Re: Question - Plaquenil

[Guest guest]

Hi, Everyone,

Guess it is high time I crawl out of the woodwork --- I've been a member of this

group for a while now and have been reading and listening to all the information

shared. Thank you!

To Gloria's question: I've been diagnosed with RA about 5 or 6 years ago, way

before real symptoms started. I've had a lot of other troubles and the doctor

was running a battery of tests. Everything came back positive - from stomach

ulcer to fibroids to bladder problems (since had surgery) to kidney infections

and more. I was sent to a really good rheumy, who put me on Plaquenil to be

pro-active for when something would kick in. Of course now, looking back, I'm

wondering if some of those other problems were not caused by the RA anyway.

The rheumy assured me that Plaquenil is very mild. However, the pharmacist tried

me on the generic brand first.

After about a week, I developed a rash, similar to German measles, mostly on my

thighs. It quickly spread to my stomach and chest area. I didn't feel bad, but

knew something had to be done. Research showed that it could be the sulpher

creating the reaction.

I went back to the rheumy and am now on the brand name --- she has to put it on

the prescription every time that " no substitutes are allowed " or else my Medical

Aid won't pay for it. I've had no problems with Plaquenil, and have had my eyes

checked every 6 months to make sure there is no deposit from the medication -

one of the possible side-effects. I take two a day.

Usually I'm very susceptible to medication, everything works quicker or

stronger. Even at the dentist - he has to give me about 1/4 of the usual dose of

Novacaine, and after just 2 minutes, he can work and do whatever needs to be

done. I'm usually out of there in 15 minutes flat, even last week when a tooth

just broke off for no reason and he had to fix that. 

 

The last two years were bad with RA flare-ups (Celebrex prescribed),

infections and wrong diagnoses about other things, which caused me to land in ER

with anaphylactic shock from medication (Prednisone given to counter-act it,

which worked well for a few days until I developed a reaction to the

Prednisone).

So I guess I'd have to either be on a stronger dose of Plaquenil now, or it has

to be changed to something else, especially since the last diagnosis (RA

attacking the swallowing muscles).

Hope that answered some of your question, Gloria! Sorry to be so long-winded.

Meerkat /

(living in Ontario, Canada, but originally from South Africa, and Afrikaans

speaking)

Blessings *´¨)

   ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)

  (¸.·´ (¸.·` *Meerkat *

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[ ] Question

>

> Hi All and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

> My remy is wanting me to try Plaquenil ---I had requested we try the Minocin

for

> my RA which is not responding to any of the new bio medications.  Has anyone

> been on plaquenil? 

> Thanks, kathy egenbacher                             

[Guest guest]

Sigh - sorry - not Gloria --- I was trying to answer Kathy's questions! My

apologies for using the wrong name. That comes from reading too many messages

and trying to reply to one while at work!

Meerkat