Plaquenil

[mpederse]

I have been having a lot of hypoglycemia like reactions lately. I am on 400 mg plaq a day. I've been on this for 22 years. I am interested if others get this too. Symptoms I experience include feeling shaky, sometimes hot, kind of irritable and reved up feeling. After a while I kind of calm down. I am trying to take plaq with food and really limiting sugar consumption to see if that helps. Just wondering if others experience this and what they do to help it. :(
Thanks
Molly
SLE

[Lily]

Hi molly,

This sounds NOT FUN! I hope they work out the reason for it soon, what have your docs said?

I can tend towards hypoglycemia and how I combat it is to eat small meals and often (maybe 5-6 decent snacks of good food during the day) Like you I try and avoid coffee, chocolate (no fun avoiding that :p ) and any other sugary stuff. Also drink lots of water.

If you have been taking Plaquenil for 22 years and this has just started, it seems unlikely there is a connection?

love
Lily

[alobreto]

Hi, Molly!
Sorry you're having this problem! :(

You might do well to keep a log of when this starts in relation to what you're doing before it creeps up on you. I think the doc would find that helpful when you go to get this new symptom checked out.

Like Lily, I think it's unlikely that it's related to a med you've been on for such a long time. It's possible, of course, but very unlikely.

It doesn't sound like an urgent problem for an ER visit, but a doc's appointment in the next couple of weeks would be a very good idea. And with your log, you may be able to see a pattern yourself for when it happens.

Hope things begin to improve soon!
Angela :)

[sheila t]

It be worth talking to your Doctor about. I been lucky, I been on plaq 400mg daily for over 17 years and so far no problems, not even with my eyesight.

Take care
Sheila xox

[neongirl]

I have never heard of plaquinel cause hypoglycemia before. I do know that Lupus can sometimes effect the pancreas, and that prednisone can too. Do you take, or have you taken prednisone? Maybe you could ask your Dr. for a blood test to check your blood sugar levels.:)

[Christine UK]

sorry to sound thick:rotfl:
but what is hypoglycemia ?
from the other threads it sounds like something i suffer with...i too take plaq have done for many years...but i get the shakes feel sick and light headed i then eat something a choc bar or a piece of toast and feel fine....ummm sounds like we all have a connection ? x

[Lily]

Hi Chris,

Basically its low blood sugar levels.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000386.htm

Which is why if you eat something sweet and loaded with sugar it makes you feel better within a short period of time. However with me that can just lead to more wild swings of blood sugar, so thats why I try and eat small meals more often to keep a more even level of it in my system. If I eat something like chocolate when I feel like that I get a quick dramatic upswing but I crash and burn a couple hours later and feel worse than I did in the first place.
Even something with a little natural sugar is probably more beneficial, like fruits or juices................not as much fun though :hehe: :lol:

love
Lily

[sheila t]

Meant to say. I do have to take a tummy Tablet because of taking Plaq, I understand it upsets alot of people tummies.
Sheila xox

[Lily]

I always take all my meds on a full stomach. I did get tummy problems with Plaq for 2 weeks Sheila although that disappeared.

love
Lily

[jane1]

Hi....:yes:....it upsets mine also...and i have IBS....so some times i am in the bathroom for the whole evening...:blush:....jane

[sheila t]

Oh bless you Jane. I also have IBS. Dx some 21 years. They have me on a drug called Merebervine for the IBS. Take it 3 times a day, it helps with the Tummy Cramps, plus no wheat in my diet.

Sheila xox

[sheila t]

Lily Thank you so much for the link, interesting reading
Sheila xox