Drug Ratings for PLAQUENILAverage Rating: 3.3 (569 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Gender with males listed first 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 | RA | Interesting dreams but occasionally violent. (I am a very calm person and have been told I have nice humorous personality.) Strong metallic taste. Urine has metallic odor. Increased sensitivity to light, taste, smell. Minor change of hair color from light gray to reddish-brown. | This is a fantastic drug and has allowed me to manage my RA with minimal flair-ups. I was originally treated with prednisone. After six months I was given both the prednisone and 200mg x2 daily for about 16 months until I had sufficient plaquenil onboard. For the past four months I have used only the plaquenil and tolerate it well. This has been a perfect drug for me. I had very debilitated and severe pain in my hands, wrists, shoulders, upper arms and hips which came on very suddenly at age 75. I had difficulty sleeping more than an hour and then usually only in a chair. Walking, showering, and any exercise was very painful. Today I walk and do moderate exercise, build furniture, work in the garden and just about anything I like. | M | 77 | 2 years 200 mg 2X D | 3/13/2010 | 5 | arthritus | My first medication was prednesilone which while it worked ok it had side effects. My testes shrank to the size of grapes and I gained 20kg of weight, this went on to cause heart disease. Plaquenil has worked really well with only some itching when I first started taking it. Now I have concerns that I am experiencing muscle weakness and tremors particularly in my right arm | M | 55 | 3 years 20 2X D | 9/16/2010 | 5 | for hand and feet pain | None that i noticed | It is not supposed to help my condition(small tissue neuropathy) but i started taking it bacause i was misdiagnosed for arthritis and nothing worked.When a neurologist figured it out it was neuropathy he said to start Gabapentin which i did and it helped.later the neurologist and rhemotologist said to stop placquenil.After 6 weeks off the Placquenil my discomfort got a little worse so i just went back on it for a 3 month trial. i am still taking the Gabapentin | M | 65 | 10 weeks 100MG 1X D | 5/26/2011 | 5 | Inflammatory rheumatism | none that I notice | I was in agony before taking it. Took about a month to kick in and it has saved my life and career. I have my eyes checked six-monthly but have had no problems. | M | 64 | 17 years 40mg 1X D | 9/14/2011 | 5 | SLE | I have been taking plaqeunil for the past six and a half years and have experienced only minor side effects. I had some hair loss at the beginning of my treatment but it has since stopped.I occasionally experience headaches,some vision disturbances and ocular migraines and the occasional fever, but otherwise I feel amazing. At first my energy level was not improving but over the past three years it has improved greatly and I feel completely normal. The joint pain and inflammation has diminished completely except for the occasional flare up. It has done wonders for me and has replaced my need for prednisone which makes me extremely happy! | I make sure to visit my eye doctor at least once every six months to catch any eye problems that can occur. | M | 22 | 6.5 years | 10/21/2008 | 5 | rhumetoid arthritis | Stomach aches if I take on an empty stomach | It took a long long time to kick in. I almost went to Enbrel because I was getting fustrated. Luckily doctor was on leave for a couple months so I had to keep taking it. It finally worked and now I have barely any joint pain (and been through several cold and rainy months). It took a good 4 months to kick in. | M | 45 | 6 months | 11/27/2004 | 5 | Lupus (SLE)/Soriatic Arthritis | Hypoglycimia like symptoms, gas but the absolute best side effect yet? I HAVE MY LIFE BACK!!!! I can be a mom and a wife again because I can get off the couch now! Yesterday I even went bowling with my family! | I'd rather go blind than ever be without this medication again. It has given me my life back when I had just about given up hope of ever being well again. Thanks to this wonderful drug, my kids will look back on their childhood and remember all the cool things mom did with them instead of all the things they had to do for mom because mom couldn't get off the couch anymore. | M | 29 | 2 months | 10/14/2004 | 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 | 5 | rheumatoid arthritis | Bit mushy thinking | M | 55 | 3 years | 12/6/2007 | 5 | Immune Disease(s) | none for 5 years | It DID help me greatly for 5 years. But about 6 months ago started having severe muscle fatigue. NO ONE suspected it was Plaquenil causing skeletal muscle neuromyopathy and abnormal nerve conduction. I was literally 10 minutes away from starting chemo again when my doctor checked the side effects