Anyone experiencing side effects on plaquenil?

March 29, 2010

Hi

I have rheumatoid arthritis so my experience may not be the same as

yours. I was on plaquenil for 3 and a half years, 200mg per day, with

Minocin MWF. It worked really well for me until about six weeks ago

when I developed itching, burning, flaming red eczema from my neck to

my navel. When I first took it the rheumy gave me a double dose for a

month. In January my pain was quite bad. I wondered what doubling the

plaq for a month would do. Well I found out! A biopsy confirmed that

it was a reaction to the plaq and when I stopped it two weeks ago the

eczema went away. I still have mild itching but am hoping that will

disappear eventually.

I'm now just on mino MWF. The interesting thing is that the muscle

pain in my arms has almost disappeared since stopping the plaquenil.

I thought it was a part of the rheumatoid but it seems it was a side

effect of the plaquenil. I do have muscle weakness too which hasn't

changed in this short time. I thought it was just because I'm getting

older. So I look forward to seeing some change there. My joint pain

has increased a bit but it feels different to how it was before, more

diffuse. I guess it will take a while to see how I do only on the

mino. I have to take acetaminophen three times daily to be able to

cope with living on my own but my liver tests showed clear.

I know a few other people on this list use plaquenil and minocycline

with great success (which is what kept me on it for so long).

Dolores has always said not to use plaquenil or the other heavy

rheumatoid drugs because of their side effects and I agree with her

if you can cope without them. Some people's RA is so severe they need

extra help besides the antibiotics and we have to honour everyone's

decisions, especially if we're not in a position to go to antibiotic

supportive doctors. We're all trying our best to cope with these

terrible diseases in the best way we can, and we are all learning

from each other and supporting each other in our quest.

I hope some other polymyositis people might be able to answer you too.

Ros

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