Re: Plaquenil side effects?

[Guest guest]

Txs Cooky -

Yes, these symptoms might just be part of the SLE - just strange because I

was fine before starting on the Plaquenil and then I read it can cause some of

these problems (though not the inflammation above the eyes, that does sound

more SLE-related).

I followed your advice and googled " Plaquenil shelf life " and this is what I

found from this link:

http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/DisplayDoc.asp?DocumentID=6977

One side effect of Plaquenil -

" Skeletal muscle myopathy or neuromyopathy leading to progressive weakness

and atrophy of proximal muscle groups have been noted. Myopathy may be

reversible after drug discontinuation, but recovery may take many months. "

Txs for recommending I do that!

Jan

[Guest guest]

This is just my opinion but maybe your symptoms could be caused by the SLE.

When you get on antibiotics (erythromycin for Lupis) they may go away.

I think the plaquenil would be out of your system by now. You could google

shelf life of plaquinal. That will give you the duration it stays in your

body .

Also there are side effects from plaquenil that do not go away.

I'm not sure if any of these suggestions help. I do not have SLE and don't

remember much of what I read about it.

Cooky

_____

From: rheumatic [mailto:rheumatic ] On Behalf

Of Janiceesher@...

Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:36 PM

rheumatic

Subject: rheumatic Plaquenil side effects?

Hi -

I am looking into A/P for the treatment of my SLE because I reacted

negatively to Plaquenil, the drug of choice for SLE flare prevention. I was

horrified

that I couldn't tolerate Plaquenil until I began reading about A/P. Now I'm

thinking that might have been a blessing in disguise.

I've been off the Plaquenil for 3 wks now and am wondering if I am still

experiencing some of the side effects from it. Could this be possible? How

long

does it take this drug to get out of one's system?

I was diagnosed with SLE a year and a half ago. No outward symptoms showed

up until Fall 07 and then I had a very bad flare, with every joint inflamed

horribly, fatigue (in bed almost 24/7 during the worst part), and blood

level

drops (I'm still slightly anemic since then, but everything else has

returned to

normal levels). Thankfully, no organ involvement!

I began taking Prednisone when the flare got so severe that I felt I had no

choice (20 mg) and then took Plaquenil for a month (during Dec 07). A couple

of weeks after starting the Plaquenil, I developed the following symptoms:

-red, puffy eyes

-a slight loss of visiual acuity (I was thinking of buying a slightly

stronger pair of reading glasses at the drugstore)

-after 3-4 wks, the muscles in my face felt almost paralyzed (well, not

quite

paralyzed, but like they weren't moving as my brain was telling them to - I

wondered if I was developing Bell's Palsey)

-a puffiness developed above my eyes (between my eye sockets and my

eyebrows)

- It's not noticeable to others, but I feel it every time I attempt to open

my eyes all the way - ie every time I blink - and it is a weird feeling -

like

I'm too tired to open my eyes all the way, very distracting, and I'm

concerned

about what this is)

-MUCH anxiety - It felt like drug-induced anxiety. I was fine before

starting the Plaquenil.

I went off the Plaquenil (after talking to my doctor, who said it would be

ok

to discontinue the 400 mg a day, though he wasn't convinced the Plaquenil

was

causing the problems). I went off it and the muscle thing is MUCH better.

Also, the anxiety is better. However, the puffiness above my eyes is still

here

as much as it was when I was on the Plaquenil.

I have been off the Plaquenil for 3 weeks now. Would it still be affecting

me? I'm hoping so and that maybe the muscle thing, the anxiety, and the

puffiness will all be gone soon. I know the anxiety could be partly due to

Prednisone,

though I was just fine on the Prednisone for almost 2 months (even 20 mg)

before I started the Plaquenil.

Thank you so much for your time and feedback -

Jan

[Guest guest]

Welcome

_____

From: rheumatic [mailto:rheumatic ] On Behalf

Of Janiceesher@...

Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 2:06 PM

rheumatic

Subject: Re: rheumatic Plaquenil side effects?

Txs Cooky -

Yes, these symptoms might just be part of the SLE - just strange because I

was fine before starting on the Plaquenil and then I read it can cause some

of

these problems (though not the inflammation above the eyes, that does sound

more SLE-related).