of this drug. Take the drug but make sure all your med. professionals have a copy of Clinical Pharmacology on their desk. | M | 52 | 6 years | 11/17/2007 | 5 | RA (stills disease?) | nausia and gas | I was extreemly ill for three years, I was completely debilitated and the doctors did not know exactly why-althought they all agreed it was autoimmune RA JRA Stills Adison... Anyway I had extreem fatigue, daily fevers, hair loss, swollen joints. I was put on sulindac (this is the best NSAID I ever found and I tried all of them including the COXX 2s) and then six months later plaquenil. The plaquenil got rid of the fevers, morning stiffness, fatique and hair loss. I felt human again. Eventually the disease was in a remission deep enough that the plaquenil side effects ( just GI symptoms) were worse then the disease. I stayed in partial remission for seven years. I had a bad flare last month and the first thing I did was ask to be put back on Plaquenil. | M | 36 | 3 days | 12/3/2007 | 5 | Still's Disease | Minor bloating and gas. | It has workded wonders for me! Before being diagnosed by a Rheumatologist and being put on the drug, I was in and out of the hospital. Since I started Plaquenil the diesease has been held at bay. Thank God | M | 39 | 3 years | 2/22/2008 | 5 | MCTD | Itchy Skin. A little more forgetful. | This medication changed my life. It took a few months to start working, but when it did, everything just got better. My joint pain and rashes slowly went away, and haven't come back. I sometimes get rashes and joint pain every now and then, but very mild cases of them. I am so thankful for this drug. | M | 24 | 2 years | 2/22/2008 | 5 | Sjogrens | flatulence; I am more aware of the neuropathy in my hands and feet | I am a physician. I thought it would take weeks to have any benefit. Within hrs my fatigue was gone and the fogginess in my head had cleared. I thought it was a placebo effect but after reading the other comments, I guess it is real. So far it has given me my life back | M | 56 | 2 days | 1/15/2009 | 5 | RA | occasional bouts of diarrhea and gas | It has really worked for me. I took myself off the medicine once, thinking I might not really have RA since it was totally in remission. And then I had an unbelievable flare. I hurt so much I became depressed, I could barely work. I have not done that again. I'm a believer. | M | 64 | 6 years | 6/23/2008 | 5 | RA | Maybe diarrhea | In the very short time I have been on it, I have improved about 95%. I want to comment about itchiness: I've noticed others attributing this to plaquenil. Well, two months ago, before I started on the plaquenil, I had one night where both my underarms and the palms of both hands were unbelieveably itchy. But there was no rash and the skin was unbroken, and the next day the itch was gone. Maybe it's not the plaquenil, but, for some people maybe it is. | M | 74 | 3 weeks | 8/7/2008 | 5 | Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Lupus | Absolutely none | Took three months to start working, but reduction of swelling and therefore pain, and the reduction of Clotting events (Strokes and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA's or mini-strokes)) has been tremendous | M | 59 | 7 years | 7/5/2009 | 4 | RA | I seem to sweat more than usual. A change in dream patterns. Irritable at times, as well as nervous and anxious. | The RA symtoms have greatly dimished at this point and doctor says I may reduce from 400mg to 200mg soon. P.S. he also says the (irritable at times, as well as nervous and anxious)should not be a typical side effect. Maybe some of us are not typical as I read where several of you had the same side effects. | M | 50 | 1.5 years | 6/19/2008 | 4 | RA | Itching skin, like a rash but with no obvious marks or redness. Mostly on the legs,feet and arms | M | 43 | 7 years | 2/5/2009 | 4 | Discoid Lupus | Severe abdominal cramps radiating to my back for first few days. Has let up to only once weekly now and tolerating pretty well. I have glaucoma (4 years) and seem to be squinting more since meds started. | Lupus butterflies are clearing on front, blackening on back so doc is keeping an eye. SLE is looming as other symptoms seem to be coming into play but hopefel that meds will send into complete remission within 6-9 months. | M | 46 | 2 months | 11/1/2007 | 4 | Lupus | excessive gas and belching, nightmares | This drug helped quite a bit early on to keep me symptom free (i was dx'ed with SLE in 1999, began Plaquenil in 2000), but recently have had a lot of symptoms of depression, leg pain, and riduculous gas (belching 20 times in a row several times a day). Tests have shown no abormalities in the legs so with the agreement of my Rheum, am trying to get off of the drug to see if it makes a diff. I've been one day off one day on for the last 4 weeks and have noticed