Drug Ratings for PLAQUENILAverage Rating: 3.3 (568 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added from oldest to most recent Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR PLAQUENIL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 5 | UCTD | None | I have been very satisfied with this medicine. It has helped the muscle and skin pain tremendously. | F | 27 | 3 years | 10/12/2001 | 4 | lupus | Very little nausea for the first week. Then, no side effects until 2 1/2 months when I became very nauseated and vomited a couple of times. The dose was lowered to 200mg as a maintenance dose and within 24 hours I was feeling well again. | Has helped to decrease pain and stiffness in the joints. My energy level has increased tremendously. I used to constantly sleep and lay on the couch. I can actually do things I haven't been able to do for a long time. | F | 42 | 3 months | 12/28/2001 | 2 | possibly lupus | some diarrhea, hair thinning and dizziness that may have been new symptoms, not the meds, but no noticeable improvement in my condition | F | 20 | 5 months | 12/29/2001 | 5 | uctd | none | I believe this drug keep me going fairly well. It's worse without it | F | 58 | 9 years | 1/14/2002 | 1 | arthritis | pustular psoriasis | The drug was discontinued. After receiving systemic and topical corticosteriods, methotrexate etc, showers of new lesions appeared daily and progressed to involve 100% of my body. All my skin peeled of over a period of 2 months. After the medication was toned down the pustular lesions flared. I also developed a cyclical poly-morphonulear leukocytosis. Internal organs and eyes were affected. All my hair fell out over a period of 3 months. | F | 42 | 6 days | 1/16/2002 | 5 | rheumatoid arthritis | No side effects at all. | I have been very happy with plaquenil. I take 400mg. per day in addition to an anti-inflammitory. | F | 47 | 2 years | 2/2/2002 | 2 | SLE | allergic reaction(hives over body; extreme with hands and feet burning, itching and peeling) | M | 55 | 3 days | 2/4/2002 | 4 | RA | None, untill my last eye test when the Doctor found pigmentation at the back of my eyes. | F | 62 | 9 years | 2/6/2002 | 4 | RA | None that I could link directly to this drug. | I currently discontinued use of plaquenil and noticed a large amount of fever and sweating. I guess I have been on it for so long I didnt realize it's benefits. | F | 22 | 10 years | 3/4/2002 | 5 | RA diagnosis | None | Started at 200 mg 2x's/day; went to 1/day. Eye check ups every 6 months. Been taking for 4 years. | M | 53 | 4 years | 4/22/2002 | 3 | Sarcoidosis | After one month I was forced to quit taking Ritalin. Had been taking 60mg for the last ten years, now I break out in hives and itch like a bear! Stopped taking Ritalin and hives went away in a day. However, Plaquenil does help relieve the symptoms of sarcoidosis of the lungs. | M | 48 | 2 months | 4/29/2002 | 5 | RA | NIL | After one month could cease taking Anti-Inflammatory pills and back to normal exercise again. Taking 400mg daily but will hopefully have this reduced very soon. Make me feel normal again!! | F | 37 | 2 months | 6/8/2002 | 5 | Differential is SLE vs. RA | I am having some trouble with swallowing, like a marble caught in my throat all the time. However, it may be a coincidence that I started plaquenil at the same time that this symptom started. It could be part of sjogrens, but I have not been actually dx'd with that yet. | Morning stiffness is virtually gone, except in my left hip joint. I am a runner and I am back to my usual activity now. It had an effect on me within the first two weeks which I have been told is early. My left hip problem still plagues me like a toothe ache, but for the most part, I can't say enough great things about plaquenil. | F | 35 | 8 months | 6/25/2002 | 5 | uctd | when i first started taking the drug 200mg i was in more pain then ever in my upper body. after about 3 months and i have been on this for about 1 1/2 years it is great. I would say my pain is better by 90% the major pain i have is in my feet. | F | 43 | 1.5 years | 6/30/2002 | 1 | Yes | Dark coloring on hands (knuckles). Soreness, inablity to move right shoulder. Pain in left shoulder. Inability to ride on an airplane! (on three trips, at night my hands would start to hurt in an awful manner, and continue until I was back at home for about 5 days) | Before I left on my third trip in six months I told my Doctor about the pains and not