Increased plaquenil dose

[Wendywoo]

I saw my rheumy yesterday and she has increased my plaquenil dose from 200mg to 400mg per day. I have not had any side effects so far, but does anyone know whether I am more likely to experience side effects by suddenly doubling the dose. She increased the dose because the inflammation levels in my blood are still too high, and my pain and tiredness has not improved on the 200mg dose.
I am recently diagnosed and have been taking the plaquenil for 3-4 months, and would be interested in any input or advise from people who have more experience of this illness.
Wendy

[kurlykim]

Hey Wendy

Like Terry I am also wondering if you are taking any other meds???
I have not had any side effects at 400 mg. I have been on if approximately 3 years. It does take some time to kick in. Try not to worrie your self as this was my issue in the early stages. I added alot of stress for things that now seem silly. We can be our worst enemy. Take care it takes time

[flowergarden]

Wendy, I have been on 600 mg. Plaquenil--because I'm overweight--for quite a while now. I started on 400 mg. originally. It took about 6 months fot that to kick in. It helped, but not enough, so the dosage was upped.

If you do think you have side effects, do call your doc right away. :flowers:

[raggedyann1]

Wendy,

The 400mg dose is the normal therapuetic dose given to most lupus patients at least for the first few years. If you didn't have any problems with the 200mg dose I don't think you will have any at 400mg. The biggest common complaint about plaquenil is the gas that explodes for a few weeks. :sick:

If you are experiencing pain please ask your doctor for something extra, usually we are given NSAID's like celebrex, naprosyn, mobic, etc etc

Please let us know how you do.

Take care,
Karen

[lisade]

Hi and I am sorry you are still not feeling well. I have been on 400mg for several years now and I have not had any noticable side effects.

Good luck.
Lisa de

[Clare.T]

I suggest you increase slowly to give the body time to adjust and avoid any possible side effects.

An option to increasing the dose of Plaquenil whether 200 or 400 gms is to add Mepacrine (US Quinacrine) to the Plaquenil.

They work together synergistically, each enhancing the effects of the other giving extra anti malarial benefits without recourse to the other disease modifying / immunosuppressant medicines.

Eye toxicity increases at higher than usual doses which is something like 3grms per pound of ideal body weight.

I hope it helps

Bye for now

Clare

[Wendywoo]

Thanks for your replies. I was initially prescribed naproxen ( anti inflammatory ) for my joints but had a very bad reaction to it. I am currently taking co-codamol 30/500 ( solpodol ) for the pain but don't want to take too much as I've heard it can become addictive.

[katsgirl]

Hi wendy;

I just started taking plaquenil, 400mg every night at bedtime. So far I have not had any major side effects. I did experience a little nausea in the beginning, however it has stopped. The only problem that I have now is trying to remember to take it at night because I had been use to taking all of my meds in the a.m.
I hope that you start to feel better soon.

Kat

[chantal]

kat: i take mine in the morning, why do u take it at night? im sorry wendy i dont take that much i only take 200 along with many many others :P does everyone take theres at night ?

[fifi.b]

Hi there,

I've been on plaquenil for about 15 years with one short break. I take 400mg in the morning along with all of my other drugs!!! I'm keen to find out why some people are being advised to take it at night.

I've never experienced any side effects from plaquenil.

:) Fiona xx

[katsgirl]

Hi FiFi & Chanta, I take my plaquenil at night, as advised by mt rheumy doc, because it sometimes cause nausea. He said that if I take it at night it would be less of a chance of that upset stomach feeling.

So far I have only had one episode of nausea during the night, and it was very brief.

Kat.

[Plaquelgirl]

Hi Wendy,

I started right off with 400mg, but broken down in 2 doses. So I take 1 pill in the am and 1 pill in the evening. I remember having some headaches when I first started taking it, but I don't know if it was me getting used to it or if it was something else that caused the headaches. I can't be sure, but haven't had any other problems since. Still 2 a day for me! ;)

[chantal]

u know what ive been on Plaquenil since day one (for 7yrs) and i cant belive this i went to take a look at the bottle and i am taking 400mg (opps) i didnt know each pill was 200 i thought it was 100, and also it does say take one twice daily. but i never have .. oh well hehe well i am on lots of meds and i always have been but i havent really noticed any side effects from the plaq that i know off. make sure u keep ur eye appoint's thou :flowers:

[Wendywoo]

Chantal, I haven't been given any eye appts. Should I have? I was told it can affect the eyes but to just tell my doctor if I have any problems.

[Lourie]

wendywoo,
You should definetly have your eyes checked. I have my eyes checked every six months being on plaquenil. It is important because any damage although rare can be reversed if caught at an early enough stage. We lupies have enough problems and should do whatever it takes to avoid anymore. I am really suprised your rheumy didn't tell you te get your eyes checked. Good luck and hope all goes well.

[music]

I hadn't been to the eye doctor in three years and I'm on Plaquinil. My Rheumy told me last visit...."no note from the eye doc...no prescription for plaquinil." That got my attention. I went immediately.
I take my meds(plaquinil) morning and evening. 200mg in the morning 200mg in the evening.. Didn't know you could take it all at once.
I have gas all the time.....it never got better and I've been on plaq for 3 yrs. now.
Do you think it would help my gas problem if I took all my med at night? Joyce

[Lily]

Hi Wendywoo,

The eye toxicity problems with Plaquenil are very rare, around 1 percent of users. But undetected you could lose your vision if it advanced to a certain degree before they discovered it. The idea is to do periodic checking BEFORE any damage is noticeable by you, but it can be picked up in regular Opthamology testing. I am tested every 6 months, an Opthamologist is the preferred doc as they have the right gear and will run the right tests. Class it as insurance against a possibly devastating but rare side effect. Every Rheumy or Lupus doc I know insists on this being done, I'm surprised yours hasnt?

love
Lily

[chantal]

ditto to all the above about the eye appoint's .. its VERY important. so please make sure u talk to ur doctor about it soon
good luck
:love: luv chantal :love:

[macfamily53]

Dear Wendy
I was told when I started on plaquanil i was told by my rhueme and family doctor told me to make sure I ahve my eyes checked every 6months. Which i was doing that but then my eye doctor decided that i Only needed it once a year. Not sure if it was the right thing or not to got to only once a year.Yes make sure you havr them checked because my optimoigist found a spot on my retina. So yes please make sure you have them checked.
Tammy

[Maxx]

You should definetly have your eyes checked every 6 months. I also have a visual field test every 6 months.
I would mention it to your rheumy what the opthamologist said. Maybe you need to see a different one.
I have been on 400 mg. Plaquenil for over 2 years.
Hope this helps.

Deb

[puss]

Hi all,

I've been on 200 mg Plaquenil ever since i was diagnosed with lupus, which is about 10 years ago. I do have my eyes checked every year, but don't have any other side effects. Apparently it kicks in after about 3 months or so.