improvement in the nightmares, gas and leg pain. Hopefully being off it won't lead to a lupus flare. | M | 45 | 5 years | 1/8/2005 | 4 | SLE | None | Does seem to limit the flares when they come up, although the SLE has spread to brain lupus, I doubt any drug could have prevented that. | M | 38 | 9 months | 4/27/2007 | 4 | Rheumatoid arthritis | After plaquenil dose was increased to 400mg, aching shoulders and itching, some rash above knee and on upper arms; increased tiredness and feeling really down, decreased mobility | Initial dose of 200mg plus 15mg Mobic worked really well - was finally able to sleep more than 2-3 hours and walk without knee giving way frequently, felt hopeful and as weeks went on and plaquenil really kicked in, I could even cope with stairs again (slowly). Rheumatologist suggested increasing plaquenil and halving Mobic, but I'm now feeling worse. | M | 45 | 4 months | 7/11/2004 | 4 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | None | I am on a small dose 200mg a day. I also take Azulfidine and methotrexate. All three work really well together and I am pain free most of the time. | M | 48 | 16 months | 11/23/2004 | 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 | Lyme - lyme artrosis | Gas.... I noticed vivid dreams, no problem, I like it. Bit lightness in the head perhaps... We will see coming months. | I read all about Plaquenil on this forum, and I'm very thankfull to you for all your input. The plaquenil was taken shortly after the meal 2 times a day 200 mg. I also use Doxycyline 4 x 100 mg/day. It seems to start working just after an hour or so after the FIRST dose... (placebo-effect???) Now, after 3 days, I'm free of hip and back (lumbal- low spine) pain. I realize it's not over yet, I will continue using this combination for about 3-4 months. I bought my Sanofi-Aventis plaquenil at Goldpharma.com, because no doctor in the Netherlands believe in Lyme desease... (except 1, Dr. Kingma of the Walborg Oosteneinde clinique in Amsterdam. We live in a country with a hoplessly outdated medical culture. | M | 47 | 200 1X D | 10/18/2010 History | 4 | taken with Leflunomide this was beginning to work well, but then had to stop due to blurred vision, sight changes and currently diagnosed with lattice vitreous detachment. Awaiting permission to restart but not hopeful.......no idea what else I can have to control RA! | Worked really well IN CONJUNCTION with Leflunomide but was ineffective on its own some years ago | M | 60 | 2 months 200mg 1X D | 2/4/2011 | 4 | Eosinophilic Fasciitis/UCTD | Had some appetite loss at first, took some getting used to. Some activation of Psoriasis in several different areas of the body. Not unbearable in that regard, but annoying. Tried taking Methotrexate with the Plaq to control psoriasis, but that didn't seem to do anything | Generally, Plaquenil has been very helpful. I have had quite a bit of wrist and elbow pain and constriction (bad but not severe), and the pain has definitely eased with the plaquenil. The flexibility really has not improved much. Still, I seem to feel much better when i am on PLQ than when I am not -- particularly with regard to morning wrist/elbow pain. | M | 44 | 3 years 200 1X D | 3/1/2010 | 3 | ra | barely controllable itching arms, legs torso | M | 58 | 6 months 200mg 2X D | 4/3/2010 | 3 | Discoid lupus | I've been on this med for two months. Started at 400 mg per day. First few days felt terrific. Now developed itchy upper arms. Really can't tell what's the drug is doing. I'm still getting lesions on my forearms and I still bruise easily. Hair appears to be growing back. I am much more wide awake on the drug and sleeping is difficult even though the dreams are very interesting. | I have discoid on my arms and sometimes legs but arms are the worst. Hope this drug stops any further development of the disease. I used to get stiff knees from walking but not so much now. Have a lot of nasal congestion but can't tell if it's related to the drug. | M | 57 | 60 days 200 mg 2X D | 12/7/2010 | 3 | control arthritis or myositis | Dizziness, blurred vision, but mainly a horrible rash all over my body. It's still here even after being off of it for 5 days. I'm itchy and miserable. | It was starting to work, but I cannot deal with the side effects. I am very disappointed. | M | 46 | 20 days | 11/21/2003 | 3 | RA | Very itchy!!!! No rash, hives or skin redness, just itchy. Keeps me up at night. I have been taking it for five months. The itchy skin comes and goes but is getting worse the longer I am on the drug. Started with 400mg/day. Now on 200mg for last week. | M | 56 | 5 months | 7/28/2004 | 3 | Lupus like symptoms in hands., | The medication helped my Raynauds symptoms and reduced the redness and swelling in my hands. I was taking it with an anti-inflammatory, Sulinac and 5 mg of Prednisone every 2 days