realizing the cause, asked him for something for it. He looked and looked and give me Celebrex. Because I test products that are not recommended for people who have allergies to Aspirin, and I was leaving the next day, I did not take the Celebrex. Horrid! At any rate, after suffering 8 more months I had a stroke. By accident, I stopped the Plaquenil suddenly, went back on it in large doses(800 mg a day - one dose) and slowly weaned MYSELF off in four months. My doctor is adamant about my being on it, but I can say this: Plaquenil has the ability to cause these symptons in some - and life in that sense is hardly worth it! | F | 53 | 2 years | 6/30/2002 | 5 | autoimmune thyroid | I was sleeping excessively and had pretty severe pain throughout my body, particularly in my arms and legs. I'm currently taking 600 mg a day. Except for the occasional flare-up, all symptoms have subsided. I actually feel well-rested after sleeping for eight hours. | F | 25 | 2 years | 7/8/2002 | 3 | Sjorgren's Syndrome | I was diagnosed with SS about 3 weeks ago. I initially asked my GP why I was having problems with hair thinning, joint discomfort and other things. She ran extensive blood work to rule out lupus and had them to test for SS. After the results, I was seen by a rheumatologist who confirmed the results. | F | 36 | 14 days | 7/24/2002 | 5 | RA | None | It took about 8 weeks for the drug to start working, but it has allowed me to resume a normal life. X-rays show that it has slowed the progression of the disease. I still have occassional flare ups, but it is so much better than before! | 53 | 4 years | 8/21/2002 | 3 | sle | i haven't had any side affects.i have taken it for 3 months so far i haven't had any flare ups. | M | 30 | 3 months | 8/26/2002 | 5 | Mixed Connective Tissue Disease | Few side effects exist that I can specifically attribute to Plaquenil but currently having substantial problems with short-term memory and decreased ability to concentrate. Would love to know if other users (especially long-term users) are having similar problems, to determine if Plaquenil is reason. | Plaquenil has helped me manage a Lupus-type condition for many years. I have fewer flare-ups and overall have become more stable each year. | F | 35 | 10 years | 8/27/2002 | 2 | immune system, connective tissue, | dizzy, sleepless at night, sleepy during the day, cannot keep balance, difficulty in walking straight (normal walking), after I eat somethings stays in my throat that I cannot swallow, painful shooulder, painful joints, swollen joints, nummbness on bottom of feet, numbness on all fingertips, pain in nails when trying to file them, some reflux, some chest pains, these are the most constant, other symptoms come and go. | I am not sure what else to say, due to the fact that I am also taking Prednisone, Claritin, hormone replacement and Vioxx, I recently stopped taking Mevacor and Prevacid and I have started taking Tylenol at nights to ease the pains in my hands and shoulder. | F | 60 | 5 years | 9/11/2002 | 5 | RA | None of note. | Has worked very well for me in conjunction with methotrexate. I live a fairly normal life. | F | 37 | 15 years | 9/24/2002 | 5 | UCTD | Hair thinning (but this might be part of the disease process). | Fifteen months ago I was dragging myself from one day to the next, with severe muscle & joint pains & stiffness, fevers, night sweats, extreme tiredness etc. I had been wrongly diagnosed as having RA and therefore had been on incorrect treatment for 18 months. Sought second opinion, was given the correct diagnosis of UCTD and started on Plaquenil. Within three months my symptoms were improving and by six months I was leading a virtually normal life again. When I forgot to take it for several days (very busy at work), my symptoms returned. I definitely works for me. | F | 47 | 15 months | 10/1/2002 | 2 | Rhematoid Arthritis | Took 200mg twice a day. After 13 days rash developed on chest which spread all over body (except face). Doctor advised to stop taking drug, let rash die down and start on a lower dose once rash has gone. Very very itchy! No benefit felt with regard to the arthritis and won't go on it again if the rash is from the drug. | F | 38 | 13 days | 10/13/2002 | 2 | Lupus/Behcets??? | Shakes, sweats, fast heart rate, funny head exactly like a hypoglycaemic attack except blood sugar levels remained normal. | I had to stop plaquenil because of these side effects which are not documented. A second