I've been taking Plaquenil for approx 9 months. Began feeling a little better, until a couple of months ago, when a flare-up began that hasn't gotten better. Dr wants me to go back on Prednisone, after finally weaning off of it. I refill my scripts for 3months at-a-time & thought the pill looked a little different last refill (brainfog). Spoke to rheumy doc about it..of course he reacted as though I was nuts & Re-Instructed me to only take the 'oval' shaped generic...humm...that's what it was. When I refilled this time, I ask the pharmacist about the pill & found out there IS a new manufacturer of another Plaquenil generic that Dr wasn't aware of...& it's similar in shape & size. Seems I was originally given the generic made by Watson, then switched to the new generic (by the pharmacy) made by Teva. Now, switched back to the Watson, I'm hoping this is the cause of my recent flare-up so I'm putting off going back on Prednisone until I've taken it a month or so. Anyone else maybe having this problem? I am going to start the supplement, Cytolyse recommended by a Homeopathic Dr for pain/removal of folic acid from blood cells. Has anyone tried it?
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Plaquenil Problem?
- By SpiritSherrie
- Posted August 25, 2009 at 12:31 pm · 6 replies
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- By reneerose
- Posted August 26, 2009 at 10:21 am
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I am on plaquenil and still get flare ups. I have been on it for only 2 months. when i first started taking it i felt much better right away, but now am getting flare ups more often and my hands and wrists are constantly in pain. the doc says when this happens to give myself a "boost" of prednisone for a week (tapper off within a week) it helps but seems like once the pred is completely out of my system the swallening and pain come back. I would never go on pred infedinetly again as I was for a few months on the high dose each day, but thats me, I would rather have some discomfort rather then being on the steroids each day! ya thanks for the heads up about the pills, I will pay attention to that!
- By SpiritSherrie
- Posted August 26, 2009 at 11:56 am
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Hi Renee; My rheumy told me that the Plaquenil takes 6 months or more to even begin working for us and 'only' to take the oval shaped pill. I can't stand the thought of being on Prednisone a long time, much less the rest of my life. Also, I just posted a reply on the discussion 'Safely weaning from Prednisone' by flowerlover that might be helpful too. What are the dosages of Plaquenil and Prednisone that you're taking? and what does your Plaquenil pill look like?
- By onward
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 1:05 pm
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Hi there! I've been on the generic form of Plaquenil for three years and have never suffered any negative side effects. With all the chemos, and the whole mess of the standard protocols in medicine, it seems the one underlying drug to stay on is Plaquenil, and it does take a few months to take effect. Hang in there,girl! My thoughts are with you!
- By onward
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 1:12 pm
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I forgot to add that I still do get flareups, and I have been on Prednisone all 3 years, I do have difficulty with that drug, but am dealing with it pretty well. This is a bugger of a disease, I understand your concern, and we all react differently to the treatments. But lucky you if you can do without prednisone, just remember it is a miracle drug and actually saved my life when I first became ill. Bye!
- By Cindylee
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 2:27 pm
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Hey all, I have left sided Ulcerative Colitis and I am on Asacol 500mg Supposatories. I have had paid in my legs and nausea for some time and I still feel crap every morning. This illness just happened all of a sudden in August. The runs have stopped but i still have a bit of bleeding intermitantly. Can someone please tell me how they feel with this illness. I feel so alone and tired.
C
- By AGL
- Posted November 4, 2009 at 11:43 am
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I have been on Placquenil for 2 years. I don't have any side effects from it. I do however have flares which I'm experiencing right now. My rheumy put me on prednisone once when I was having a flare. It did nothing for my pain. My rheumy told me it didn't work because my pain was coming from my Fibomaylgia.
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