for 5 weeks and broke out in a rash all over my body. They upped my prednisone to 30 mg and after 5 days I am still waiting for my rash to disappear. | The medication seemed to help and my doctor wants to put me back on it after the rash disappears. | M | 49 | 5 days | 6/29/2005 | 3 | Sarcoidosis | Itchy eyes, gas and then some more gas, halos in vision at times. White cell count was low before taking plaquenil. But now a reading of 2.6 and further blood tests pending next visit. | Have had eyes checked and center of the eyes look good. Can't see colors well before or after the plaquenil. What appears to be new areas of granulomas popping up and the old ones diminishing in size. Skin pigmentation coming back. | M | 43 | 4 months | 2/14/2005 | 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 | 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 | 3 | RA | mild dry eyes | I have been taking plaquenil for almost 2 months along with 10mg of prednisone. I stopped the prednisone for about a week and had my symptoms return with the same severity as before medication. Still waiting for it to kick in. | M | 38 | 8 weeks | 7/13/2007 | 2 | RA | Absolutely none. | Didn't seem to have any effects at all, 'side' or otherwise. Might as well have been a sugar pill. Looks like it's on to methotrexate. | M | 52 | 4 months | 4/29/2008 | 2 | SLE | allergic reaction(hives over body; extreme with hands and feet burning, itching and peeling) | M | 55 | 3 days | 2/4/2002 | 2 | Yes | I was taking the generic Plaquenil 200mg per day. It upset my stomach so I stopped after 8 weeks. My doctor wants me to start the Brand name. Its been two weeks and I feel much worse after I stopped the drug then before I ever took it. My upset stomach will not go away, I feel lightheaded and am very tired. I did not have these symptoms before I started on this drug. I think it really messed up my body. I was told I have Sjogrens. Very frustrated at this point... | M | 57 | 8 weeks | 3/14/2009 | 2 | psoriatic arthritis | Extreme painful itching. This was especially severe after a shower. I had to stop the medication | This was highly effective on my arthritis. But, the itching was worse than the arthritis. | M | 44 | 4 months | 10/14/2005 | 2 | SJOGRENS SYNDROME | The first time I took Plaquenil, at the one month mark of 400 mg daily, I came down with a very high fever, headache, shoulder and hip pain,nausea, anorexia, diarrhea and abdominal pain. I don't think I have ever been that sick before. I ended up in the hospital for many tests, all of which were negative, (no it wasn't influenza) so stopped the Plaquenil. After missing the first dose, some of my symptoms immediately began to lessen. I had been off it for about 4 months and decided to try it again just to be sure it was the med I was reacting to. Also, I did not like the next med step. I have been on it about a month in increasing dosages and am now again beginning to experience dizziness, problems focusing and slight nausea. I am going to see about lowering dosage to 300 mg per day (I seemed to do ok on that)before things get really bad again. The gas is horrible all the time, right from day one. | I am not sure I have seen a decrease in any of the symptoms and wonder sometimes why I take it. I guess I just need to ask more questions of the Doc. | M | 57 | 1 months | 9/9/2005 | 2 | SLE | ringing in the ears, rapid heart rate | M | 50 | 11 days | 1/30/2006 | 2 | anti malaria | trouble focusing my eyes , small black dots in vision i will change | M | 33 | 1 months | 7/14/2004 | 2 | Rhematoid Arthritis/ SLE Lupus ? | After being on this medication for a little over 4 month's,i have developed an irregular heart beat, rapid heart beat, even if i'm just sitting or walking around the house. Also i have become very nervous & shaky. My vision has become blurry, and the ringing in my ears is getting worse. My balance is off, and i too have had hair loss. I will be seeing my Rhmy this coming Monday, the 15th,04. I am going to see what he has to say, and i will be asing him to take me off of Plaquenil.I also take 5 mgms. of Prednisone a day. I take 400mgms a day of Plaquenal. | In my opinion, the side effects that's not told to me is worse than described. Maybe somthing else may work, but i don't need to make my condition worse because of a drug. | M | 50 | 4 months | 11/11/2004 | 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 | 2 | SLE | I have been taking 400mg Plaquenil for 4.5 yrs. Up until recently not too many side effects. Have noticed over the last year mild hair thinning along base of scalp and behind ears. and ringing in my ears. | I have had no eye problems I have them checked every 4-6 months. | M | 32 | 4.5 years | 1/29/2010 | 1 | Grannuloma Annulare | none that I am aware, but have to take quarterly eye exams. | so far I've seen ZERO benefit from