Plaquenil and antibiotics & a P.S. to Mike

[Guest guest]

Donna, First of all, when there is infection present you need an antibiotic to help fight off the disease

and kill the bacteria, or you will just get worse and the infection will spread. Our immune systems

do work overtime, but in the wrong direction, so to answer your question: Yes, antibiotics should

make you feel better soon when they are doing their job properly.

About Plaquenil, I hope you are taking the generic form called Hydroxychloriquine. It is easier on the

digestive system than the old Plaquenil was. Also, it is coated with an enteric coating to keep it from

tasting as bitter as the old stuff did. It can take up to six months for Plaquenil to kick in, and it is

subtle in how it works. You will think for months that you are not improving, or that the progress of

the disease is not slowing, and then one day you notice that things are different...fewer fevers, if

no infection is present, fewer flares, lower blood sugars, and it can even lower blood pressure in some.

About the depression, it sounds to me like you need either more, or different antidepressant medication, and the sooner the better. Clinical depression goes with chronic disease, but is especially

noticeable in Lupus patients. We deal with such a mixture of pain, fatigue, and varied symptomology

that clinical depression is a given with us. If you are taking a tricyclic like amitryptaline, it may be

making you slower and sleepier than is good for you or your condition. Also, with the antibiotics,

you should gain some energy back once the infection is cleared up.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing, and don't wait so long next time. It isn't necessary for

you to answer a bunch of emails, but when we don't hear from a member, we worry. And, you know

we don't need more stress. LOL Loving hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Donna, First of all, when there is infection present you need an antibiotic to help fight off the disease

and kill the bacteria, or you will just get worse and the infection will spread. Our immune systems

do work overtime, but in the wrong direction, so to answer your question: Yes, antibiotics should

make you feel better soon when they are doing their job properly.

About Plaquenil, I hope you are taking the generic form called Hydroxychloriquine. It is easier on the

digestive system than the old Plaquenil was. Also, it is coated with an enteric coating to keep it from

tasting as bitter as the old stuff did. It can take up to six months for Plaquenil to kick in, and it is

subtle in how it works. You will think for months that you are not improving, or that the progress of

the disease is not slowing, and then one day you notice that things are different...fewer fevers, if

no infection is present, fewer flares, lower blood sugars, and it can even lower blood pressure in some.

About the depression, it sounds to me like you need either more, or different antidepressant medication, and the sooner the better. Clinical depression goes with chronic disease, but is especially

noticeable in Lupus patients. We deal with such a mixture of pain, fatigue, and varied symptomology

that clinical depression is a given with us. If you are taking a tricyclic like amitryptaline, it may be

making you slower and sleepier than is good for you or your condition. Also, with the antibiotics,

you should gain some energy back once the infection is cleared up.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing, and don't wait so long next time. It isn't necessary for

you to answer a bunch of emails, but when we don't hear from a member, we worry. And, you know

we don't need more stress. LOL Loving hugs, MM