Guest guest Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 Hello to all my friends and fellow PA sufferers; No more Humira for me. After 28 months on it, my rheumy has finally decided that it isn't working. I've never gotten the " wow " effect that I should have, and I have a lot of inflammation going on. A cortisone shot to my left foot actually has made it feel pretty good for the past 24 hours. I'm enjoying the pain-free feeling while knowing it will be shortlived. So, what's next for me? The rheumy prescribed Plaquenil. I'm not excited about the side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, ringing in the ears - yes! I need more tinnitus , etc. My first instinct was to say no, I'm not going to take this anymore and you can't make me. Why would I take something that is probably going to make me sick (I have GERD and a history of stomach ulcers). But, on the other hand, what if this is " my miracle drug " and I never even tried it to find out?? I'm feeling very indecisive about this. Both my mother and m-i-l think I need to try to get a referral to UofM for a consultation. My rheumy has never come up with a definitive diagnosis, " I think it's PA " , " you have an elevated rheumatoid factor " , " you have some kind of strange inflamation going on here " , " you have osteoarthritis " , etc. I don't think he really knows, and my family thinks that I've given him over 5 years to figure it out and he hasn't so it's time for me to get another opinion. Do any of you have experience with plaquenil? I don't recall it being discussed here very much, but would like your input if you've taken it. Feeling good today, hope you are too warm blessings, jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Jane....Plaquinel worked for me for almost 3 years. It's the first medication I was prescribed and I had no side effects. I read the list of possible side effects but pay close attention to the word " possible " . When doing drug testing, they are required to list every symptom that the patients involved in the trials experience. That means that they end up listing many things that had nothing to do with the drug. A patient may have an allergic reaction to seasonal allergens and those symptoms must be listed. That list gives us a reference and should be heeded but I believe that many of us get all worked up about that list when it's not all it's cracked up to be. I had a friend who worked in research and development of a major drug company and have been counseled on this one. I am still taking Plaquinel along with the Enbrel I just started 2 weeks ago. From my experience, I would say " go with it " . You survived Humira even if it did not do the trick. Hope all goes well for you. Prayers go out for you, -Betz Betsy Jack itsbetsy@... [ ] No More Humira! Hello to all my friends and fellow PA sufferers; No more Humira for me. After 28 months on it, my rheumy has finally decided that it isn't working. I've never gotten the " wow " effect that I should have, and I have a lot of inflammation going on. A cortisone shot to my left foot actually has made it feel pretty good for the past 24 hours. I'm enjoying the pain-free feeling while knowing it will be shortlived. So, what's next for me? The rheumy prescribed Plaquenil. I'm not excited about the side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, ringing in the ears - yes! I need more tinnitus , etc. My first instinct was to say no, I'm not going to take this anymore and you can't make me. Why would I take something that is probably going to make me sick (I have GERD and a history of stomach ulcers). But, on the other hand, what if this is " my miracle drug " and I never even tried it to find out?? I'm feeling very indecisive about this. Both my mother and m-i-l think I need to try to get a referral to UofM for a consultation. My rheumy has never come up with a definitive diagnosis, " I think it's PA " , " you have an elevated rheumatoid factor " , " you have some kind of strange inflamation going on here " , " you have osteoarthritis " , etc. I don't think he really knows, and my family thinks that I've given him over 5 years to figure it out and he hasn't so it's time for me to get another opinion. Do any of you have experience with plaquenil? I don't recall it being discussed here very much, but would like your input if you've taken it. Feeling good today, hope you are too warm blessings, jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Hi Jane, I was on Plaquenil early on in my treatment. It was prescribed after indomethacin (sp?) gave me horrible headaches. So you might say it was the first successful med I was given (12 years ago this month in fact, or pretty close to that anyway since good old " Art " and I are having our anniversary about now). I don't remember having any side-effects while on the Plaquenil. It worked for a while...I would say at least a couple of years. Following Plaquenil (which I took with a high dose of Naproxen each day), I have been on Sulfasalazine, Methotrexate (pill and later injectable), Arava, back to Methotrexate (pills) and (currently) taking six 2.5 mg Methotrexate pills and one Enbrel shot (the pre- mix) weekly. However, with all that said, as we all know meds affect each one of us differently. Here's hoping that you will be as I was - with no problems or ugly side-effects and eventually almost " normal " ...which who wants to be " normal " ...that isn't any fun! Hope the Plaquenil works wonders for you. Jenn in Arkansas (age 32) > > Hello to all my friends and fellow PA sufferers; > > No more Humira for me. After 28 months on it, my rheumy has finally > decided that it isn't working. I've never gotten the " wow " effect > that I should have, and I have a lot of inflammation going on. A > cortisone shot to my left foot actually has made it feel pretty good > for the past 24 hours. I'm enjoying the pain-free feeling while > knowing it will be shortlived. > > So, what's next for me? The rheumy prescribed Plaquenil. I'm not > excited about the side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, > dizziness, ringing in the ears - yes! I need more tinnitus , etc. > My first instinct was to say no, I'm not going to take this anymore > and you can't make me. Why would I take something that is probably > going to make me sick (I have GERD and a history of stomach ulcers). > But, on the other hand, what if this is " my miracle drug " and I never > even tried it to find out?? I'm feeling very indecisive about this. > Both my mother and m-i-l think I need to try to get a referral to > UofM for a consultation. My rheumy has never come up with a > definitive diagnosis, " I think it's PA " , " you have an elevated > rheumatoid factor " , " you have some kind of strange inflamation going > on here " , " you have osteoarthritis " , etc. I don't think he really > knows, and my family thinks that I've given him over 5 years to > figure it out and he hasn't so it's time for me to get another > opinion. > > Do any of you have experience with plaquenil? I don't recall it being > discussed here very much, but would like your input if you've taken > it. > > Feeling good today, hope you are too > warm blessings, > jane > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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