trial after stopping the drug (with no symptoms inbetween) elicited exactly the same reaction | F | 40 | 4 days | 10/27/2002 | 1 | tias | horrible pain all over to include feet,hands,feet,temples,chest,knees,bottom of feet. I thought I was dieing,sleeplessness and very sore eyes. | F | 50 | 60 days | 10/31/2002 | 1 | Lyme | THINNING HAIR!!! | After being warned of eye issues, I took this drug and hoped for the best. It didn't help my symptoms and coincidence or not, my beautiful hair started falling out and has thinned. It's also not cheap if you don't have Rx coverage! | F | 6 days | 11/5/2002 | 5 | rheumatoid arthritis | none , so far | When i started taking plaquenil I was in really bad shape. Very stiff, unable to walk, do housework, lift anything etc.I now feel so much better, i am sorry I didn't start taking it two years ago when rheumatolegest first suggested.I strongly recommend trying it early in the treatment of RA. Maybe you wont have damage like I already do in my hands and feet.!I think it has worked for me. So far anyway. | F | 47 | 2 months | 11/6/2002 | 4 | RA & Antiphospholipid | none at first. Now at 3 years, damage to left eye. Stopped medication. | Plaquenil has given me about 75% improvement for pain and mobility. I hope they can give me something that works as well as the plaquenil has. | F | 43 | 3 years | 11/18/2002 | 5 | SLE | Pimples on my face, blurry vision | I have been taking 400 mg of Plaquenil for the past 15 months. I am experiencing blurry vision when I am reading, but this may be related to my age. Plaquenil has been very helpful to me. | F | 45 | 15 months | 11/30/2002 | 3 | S.L.E. | Not able to distinguish if LUPUS or Plaquenil related, but have some diarrhea and cramping off and on, plus blurry vision in right eye (field vision test was fine) that may be something else entirely. | I, because of the expense and due to the fact that we have no medication insurance, took myself off of Plaquenil for the past month or so. I have gone back to aching all over, feeling EXTREMELY fatigued, and just being generally BLAH! ridden all the time. I know now that the Plaquenil was why I felt so good for the past several months and plan to get more right away and take it faithfully. | F | 53 | 7 months | 12/26/2002 | 5 | SLE | Nausea during first week or so. Nothing since. | I feel thaat it has been extremely helpful. Not as tired, joints rarely swell, aches have dramatically reduced, flare ups are rarer, etc. Also tolerate stress related situations better without the usual full blown flare up resulting. | F | 37 | 10 months | 2/1/2003 | 3 | Psoriatic Arthritis | First few weeks---extreme gastrointestinal problems and itching all over and very little relief of pain and inflammation. | Am beginning to feel effects of the medicine after being on it for 6 weeks. Pain is tolerable and I can tell a big difference in the swelling of my hands. I have begun to experience diarrhea and the itching still bothers me. I will tolerate these side effects as long as the pain continues to lessen!!! | F | 45 | 6 weeks | 2/18/2003 | 2 | Reactive Arthritis??? | Skin rash - small blister like, dizzy, headache. | No improvement at all after 5 months. Will be talking to my doctor about discontinuing the medication. | F | 49 | 5 months | 2/20/2003 | 2 | Lupus CNS | Inflammation of the Spinal Cord | Diahrea and some stomach cramps | F | 53 | 2 months | 2/21/2003 | 5 | RA | Nausea the first week; after the third week began, diarrhea | Pain free after three weeks of 400 mg. in combination with 20 mg. prednisone. | F | 41 | 3 weeks | 4/2/2003 | 4 | uctd / reflux / ibs / tmj / | migrains, bad stools, nausea, thinning hair, reflux | i was on it for about 2 weeks and then boom i had a really bad flare two days i was better then again in a week another flare and i am still dealing with it now, i think it was because of a mixture of drugs i was taking i am slowly getting back to normal but feel that plaquenil is working that i just have to get past the body ajusting but will let you know. but the first 2 weeks were good. also i could really use a email pal that is my age and dealing with the same things. | F | 29 | 3 weeks | 4/9/2003 | 4 | ra | none | taking 400mg per day,flare ups less frequent although i think is still to soon to know if its working | F | 46 | 3 weeks | 4/11/2003 | 4 | SLE | nausea, stomach cramping, slight headache | i 've been on plaquenil for only 3 weeks. when i started taking the drug