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Starting RA meds

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I had no problems with plaquenil for the first month or so. It made me tired

> in the beginning but then I got used to it. Then, out of the blue, I

started

> losing my hair. Finding a lot on my pillow, and huge chunks coming out in

> the shower. I told the doctor and he took me off it, and the hair loss

> stopped, but the hair has not grown back. Fortunately it is not very

> noticeable (at least that's what I've been told) So if you start to lose

> hair, let your doctor know right away. I also heard that it can cause

> trouble for your eyes, but my RA doctor says that usually only happens

after

> taking it for five years or more. Good luck with the med. It did work and

> helped me until I had to go off it. I'm on Chloriquine (or something like

> that) instead and so far no problems. Also Sulfasaline and Arava.

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Hi Barbara,

My doctor didn't mention having my eyes checked. What is the reason for this,

and should I be asking my doctor about this?

Jen

singlemomx2@...

>

> Hi Jen.

>  

> I have been on daily Placquenil for over 5 years now, and have no issues with

it.  I did have to have my eyes checked with my Opthamologist before starting

the Placquenil.  My eyes checked out fine before and always afterwards.

>  

> I wish you good luck with it.

>  

> Hugs,

>  

> Barbara

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Hi Jen

 

So my hubby has RA and I have gone to all his appts with him since its new for

both of us and i'm big talker and i ask a ton of questions (a doctors dream) :).

So his doctor actually said he would have to get his eyes checked every 6 months

due to the Placquenil, and when my hubby went to the eye doctor in decemeber the

doctor told him he HAS to visit him every 6 months becasue of that med. So give

your eye doctor a call. Now my hubby was kind of sort taken off Placquenil and

was put on Enbrel cause the Placquenil wasnt working that well, so he is on

Placquenil, Enbrel and a sternoid until things start to show some change. I hope

this helps you. good luck

 

Sunny

(a concern wife)

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Ok - I'm going to chime in. :)

My first RA doc told me that I needed to get myeyes checked annually because

(although it isn't common) RA can effect your eyes. There are several drugs,

including plaquenil that can have adverse reactions, etc with the eyes. I want

to also note, even though RA doesn't cause organ problems with most (that I know

of) - it CAN. So my only suggestion is to research and keep asking those great

questions!!

Good luck!

in SC

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 16, 2011, at 3:00 PM, sunny saidian <ssunny1812@...> wrote:

> Hi Jen

>

> So my hubby has RA and I have gone to all his appts with him since its new for

both of us and i'm big talker and i ask a ton of questions (a doctors dream) :).

So his doctor actually said he would have to get his eyes checked every 6 months

due to the Placquenil, and when my hubby went to the eye doctor in decemeber the

doctor told him he HAS to visit him every 6 months becasue of that med. So give

your eye doctor a call. Now my hubby was kind of sort taken off Placquenil and

was put on Enbrel cause the Placquenil wasnt working that well, so he is on

Placquenil, Enbrel and a sternoid until things start to show some change. I hope

this helps you. good luck

>

> Sunny

> (a concern wife)

>

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It sounds like you are very similar to me in how you are starting out. I have

no advice, but I am glad to see others new like me similar issues/questions. I

too just started Sulfasalazine,however, so far so good on tolerating it. I know

if it doesnt work, plaquenil is on her list for next in line tx (at least I

believe that based on the literature she gave me). I will be curious to see the

responses to you here. Can i ask, were any of your labs indicating RA? All my

labs came back good which seems weird. Have a great week.

Theresa

>

> My rheumatologist has determined that he believes me to have RA even though my

RA factor is still 0. He started me on sulfasalazine initially, but by the

second pill I was having a bad allergic reaction. So now I'm to start on

Plaquenil but I'm taking the pharmacists recommendation of waiting until my

children aren't sick with the flu since it will affect my immune system. I'm

always nervous starting a new drug for any condition because I am so drug

sensitive. Has anyone else had any experience with Plaquenil they can share?

>

> Jen (singlemomx2@...)

>

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Hi Theresa,

My labs also came back all fine same as you. My rheumy said that can be normal

for some people and still have RA. I have all the symptoms of classic RA, so

he's convinced it is what I have. My primary Dr. thought maybe fibro when she

sent me to him because of the normal ra blood tests. But he doesn't think its

fibro at all because it is definitely my joints that hurt.

My son is past contagious with his bug now, so just a couple more days till my

daughter is done with it...crossing my fingers I don't get it....then I can

start the plaquenil.

Jen

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