Hello Reisha
Plaquenil is the most fantastic medicine with a minimum of even potential side effects and innumerable side benefits. To add to the list is its apparent effect in reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes which was announced last summer. This is so marked, according to this study, that Plaquenil could even be used to treat diabetes 2.
Plaquenil does not cause weight gain,skin problems or affect the appearance in any adverse way. It also doesn't normally affect sleep although if taken at night it might cause some sleeplessness for some people, because it can have a healthy energising effect helping combat the fatigue that so many of us suffer from.
There are very good reasons why Prednisone use is kept to the absolute minimum these days. Those who have to take it can't always prevent all the possible serious damaging side effects of which osteoporosis is only one. Calcium supplements don't always prevent bone loss. Thousands of people have taken Plaquenil for many years even lifetimes without the slightest ill effect. There is no comparison with Prednisone in that respect.
It is rather surprising to meet a young person whose doctor has not prescribed Plaquenil. Many these days won't even prescribe Prednisone unless there is organ involvement necessitating its use at some point.
It isn't even "either/or" - many seriously ill people are on Plaquenil whatever drugs they need in addition to it and those whose disease is not active often stay on it as an 'insurance'.
On a completely different topic, please don't take it amiss, if I point out that there is forum guideline against using short forms and 'text speak' in posts.
This is because it is very irritating and hard to follow for many of our members whether or not their mother tongue is English. Thank you for complying with this guideline in future.
All the best
Clare