Side Effects of Plaquenil

[Luptyloo]

Hi! I am calling my GP for a RX of Pred again, as the pleurisy is escalating again. Actually I think I am in a "flare", although I hesitate to use that term, because my symptoms are so mild that they slow me down, and are a nuisance, but are not debilitating as many others are. But, my joints etc all started acting up at the same time as the pleurisy started getting worse so it seems to be connected. Anyway, as this is the third short course of pred since Sept, and the second since March, I am going to discuss a preventative med with my GP/Rheumie. I am wondering what typse of meds others are on, and what are the side effects? I know plaquenil is one of the common ones, but I don't know what the negatives are compared to a course of pred every few months. Also, what are the other choices, and any opinions on what has worked particularly for pleurisy??? Thanks in advance! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Thanx.gif

[helloos]

As far as my knowledge Plaquenil is for the joint paint the most and the fatigue and its side effects vary upon different people, but the most being GAS ! That is the one I suffer from. I think that it is mainly used to prevent the disease from progressing.

As for the pred, it comes with many side effects and I think would be considered more long term effects if on it for some time, Short periods maybe have less of the severity. ((((((((((( Someone correct me if I am wrong)))))))))))))))) This is my knowledge of pred through what my doc has told me. I have not taken that.

I am on Plaquenil 400 mg, DHEA 200 mg (which I just started a week ago) Naproxen, Norvasc, and all my other little stupid pills.

Do a search under medications for Plaquenil. There has been quite some talk about it and also the pred too.

Good luck and yes, I agree, talk to your doctor about all the options of medications and then come back here and share what he said.

Of course there is also many other drugs, antimalarials, chemo drugs, etc.

Oh yeah and as for the pleurisy, I was always treated with antiinflammatories....... nothing else, but someone will come on that has had other treatment for that.

[raggedyann1]

Luptyloo,

Plaquenil is the safest medication we take for lupus. It is an anti-malarial drug and few patients have reactions from taking it. There is an extremely, very, rare possibility of eye problems from taking it. Your rheumatologist will tell you to get an exam from an opthamalogist (not optometrist) as they can do more types of testing than an optometrist. This gives them a baseline exam and then you get retested every6 months to a year. As I say it is very rare to get it at the doses we take. It is an anti-malarial drug that the soldiers during WWII took when they were fighting in the Pacific. They did get eye problems but their dose was much higher than we take. Also with the regular eye exams any problems are caught early before it could cause permanent damage.

Anti-Malarials are the only medications that actually alter the course of lupus. They change the ph balance of each cell so that the lupus will not take up residence in them. This is why it takes so long to start working. It is the first drug of choice for most rheumatologists.

Take care,
Karen