Plaquinel and Prednisone

[Helz Belz]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif Hey Everyone,
Just had my Rheumy appointment which went okay, my C3 C4 complements were low, ANA high, and the rest of my bloods were pretty crazy. I have been experiencing new symptoms like memory loss and hair loss, and was quite concerned because it felt like a fairly bad flare. In response my Rheumy has doubled my dose of Plaquinel, and given me arcoxia for the pain and discomfort, but won't put me on Prednisone- which is what he usually does when I am flaring. I rang up his rooms about a week after my appointment because my hair was coming out thick and fast, my joints were completely seized up, and I was feeling really really bad. He still wouldn't put me on prednisone. I know I could chuck myself on it- I've done it plenty of times, but I wonder if there is a reason he is avoiding steroid treatment? i.e. is it possible he is checking if the plaquinel is doing enough?
Your thoughts would be really really appreciated!!
Love Helen style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cloud9.gif
Ps: don't worry I won't put myself on prednisone!

[tbunny1]

Well Belz - I can't figure out for the life of me why anyone would WANT to be on prednisone! YUK ! I know my rheumy sometimes likes to hold off if he can to rerun labs - the prednisone messes everything up. Perhaps you are right, and he wants to monitor how you do at the higher dose of plaquenil? Do you have a follow up visit scheduled? Just some ideas .... Tracy

[jude mack]

Hi Helen

I guess Prednisone would help allot quicker, myself I'm still trying to get off it. I
would think as he doubled your Plaquenil, he is monitoring it, or he just wants you
to have a break from Pred. Why don't you just ask him, couldn't hurt. Hope you
feel better soon.

Take Care
Jude style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clover.gif

[raggedyann1]

Hi,

These days rheumy's are prescribing less prednisone and more other medications. Long term prednisone use can have serious consequences. It is a life saving medication no doubt about that. If you don't have internal organ involvement he may be wanting to see if the current approach will help you. I recently had a medrol pack that pulled me out of a flare it seems to have done the trick. As good as I felt during those 6 days I don't want to go back on prednisone again - I finally got off about a year ago and it was horrid the last 8 weeks of tapering off.

If the increase in plaquenil and the other new med doesn't seem to be working call again and explain why. How much Plaquenil are you taking now that it is doubled? Just don't "ask" for prednisone. Ask for a new approach to take care of your flare.

Let us know how you get on.

Take care,
Karen

[Helz Belz]

Hey guys, thank you for all your responses.
Still feeling awful, and seeing no improvement- possibly the opposite. I am currently on 400mg of plaquinel a day, which i guess is the usual dose anyway? I know how awful prednisone can be, I have been on it many times, for lengthy periods, but would prefer the side effects of that, to what I am going through at the moment. Esp my hip pain!!! (no anti inflamm will work) So just playing the waiting game from now on, am seeing my GP tomorrow anyway because Im getting (i think) chilblains from cold feet, so can ask her bout it maybe.
PS: Is 400 the usual dose? or is that low? cos it doesnt seem to do much for me.
Love style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif Helen

[Clare.T]

Hi Helen

400mgs a day is the usual therapeutic dose of Plaquenil. It probably is doing something but from the sound of it, not enough and you need to add something more. Usually that would be methotrexate or Imuran / azathioprine, depending, as disease modifiers steroid sparing medicines.

If you've been on the Plaquenil for more than a couple of months it should be having an effect by now.

It doesn't seem right that you are left with nothing to relieve the pain. There are other meds apart from the NSAID's

Is there any chance of your seeing the rheumy and negotiating with him, Pred now to see you through until the new drug kicks in. People have to be helped to live their lives as well as possible and there should be some treatment plan in mind.

See what your internist thinks.

Good Luck

Clare

[Helz Belz]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif turns out i was just being impatient! Finally feeling the effects of plaquinel, just took longer than prednisone would have! Yay for plaquinel.
Thanks for your comments guys. sorry to update sooner, I think this site was virused?
Love Helen style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cloud9.gif