i had already been in remission from all of my symptons since september 2002. so i can't say that it has helped because i haven't had any SLE flares before or after taking plaquenil. | F | 34 | 3 days | 4/26/2003 | 3 | lupus | Lots of little bumps on my legs. Not sure if this is normal. | It reduced the swelling in my joints and I do not feel as tired. My rheumi perscriged 200mg a day. No major changes yet. | F | 24 | 3 weeks | 6/3/2003 | 4 | Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia | Night sweats, daytime dizziness and fatigue, almost hypoglycemic-type episodes. This being the second time on starting PLAQUENIL. | I started this drug in 2000, and combined with Vioxx and Ultracet had noticed diminished fevers, joint pain and swelling, and slept much better at night. Discontinued in early 2003 and restarted May 2003 at 400 mg/qhs due to increased joint symptoms. Have not noticed help with joints yet (usally takes a couple of months), but the fatigue etc is annoying and I don't remember this happing the first time? Although, 200 mg dose was started for a couple of months before going up to 400 mg. | F | 37 | 3 weeks | 6/13/2003 | 5 | sle | acute diarrhea for weeks | the past year & a half has been the worst for me in terms of lupus symptoms. I've had it for 11 years and never suffered the way I have this past 18 months. This is the second time I've tried Plaquenil--it didn't help the first time. But now, after only 2 months on the drug, I'm in complete remission! I'm going to figure out some other way to address the diarrhea, because I do NOT want to stop taking Plaquenil! | F | 44 | 2 months | 6/22/2003 | 3 | RA | broke out with horrible case of acne after 1 month on medicine. diarrhea and stommach upset also. | if anyone else has experienced the acne please email me with a solution. I am on retin A now, but is not helping., | F | 35 | 2 months | 7/2/2003 | 5 | sle | none | have been taking plaquenil for 8 years. have eye exam every 6 months, so far no problem. started out taking 200mg per day and had a bad flare 4 years ago and have been taking 400mg since. have tried to come off of medication several times, but can't hardly get out of bed and ache all over with no energy. without plaquenil, i feel that i couldn't have made it this far with such few flare ups. | F | 42 | 8 years | 7/9/2003 | 4 | Sarcoidosis | None at the onset but after 6 months I am having abdomial cramps and diarrhea. | Before taking Plaquenil I was being treated with topical corticosteriods for sarciodosis of the skin as wellas injections. These helped temporarily but Plaquenil has stopped the old lesions from erupting and the nwe ones from going any farther.The topical corticosteriods have stopped there effectiveness. Does any one know if you stop taking Plaquenil do symptoms return? Does anyone have sarciodosis of the skin and enlarged lymph nodes? | M | 40 | 7 months | 8/9/2003 | 4 | SLE | nausea, blurred vision, acne | I was diagnosed with SLE just after my 20th birthday. I have been taking plaquenil for 5 years now. The first 2 years I was on a daily dose of 500mg, the past 3 years I have been on 200mg per day. This has definitely helped me! I suffered terribly with joint pain, swelling, constantly tired no energy, weightloss, vomiting.. all the usual Lupus symptoms. I soon found out after I decided to come off my medication what a huge difference plaquenil made. On plaquenil I can get out of bed in the morning and live a relatively normal life. | F | 26 | 5 years | 8/16/2003 | 3 | LupusI | I worry about the side effects it can possibly have on your eyes | F | 69 | | 8/23/2003 | 3 | LupusI | Mostly discororation of the lower arms some on the hands< I have never come off the Plaquenil since I first started taking it. I was wondering about the real long term effect. | I worry about the side effects it can possibly have on your eyes | F | 69 | | 8/23/2003 | 3 | arithritis | Heachaches,eye problems in focusing and reading | F | 52 | 3 months | 8/24/2003 | 4 | RA | Major diarrhea until I figured out I needed to take it with a full meal, not just a glass of milk. No stomache problems at all now aside from a little excess gas. | I've been taking it for 7 1/2 weeks and had all but given up hope that it would work. My symptoms seemed to have worsened rather than improving. Miraculously about two days ago I noticed a marked improvement, especially in the mornings when I needed it the most. Feel better now - more energetic, much