I followed your advice and googled " Plaquenil shelf life " and this is what I

found from this link:

http://emc.medicine

<http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/DisplayDoc.asp?DocumentID=697

7> s.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/DisplayDoc.asp?DocumentID=6977

One side effect of Plaquenil -

" Skeletal muscle myopathy or neuromyopathy leading to progressive weakness

and atrophy of proximal muscle groups have been noted. Myopathy may be

reversible after drug discontinuation, but recovery may take many months. "

Txs for recommending I do that!

Jan

[Guest guest]

Jan,

Please see http://www.drugs.com/cons/Plaquenil.html

" Check with your doctor immediately if blurred

vision, difficulty in reading, or any other

change in vision occurs during or after long-term

treatment... If your symptoms do not improve

within a few days (or a few weeks or months for

arthritis), or if they become worse, check with

your doctor... Hydroxychloroquine may cause

blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or other

change in vision. It may also cause some people

to become dizzy or lightheaded. Make sure you

know how you react to this medicine before you

drive, use machines, or do anything else that

could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not

alert or able to see well . If these reactions

are especially bothersome, check with your

doctor... Blurred vision or any other change in

vision­this side effect may also occur or get

worse after you stop taking this medicine...

Other side effects of Plaquenil (rare):

cnvulsions (seizures); increased muscle weakness;

mood or other mental changes; ringing or buzzing

in ears or any loss of hearing; sore throat and

fever; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness; weakness. "

http://arthritis-symptom.com/arthritis-drugs/plaquenil.htm

" If you experience any of the following symptoms,

call your doctor immediately: reading or seeing

difficulties (words, letters, or parts of objects

missing), sensitivity to light, blurred distance

vision, seeing light flashes or streaks,

difficulty hearing, ringing in ears, muscle

weakness, bleeding or bruising of the skin,

bleaching or loss of hair, mood or mental

changes, irregular heartbeat, drowsiness, convulsions?

Jan, it is clear that you are among the people who cannot tolerate Plaquenil.

Sincerely, Harald

At 10:36 AM 1/19/2008, you wrote:

>Hi -

>

>I am looking into A/P for the treatment of my SLE because I reacted

>negatively to Plaquenil, the drug of choice for

>SLE flare prevention. I was horrified

>that I couldn't tolerate Plaquenil until I began reading about A/P. Now I'm

>thinking that might have been a blessing in disguise.

>

>I've been off the Plaquenil for 3 wks now and am wondering if I am still

>experiencing some of the side effects from it.

>Could this be possible? How long

>does it take this drug to get out of one's system?

>

>I was diagnosed with SLE a year and a half ago. No outward symptoms showed

>up until Fall 07 and then I had a very bad flare, with every joint inflamed

>horribly, fatigue (in bed almost 24/7 during the worst part), and blood level

>drops (I'm still slightly anemic since then, but

>everything else has returned to

>normal levels). Thankfully, no organ involvement!

>

>I began taking Prednisone when the flare got so severe that I felt I had no

>choice (20 mg) and then took Plaquenil for a month (during Dec 07). A couple

>of weeks after starting the Plaquenil, I developed the following symptoms:

>-red, puffy eyes

>-a slight loss of visiual acuity (I was thinking of buying a slightly

>stronger pair of reading glasses at the drugstore)

>-after 3-4 wks, the muscles in my face felt almost paralyzed (well, not quite

>paralyzed, but like they weren't moving as my brain was telling them to - I

>wondered if I was developing Bell's Palsey)

>-a puffiness developed above my eyes (between my eye sockets and my eyebrows)

>- It's not noticeable to others, but I feel it every time I attempt to open

>my eyes all the way - ie every time I blink -

>and it is a weird feeling - like

>I'm too tired to open my eyes all the way, very

>distracting, and I'm concerned

>about what this is)

>-MUCH anxiety - It felt like drug-induced anxiety. I was fine before

>starting the Plaquenil.

