[mmair]

Hello everyone I have a question concerning the drug which I belive in the US is sold as Planquinil, what is it in the U.K.? or in Austrailia? For us in Germany this is sold as Quensyl, the generic (drug name) is Hydroxychloroquin. I do not take this but rather another "anti-malarial" in Germany called Resochin. The drug name is Chloroquin phosphate. I take 250mg 1xday. I was just wondering if in the US or UK anyone else uses this Medication, I ussually only read about the Plaquinil. Both are very simular, sometimes when a person has problems with one they can try the other. I think the Resochin is also a little cheaper:wink2:

Grüß,

Monique

 

[Lily]

Hi Monique,

In Australia it's called Plaquenil as well and it's manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis. Each tablet contains Hydroxychloroquine sulfate 200mg each pill (most dosages are two tabs a day i.e. 400mg). I believe the Quensyl is manufactured by Sanofi-Synthelabo - so there is probably some relationship between the two companies.

Chloroquine is also used in Australia I believe but most patients are tried on Plaquenil first. There is a slightly higher risk of eye problems with the Chloroquine according to the Lupus Association here.

love
Lily

 

[Clare.T]

Hello Monique

Chloroquine isn't used much in the USA or in the UK, I think mainly because it has the reputation of a greater risk of eye damage. Actually I haven't heard of anybody in the UK taking chloroquine, brand name Aralen.

Since they are very similar it is unlikely that someone who doesn't tolerate Plaquenil would be OK with Aralen, certainly not as far as eye toxicity goes. there is an alternative antimalarial which is different enough to be a highly acceptable option, called Mepacrine in the UK & Quinacrine in the USA.
It was used for anti malarial prophylaxis known as Atabrine, but Plaquenil replaced it and it has to be obtained from a compounding pharmacist

As it happens I take chloroquine instead of Plaquenil as being more potent, in combination with the Mepacrine. A very effective combination in certain cases. I take 500mgs a day with 100 Mepacrine.
My USA doctor said that chloroquine's reputation for eye toxicity was unmerited and dates from the time when it was used in much higher doses.

The chloroquine was very cheap in the USA compared with Plaquenil and I guess that might be the case in the UK. I don't know because I am old enough to get my meds free I guess I wouldn't know anyway unless I asked since I don't think the price is usually on packaging here we just pay the prescription cost.

Cheers
Clare

 

[Katharine]

Hi,

I have no idea of all the technicalities but just wanted to say that here in Belgium I was automatically put on plaquenil.

Katharine

 

[mmair]

Thanks guys! I don't know the costs difference either, because I never used the other one. Normally it is 5 Euro for most prescriptions, although some (which have arrangements with the health insurance) we don't have to pay any Co-pay. My resochin is one of those (as well as the Azathioprine). But the price is often on the packages, so I do know that the AZA costs 60 Euro for 100 (50mg) tablets. And the Resochin is 17 Euro for 50 tablets. Claire T. I would agree with your doctor (I have used it now for 5 years and have no eye problems). I think for malaria treatment it is higher doses. Actually I don't even know if the medicine helps me or not. I began taking it after my Cytoxan Tx and after i was taking Azathioprine for a while. I think it helps with skin problems a little, but can't be sure which med helps what. I just don't want to change anything as long as things are quiet!

Wishing all a good (syymptom free) Day!

Monique

 

[Lily]

Hi Monique,

The chloroquine is probably helping you much more than you realise. When I was put on Plaquenil I found it really helped the rashes, joints and some.............of the fatigue. Things got worse and organs became involved so they started me on Imuran along with it. There was never any mention of taking me off the Plaquenil once I started the Imuran. Multi-therapy is quite common these days. Between those two meds, my NSAID, my anti-D, my anti-convulsant, my muscle relaxant, and my as needed pain meds I do far better than I once did :hehe: What a cocktail of meds, this is someone who rarely took a Paracetamol pre Lupus :lol: Whatever it takes right?

love
Lily

 

[Clare.T]

Hello again Monique

I've had no eye trouble from antimalarials including the chloroquine which I took from time to time in Europe and I have been on them nearly 30 years.
I have had my eyes regularly tested and will continue to get them done twice a year although the London specialist says it isn't necessary even after so long - the risk is supposed to be cumulative.

The use of chloroquine for malaria is at far lower doses. I once found a very agitated pharmacist when I went to pick a prescription up ,querying the 500 mgs per day. I casually told her I'd been taking that for years which worked her up even more " That's a week's dose every day !" I suddeny realised why she was so concerned and explained it was for lupus.:lol:
Many strains of malaria are now chloroquine resistant.


Cheers
Clare

 

[mmair]

. Between those two meds, my NSAID, my anti-D, my anti-convulsant, my muscle relaxant, and my as needed pain meds I do far better than I once did :hehe: What a cocktail of meds, this is someone who rarely took a Paracetamol pre Lupus :lol: Whatever it takes right?

love
Lily

So true! I have myself a little cocktail.... NSAID (Celebrex) as needed, Anti-convulsants I stopped taking (Gabapentin), muscle relaxant to relplace the AC Baclofen (Lioresal). Pain Med I take evening before bed (Katadolon). Of course AZA, Resochin, and Cortison. I also take Concerta (methylphenidate) but obviously not for the Lupus:hehe: I also have ADHS (my 8 year old as well).

Whatever it takes! (A hammer over the head???:wink2: )

Monique

 

[jancm]

Staying sane !!!

:lol: How do you manage to stay sane??? It sounds like you really have got lots on your plate, it's bad enough having Lupus, let alone ADHD (and having a son with it!) I've just got the Lupus, and a son (14) who has ADHD and I must confess I do have days when I feel like screaming. Sending lots of love, Jan xx

 

[mmair]

Hi Jan,

I have a lot of screaming most days, and that is probably how i handle it. Thats the reason I take the Concerta, without it I am hoping from one thing to another and chasing my tail. All the while never getting anything done. It really helps. My daughter also takes Methylphendate (Equasym) she doesn't have such a problem with hyperactivity, more with concertration. It is a battle for me as the Lupus tells my body I#ve got to slow down, but my brain is always going with full gas! At some point the Lupus usually wins and I fall over from exhaustion, then the brain shuts off, I sleep 9 hours and then it's on the go again. When I really feel I am losing it then I just go outside and scream, I blame it on the Lupus then

Good luck to you,

Monique

 

[sushi]

Clare, im a little confused here I take Hydroxychloroquine generic for plaquenil

Is this the same this as chloroquine?

 

[Clare.T]

Hi sushi
Chloroquine is a similar drug to Plaquenil but not often used to treat lupus these days. Its brand name is Aralen.

Plaquenil is hydroxychloroquine



Clare

 

[sushi]

thank you clare



:bigsmile: