Guest guest Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Plaquenil was one of the first meds my wife went on when she was diagnosed. She did develope a very minor rash on one of her arms, but it wasn't nearly as bad as what you describe. Yes, you are supposed to be very careful about direct sunlight with Plaq. She liked sunbathing at the beach, but now stays under an umbrella. She didn't wear sunscreen " all " the time - only when she would be in direct sun for an hour or more. I " do " remember that the plaq took a couple months to ease her pain. I would think your doc could recommend a substitute for Plaq? I'm sure someone else on the list who knows more about meds will suggest something. Good luck, Don & Eileen TRACY wrote: > Hi, I was diagnosed last June and was put on Plaquenil & Mobic which > had worked wonderfully for me. Starting in January I noticed that I > was having *horrible* skin problems. Like a rash on my face similar > to hives almost..and to me it almost itched or burned a bit. > > Just coincidentally I got irresponsible with my meds (most likely > because I felt good again) and was only getting my Plaquenil either > once a day or maybe even every other day thru say March. I realized > that my skin problems seemed a little better so I did some research > & was surprised to see that skin problems are a common side effect > with Plaquenil. Anyonelse experience this??? > > Anways, without my dr. orders, I stopped taking my plaquenil all > together for about 4 weeks to see what happend with my face..and > sure enough it cleared up completely so I can only assume it was the > problem. I went to a dermatologist who suggested that I keep taking > it though I needed to be wearing sunscreen 100% of the time. That it > actually causes a reaction to the sun similar to an allergy. > Anyonelse?? > > *sorry I'm rambling a bit* > > Anways, the oh so familiar pain in my feet starting coming back > little by little until I remembered exactly why I was so miserable > last summer. I of coarse restarted my Plaquenil and have been on it > for almost 7 weeks now and it just doesn't seem to be doing the > trick like it did originally. I keep telling myself to give it time > to kick in (it did take awhile the first time I just don't remember > how long) but I'm getting frustrated and worried it's not going to > work and that I'm going to have to go onto stronger meds sooner now > since I screwed up by stopping it on my own. > > I started a new steriod pack yesterday because I'm just having some > swelling in multiple locations with some sore noduals; which is > unusual for me. > > Any suggestions? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2005 Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 Hi I have been on plaquenil for over 6 or 7 years now and have had no side effects yet I do use sun screen all the time though I burn really easy but I have done that ever sence I was a kid and I didn't have RA at that time I was diagnosed 13 years a go I am now 52 Sherrie -- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " TRACY " <bart.tracy@s...> wrote: > Hi, I was diagnosed last June and was put on Plaquenil & Mobic which > had worked wonderfully for me. Starting in January I noticed that I > was having *horrible* skin problems. Like a rash on my face similar > to hives almost..and to me it almost itched or burned a bit. > > Just coincidentally I got irresponsible with my meds (most likely > because I felt good again) and was only getting my Plaquenil either > once a day or maybe even every other day thru say March. I realized > that my skin problems seemed a little better so I did some research > & was surprised to see that skin problems are a common side effect > with Plaquenil. Anyonelse experience this??? > > Anways, without my dr. orders, I stopped taking my plaquenil all > together for about 4 weeks to see what happend with my face..and > sure enough it cleared up completely so I can only assume it was the > problem. I went to a dermatologist who suggested that I keep taking > it though I needed to be wearing sunscreen 100% of the time. That it > actually causes a reaction to the sun similar to an allergy. > Anyonelse?? > > *sorry I'm rambling a bit* > > Anways, the oh so familiar pain in my feet starting coming back > little by little until I remembered exactly why I was so miserable > last summer. I of coarse restarted my Plaquenil and have been on it > for almost 7 weeks now and it just doesn't seem to be doing the > trick like it did originally. I keep telling myself to give it time > to kick in (it did take awhile the first time I just don't remember > how long) but I'm getting frustrated and worried it's not going to > work and that I'm going to have to go onto stronger meds sooner now > since I screwed up by stopping it on my own. > > I started a new steriod pack yesterday because I'm just having some > swelling in multiple locations with some sore noduals; which is > unusual for me. > > Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Hi , My rheumy started me on Plaquenil last August after diagnosing me with Palendromic Rheumatism. I had been taking it for a month when I started having very bad problems with my skin. I would get in the shower and anything that touched my skin would start me itching so bad I could scratch off my skin. It was horrible. I was afraid to get in the shower.I spoke to the pharmacist and she said it would be best to not stop until I had gone the entire 3 monthes it would take to see if the drug was going to help the joints. I switched to baby wash, basis soap, and then would use Olay In Shower moisturizer. That combination kept the problem at bay. By Thanksgiving the Plaquenil kicked in and I had two months with no pain. In January it started coming back. I have since been told I have moved into RA. It is hard since nothing has ever shown up on a blood test in the 4 years since the joint problems started. My Rheumy says it probably will never show on a blood test for me. Now I take Plaquenil, Methetrexate, Declufenac, Prednisone, folic acid, Calcium, vitamin D, and Acidophilus. No wonder I don't feel like eating after that pile of stuff. After all that, I'm in the middle of a flare now. Go figure. My pharmacist and doctor really didn't think the info on the Plaquenil made it sound as bad as I was feeling. Aparently, not too many people have a bad reaction. Maybe the soaps I tried will help you. The Aveeno the Pharmacist suggested made me crawl out of my skin. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Hi , Phew, sounds just like me! As bad as the skin bothered me, I definetely think *IF* my plaquenil would start working as well as it had originaly I would just have to suffer & tend to my skin just to have the pain relief, but as of yet it isn't working this time. I'm on about week 7 and still hasn't kicked in yet. I'm currently on a steroid pack for some relief. Hoping it gets me thru for awhile in the meantime. Thanks for the info :-) > Hi , > My rheumy started me on Plaquenil last August after diagnosing me > with Palendromic Rheumatism. I had been taking it for a month when I > started having very bad problems with my skin. I would get in the > shower and anything that touched my skin would start me itching so > bad I could scratch off my skin. It was horrible. I was afraid to get > in the shower.I spoke to the pharmacist and she said it would be best > to not stop until I had gone the entire 3 monthes it would take to > see if the drug was going to help the joints. I switched to baby > wash, basis soap, and then would use Olay In Shower moisturizer. That > combination kept the problem at bay. > By Thanksgiving the Plaquenil kicked in and I had two months with no > pain. In January it started coming back. I have since been told I > have moved into RA. It is hard since nothing has ever shown up on a > blood test in the 4 years since the joint problems started. My Rheumy > says it probably will never show on a blood test for me. > Now I take Plaquenil, Methetrexate, Declufenac, Prednisone, folic > acid, Calcium, vitamin D, and Acidophilus. No wonder I don't feel > like eating after that pile of stuff. After all that, I'm in the > middle of a flare now. Go figure. > My pharmacist and doctor really didn't think the info on the > Plaquenil made it sound as bad as I was feeling. Aparently, not too > many people have a bad reaction. Maybe the soaps I tried will help > you. The Aveeno the Pharmacist suggested made me crawl out of my skin. > Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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