less pain - than I have in almost a year. I pray that it keeps working. I'm also hopeful that I can get off the Prednisone (5 mg/day). | F | 39 | 7 weeks | 8/26/2003 | 2 | rheumatoid arthritis | Dry eyes. Had trouble wearing contact lenses. | At first plaquenil worked although I was never really free of pain. It did keep me on my feet. After 2 years it took larger and larger doses to work and I had to take other meds to help out. My medicine cabinet looked like a mini-pharmacy and I still felt bad. Damage to bones also slowly continued. After 4 years it stopped working altogether. | F | 56 | 4 years | 8/26/2003 | 5 | autoimmune (SS or Lupus?) | I have been on the drug for about 6 months. My skin seems to itch a little more but that could also be the thyroid condition. | To me, it is a miracle drug. Before Plaquenil, it was a feat to just make it out of the bed. My doc had tried flexiril which helped my restless legs and I could actually stay asleep for most of the night. She added cellebrex which was also a big help. It took a little over 3 months for the plaquenil to really kick in. And once it did, I was able to begin living a pretty regular life again. Before taking this drug I was missing at least a day of work every week - 2 weeks. And on the days that I managed to get out of bed, it took all I had to make it through the day whether working or not. The fatique has been the worst part of my illness. I am now reducing the amount of flexiril and cellebrex that I take. I can now work 10-11 hours a day but I keep a pretty rigid bedtime. I told my doc that I don't really care what name my illness ends up having - I just am so grateful for this drug and all it's benefits. I still have flareups when I spend most of my weekend resting whereas before I spent most of my life resting. It really is a wonder drug! | F | 51 | 6 days | 8/29/2003 | 3 | RA | I am not sure if this is a side effect, but I have had EXTREME GAS. I have recently started having a ringing in my ears also. | At first the plaquenil worked, then when my pain increased my Dr. put me on Remicade and Methotrexate too. I am wanting to stop the plaquenil to see if it is causing the ringing and the gas, but I have a great Dr. and I would not stop it unless he says to stop it. Anyone else have ringing in the ears? The ringing just started 3 weeks ago. | F | 54 | 2 days | 10/7/2003 | 5 | RA | none, although my hair has gotten wavy. wonder if it is the medicine or just being post menopausal | F | 58 | 3.5 years | 10/9/2003 | 5 | lupus | migraine,headaches,acne | F | 24 | 2 years | 10/14/2003 | 2 | lupus/sjogrens | 2nd time on Plaquenil. First time had loss of hair, blurry vision,weight gain. This time excessive gas, bloating. | I don't like this medication. For me the side effects are greater than whatever relief the drug may give me. I know what to expect in the near future so I will be weaning off. | F | 45 | 2 weeks | 10/19/2003 | 2 | Sjogren's Syndrome | Stomach cramps, some diarrhea, nausea | Thought I had CFS for 15 years. Specialist has now diagnosed SS. have been in relapse and off work: fatigue, excess muscle/joint/ligament pain especially in legs and ankles, feet. Have not felt any relief of symptoms of SS, since beginning plaquenil 9 weeks ago. Recent side effects seemed to be elevated following use of pilocarpine [salagen] | M | 53 | 60 days | 10/24/2003 | 5 | SLE | CARDIOMYOPATHY, rare side effect , I now have severely hypokinetic inferior wall of my heart | F | 45 | 3 days | 10/27/2003 | 5 | SLE | CARDIOMYOPATHY, rare side effect , I now have severely hypokinetic inferior wall of my heart | F | 45 | 3 years | 10/27/2003 | 5 | mixed connective tissue disease | After a little over a month of taking 200mg of plaquenil daily, I experienced headaches, dizziness and blurred vision. I read on a lupus web-site that if this happens, to stop taking the drug immediately so I called my Rheumi and she confirmed. | prior to taking plaquenil, I could barely get out of bed in the morning and my knees would give out on me at least once per week. the medicine was really starting to make me feel better rather quickly even though it can sometimes take up to 6 months to work. Since i stopped taking plaquenil a little over a week ago, my morning aches have returned and the flare ups are every other day. I have an appointment with the Rheumi next week and hope I can continue taking plaquenil...perhaps in smaller doses. | F | 36 | 45 days | 10/30/2003 |