>

>I went off the Plaquenil (after talking to my doctor, who said it would be ok

>to discontinue the 400 mg a day, though he wasn't convinced the Plaquenil was

>causing the problems). I went off it and the muscle thing is MUCH better.

>Also, the anxiety is better. However, the

>puffiness above my eyes is still here

>as much as it was when I was on the Plaquenil.

>

>I have been off the Plaquenil for 3 weeks now. Would it still be affecting

>me? I'm hoping so and that maybe the muscle thing, the anxiety, and the

>puffiness will all be gone soon. I know the

>anxiety could be partly due to Prednisone,

>though I was just fine on the Prednisone for almost 2 months (even 20 mg)

>before I started the Plaquenil.

>

>Thank you so much for your time and feedback -

>Jan

>

[Guest guest]

Txs for the info, Harald.

And yes - absolutely!

Jan

[Guest guest]

Hi Harold. I saved the info on Plaquenil. Good job! That was excellent.

Thank you. Dolores & Mike

Janiceesher@... wrote: Txs for the info, Harald.

And yes - absolutely!

Jan

[Guest guest]

I'm reading some old emails. I've never tried Plaquenil - so my reply

won't mean much. However, Prednisone made me nutty! - anxious & angry.

I told the doctor I couldn't stay on Prednisone without also adding

some sort of antidepressant to calm me down.

I have tried Methotrexate, Enbrel or Humira ... I didn't have any

noticeable problems with them. I can't say that any of it has been very

effective for me.

Amy

Janiceesher@... wrote:

>

> Hi -

>

> I am looking into A/P for the treatment of my SLE because I reacted

> negatively to Plaquenil, the drug of choice for SLE flare prevention.

> I was horrified

> that I couldn't tolerate Plaquenil until I began reading about A/P.

> Now I'm

> thinking that might have been a blessing in disguise.

>

> I've been off the Plaquenil for 3 wks now and am wondering if I am still

> experiencing some of the side effects from it. Could this be possible?

> How long

> does it take this drug to get out of one's system?

>

> I was diagnosed with SLE a year and a half ago. No outward symptoms

> showed

> up until Fall 07 and then I had a very bad flare, with every joint

> inflamed

> horribly, fatigue (in bed almost 24/7 during the worst part), and

> blood level

> drops (I'm still slightly anemic since then, but everything else has

> returned to

> normal levels). Thankfully, no organ involvement!

>

> I began taking Prednisone when the flare got so severe that I felt I

> had no

> choice (20 mg) and then took Plaquenil for a month (during Dec 07). A

> couple

> of weeks after starting the Plaquenil, I developed the following symptoms:

> -red, puffy eyes

> -a slight loss of visiual acuity (I was thinking of buying a slightly

> stronger pair of reading glasses at the drugstore)

> -after 3-4 wks, the muscles in my face felt almost paralyzed (well,

> not quite

> paralyzed, but like they weren't moving as my brain was telling them

> to - I

> wondered if I was developing Bell's Palsey)

> -a puffiness developed above my eyes (between my eye sockets and my

> eyebrows)

> - It's not noticeable to others, but I feel it every time I attempt to

> open

> my eyes all the way - ie every time I blink - and it is a weird

> feeling - like

> I'm too tired to open my eyes all the way, very distracting, and I'm

> concerned

> about what this is)

> -MUCH anxiety - It felt like drug-induced anxiety. I was fine before

> starting the Plaquenil.

>

> I went off the Plaquenil (after talking to my doctor, who said it

> would be ok

> to discontinue the 400 mg a day, though he wasn't convinced the

> Plaquenil was

> causing the problems). I went off it and the muscle thing is MUCH better.

> Also, the anxiety is better. However, the puffiness above my eyes is

> still here

> as much as it was when I was on the Plaquenil.

>

> I have been off the Plaquenil for 3 weeks now. Would it still be

> affecting

> me? I'm hoping so and that maybe the muscle thing, the anxiety, and the

> puffiness will all be gone soon. I know the anxiety could be partly

> due to Prednisone,

> though I was just fine on the Prednisone for almost 2 months (even 20 mg)

> before I started the Plaquenil.

>

> Thank you so much for your time and feedback -

> Jan

>

>