this medication. In fact I dare say my condition has worsened. | M | 48 | 7 weeks 200 mg 1X D | 2/8/2010 | 1 | RA | skin rashes; also liver poison together with methotrexate. Note - if you send me a question leave your e-mail address or I cannot answer. | I am now off all drugs and found a cure in vitamins that you can read about at Dr Saul's website doctoryourself.com and his book Fire Your Doctor. Also omega 3 fatty acids (concentrated like Hemp shells)can benefit Lupus and vitamin C (esp. crystals, e.g. 1/2 teaspoon 3-5X a day) for Lyme, Synovitis etc inflamations | M | 55 | 30 days 200mg 1X D | 2/2/2011 | 1 | RA | M | 60 | 100mg 1X D | 6/10/2011 History | 1 | Fibromyalgia/lyme/bartonella | took the edge off my pain but doctor never told me about eye problems. Tons of eye problems that have not gone away even though I've been off Plaquenil for some years!! | About 9 months after starting Plaquenil, started having vision issues, difficult to explain. Couldn't see or focus on fast moving objects, blurred, like a thick film over my eyes. Could see a fast moving ball in maybe three spots on its trajectory but otherwise blurred. Difficulty reading, same kind of film sensation over my eyes. Symptoms have not improved. Eye tests don't show much of anything...some pigmentation dislodging and loss. Not getting better at all. Would not have taken Plaquenil if had known about visual effects but doctor never told me. | M | 44 | 4 years ? 2X D | 6/19/2012 | 1 | tendinite polimialgia diverticol | vista appannata , sonnolenza , 2 incidenti auto | ho avuto 2 incidenti auto e problemi agli occhi . sparito pene , problemi vita sessuale a zero per il pene sparito . il beneficio mi sentivo bene calmo e guidavo auto da cinque a venti kilometri ora per paura e tutti dietro a suonare clacson . vorrei smettere prendere plaquenil | M | 62 | 22 days 20 2X D | 7/6/2012 | 1 | spondylitis | Pounding in temple, headache, increased heart rate, irregular beats. | I didn't feel any improvement but I know it can take months to work. The pounding in my temple and chest was bad. I just went off it for four days and will try again. | M | 11 | 1 months | 5/16/2004 | 1 | RA | Extreme fatigue, quick onset, severe headache. 2 days later-pimples and rash upper body and face. Then burnt skin on face and lips. | M | 41 | 9 days | 11/24/2005 | 1 | Psoriatic Arthiritis | Hearing voices in my sleep calling my name, which wake me up. | Taken 2x 200mg per day with 6x 2.5mg Methotrexate 1x per week | M | 50 | 1 months | 2/6/2009 | 1 | Sjogren's | I am writing this for my 17 year old son who took Plaquenil for Sjogren's. He experienced severe depression, anger, anxiety while on this medication. | No longer will be taking Plaquenil. | M | 17 | 21 days | 12/26/2009 | 1 | Undiff. connective tissue disease | Nueropathy, anxiety and depression, insomnia. Gas and abdominal pain. Diarrhea. Mild itching. Could not continue beyond four weeks. | Overrated drug with underreported side effects, especially when it comes to neuropsychiatric manifestations. | M | 39 | 4 weeks | 1/23/2010 | 5 | ra/lupus/sjorgrens/psoriatic arth. | No side effects. And I will mention I am most sensitive to meds/otc etc. but this was a GOD sent med to me! | This drug instantly got my life back. DAILY, I had terrible arm pain/low grade fever and overall felt horrible. W/N a week of taking this med, each day some of the symptoms disappeared. Am taking 200mg 2 times a day/eye test 2 times a year. | F | 57 | 7 years | 1/24/2010 | 5 | RA | Horrible nightmares at first, gone after about 3 months. Have had some skin rashes, but not sure it's the Plaquenil, and have some hair loss/scalp problems. Again, not sure if it's the drug. Ditto on all the gastro problems everyone mentions: gas, bloating, diarrhea from time to time. Some fatigue, but it's much better than when I was in the middle of a flare. | Very satisfied with this drug so far, but have been worried about my hair loss and scalp irritation. I've been basically pain free since it started working (it took about 4 months to really notice). I would be scared to go off of Plaquenil because I feel like I did before the RA. | F | 56 | 3 years | 7/20/2009 | 5 | UCTD | None at first. Now after 6 months, some hair thinning, slight weight loss. | Huge improvement in symptoms within 3 weeks on 400 mg/day. Energy returned, far less fevers. Muscle stiffness and tendon pain virtually gone. I have rhuematoid nodules which have reduced about 80%. I also have Raynaud's which didn't change, but improved greatly with Synthroid I take for Hoshimoto's Thyroiditis. I am grateful this drug is working for me with minimal side effects. I worry about disease progression to the point of needing immunosuppresent drugs like prednisone and other RA drugs. Hopefully, this is all I will need to stay healthy. | F | 53 | 6 months | 7/12/2009 |