rate, so we started with just NSAIDs, but I had

trouble stomach tolerating them & my Rheumy is now started to notice

some disfigurement in my hands & crunching in my joints. So - I've now

started Plaquenil.

I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone could help me

with...

At my last Rheumy visit, my BP was 140/90.I have never in my life had

bp this high! My pressure usually is high if its 85/60. Usually the

nurse has to ask me if I'm still alive in there - you know? So this

really freaked me out. Dr said its probably from the Naprolen (NSAID)

I'm taking, but I'm wordering - could it be from the RA itself??

Also - with the Plaquenil. I'm starting slow with 200mg/day b/c I have

a very sensitive stomach - after a week, I'm going up to 400 mg/day.

So far my stomach is fine, but I have had the worst Sore Throat! I

started on Wed & throat started bothering me Wed night - so its been 4

days now. I just looked at the drug info sheet & it lists all the

minor side effects (stomach, dizzy, etc) & then says " If Any of These

Other More Serious Side Effects Occure, Call Your Dr ASAP " & lists

Sore Throat!! I really just thought maybe I was getting sick, but now

I'm scared - what could that be? I'll call her first thing in the

morning when her office opens. I tried to search the web, but didn't

find much. Anyone else get a sore throat on Plaquenil??

Thanks! Hope you had a Happy 4th!

[Guest guest]

First, welcome to our group. I have only been a member for a year, but

this group has been very helpful to me.

Pain can cause your BP to elevate. I have experienced that many times.

My last visit with my rheummy, she told me that all of the RA drugs

can cause high BP. She suggested that I go by the pharmacy frequently

and check mine. I have a cuff that I purchased from the drug store.

You might want to get one and monitor yours. It is very important to

keep a watch on your BP high or low. Like you, mine used to be very

low. I used to pass out when it would drop, but that was before my

hysterectomy.

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone for your responses.Well this morning I woke up all

itchy with sores on my tongue & in my mouth (I'm guessing that is what

was causing the sore throat also) Called my dr & she told me to stop

taking the Plaquenil. She is giving me a week pack of steroids & then

going to try the Plaquenil again after it clears up. If I still get a

reaction, she is going to have me tested for G6PD Deficiency & then if

positive, figure out a different treatment for the RA. Oh the fun we

have! I'm thinking part of the elevated BP may be stress related at

this point.

[Guest guest]

i take plaquenil 2x daily. i've been on it for several yrs. now so i really

don't remember. but here's a question for u. when they took your bp were you in

PAIN?

i know when my ra acts up my bp goes way up!! that could b it, if not i would

check with your dr. cuz i've never known that plaq. causes high bp!! GOOD LUCK!

god bless,melyndagamez 7/8/08 6:40p.m.central

[ ] Newbie with Questions!!

Hi all - I'm a new member here & so happy to have found this group! I

was diagnosed with RA just 10 months ago. No RA factor in my blood,

but a very high SED rate, so we started with just NSAIDs, but I had

trouble stomach tolerating them & my Rheumy is now started to notice

some disfigurement in my hands & crunching in my joints. So - I've now

started Plaquenil.

I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone could help me

with...

At my last Rheumy visit, my BP was 140/90.I have never in my life had

bp this high! My pressure usually is high if its 85/60. Usually the

nurse has to ask me if I'm still alive in there - you know? So this

really freaked me out. Dr said its probably from the Naprolen (NSAID)

I'm taking, but I'm wordering - could it be from the RA itself??

Also - with the Plaquenil. I'm starting slow with 200mg/day b/c I have

a very sensitive stomach - after a week, I'm going up to 400 mg/day.

So far my stomach is fine, but I have had the worst Sore Throat! I

started on Wed & throat started bothering me Wed night - so its been 4

days now. I just looked at the drug info sheet & it lists all the

minor side effects (stomach, dizzy, etc) & then says " If Any of These

Other More Serious Side Effects Occure, Call Your Dr ASAP " & lists

Sore Throat!! I really just thought maybe I was getting sick, but now

I'm scared - what could that be? I'll call her first thing in the

morning when her office opens. I tried to search the web, but didn't

find much. Anyone else get a sore throat on Plaquenil??

..

<http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=101478/grpspId=1705061498/msgId=

114695/stime=1215371006/nc1=5191947/nc2=5191951/nc3=4990213>