Drug Ratings for PLAQUENILAverage Rating: 3.3 (567 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 | | | | |||
| 4 | RA | Possibly altering my hormones since I've had some breakthrough bleeding and increased acne | Used to take 1000mg naprosyn daily, but now I've cut that in half. The plaquenil took about 3 months to kick in, but my aches, swelling and pain are much better. Not perfect yet, but my rheumatologist said I could still expect to see improvement for up to 6 months. | F | 29 | 3 months 200 2X D | 4/14/2011 | 5 | Hair loss related to lupus | For first couple of weeks had stomach pain upon taking pills if not with food; also experienced increased gas and stomach issues and vivid dreams. After a few weeks these symptoms went away. | I have had great results with Plaquenil. Before I went on it, my hair was falling out dramatically from the roots. I couldn't touch my hair without coming away with a bunch. This started slowly 8 months ago but accelerated rapidly in the 3 months before I was diagnosed with lupus and started the medication. I was told that the Plaquenil would take 2 months to have any effect and I was not optimistic at first. But around the 7 week mark, I became cautiously optimistic when my hair stopped falling out heavily in the shower and seemed to lessen its shedding upon combing and throughout the day. Around the 9th week, my hair loss had completely stopped. Now, I can see that my hair is definitely growing back. It's like a miracle and I just pray that the medicine does not stop working. My doctor plans to reduce the dose at next appointment to a maintenance dose of 200 mg/day. Hopefully, I will continue to get the same results. | F | 40 | 3 months 200 mg 2X D | 4/25/2011 | 4 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Noticed a few months agao my hair was lightening, noticed yesterday that the back of my hair is starting to get wavy as well. So far only hair changes. Some of the other side effects I noticed in the beginning were minor and leveled out | F | 30 | 1 years 250mg 2X D | 4/25/2011 | 1 | erosive arthritis | Started taking plaquenil on March 28 after seeing the eye doctor. just took once a day...instead of twice. because was getting heartburn at night from it. on Friday, April 23, almost a month later....I noticed my skin was bumpy. on Saturday my torso was covered with small red spots. my arm was covered was raised red patches. Sunday I did not take the medicine. rash is getting worse and itchy. The red patches are still bad. Will call the doctor tomorrow. Monday. still itchy, bumps red. Called the doctor, they did not return my call. Tuesday not as itchy, still red, but bumps not as prounounced. still blotchy red on my front torso. Went to the pharmacist at cvs, he told me that they have not had problems with plaquenil, and that if the rash was from plaquenil i would have had the rash immediately, not 4 weeks later. I wanted to tell him he he was clueless. Wednesday, still blotches on my torso, top of my arms seems to be not as inflamed. upper back part of my arms s | Why don't doctors and pharmacists ever believe you ? Thank God for the internet and real people who share their real experiences on it! I now see why some people go for all natural solutions. I am getting disgusted with doctors and their lack of belief that a medicine could have a side effect. | F | 54 | 200mg 1X D | 4/27/2011 | 1 | Sjogren's syndrome | loss of appetite, depression | I still get pain and fatigue while on plaquenil, some days aren't too bad but the drug is dangerous. I lost about 20 pounds since I started on it. I'm depressed, anxious and angry and wish I could just die. | F | 58 | 8 months 400mg 1X D | 5/7/2011 | 2 | RA | Rash on neck began on day 8. Increased nerve pain (I have idiopathic neuropathy). Anxiety seems to increase daily which causes me to eat and have trouble getting to sleep. I'm wondering if it will continue to increase or level off. Increased gassiness and harder stools. I have several things going on so it's hard to isolate what causes what, but these are changes since beginning the generic Plaquenil. | So far no positive outcomes. I am on the generic version. I already inject 10 cc Methotrexate for RA, which worked well for years but this year I was experiencing problems, which is why the Plaquenil was added. | F | 54 | 12 days 200 mg 2X D | 5/9/2011 | 5 | systemic lupus & rheumatoid arthrit | Initially some nausea and dizziness but now have little or no side effects. Arthritic pain in morning (stiffness) has subsided and energy levels are increasing with near normal levels of physical activity being undertakin. Eyes checked and all is well. | Very happy with progress. Only had one flare and subsided fairly quickly | F | 45 | 6 months 30mg 2X D | 5/17/2011 | 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 | 1 | Psoriatic arthritis | Severe depression and anxiety, diarrhea daily, sore mouth and tongue | the pain in my joints was greatly improved but I can not trade that for depression! I wish I could have stayed on it but I stopped it 3 days ago and still feel nervous and not well. | F | 51 | 5 weeks 200 mg. 2X D | 5/26/2011 | 2 | dermatomyasitis | after 3 days rash on whole body and itchy,radiating burning heat , redness intensified. | went off after 21 days, my GP said it was allergic reaction, took atarx for last 12 days it's helping alot. Rheum said not likely a drug reaction that I should stay on it. I may try it again after a few more weeks . | F | 56 | 21 days 200 1X D | 5/29/2011 | 1 | RA | M | 60 | 100mg 1X D | 6/10/2011 History | 3 | RA | I've had a lot of issues with anxiety and moodiness but now take one half on klonopin (sp?) if I wake up "on the wrong side of the bed"... Not sure of dosage... I have had some improvement but now it seems to have plateaued for the last 2.5 months.. Frustrated as my husband would prefer we not get pregnant while I'm on the meds .. Really hoping something is going to change. Also dizziness | F | 35 | 5 months 200Mg 2X D | 6/20/2011 | 5 | Arthralgia | I just recently started feeling depressed and angry.. But then again it just could be because my husband is being an inconsiderate drunk... | It's greatly eased my pain and swelling and my energy level went up to 90%.. it's a miracle drug !.!.! Thank you ;) | F | 33 | 10 months 100 2X D | 6/27/2011 | 5 | Lupus and Sjogrens | I've really not had any side-effect except maybe less appetite the first week, and maybe a little depression for a day or two. But nothing big. I think it's a miracle drug and I feel 20 years younger. | I love Plaquenil. It started to go to work at about 2 weeks, and one by one my joints stopped hurting. My legs stopped hurting; my eyes cleared up from Sjorgren's. Now I have more energy and I feel more "normal" than I have for 20 years. Plaquenil is a MiracleDrug as far as I'm concerned. The first couple days I had little appetite, and was a tad depressed for 2 days but that passed quickly. No bad reactions and I feel better now than I have in years. | F | 65 | 90 days 200mg BID 2X D | 7/11/2011 | 1 | Mixed connective tissue disease | I started the medication 16 days ago @ 200mg once a day. 5 days ago I increased the dose to 200mg twice a day. On day 15 small red spots appeared on my nose and forehead and today on day 16 I am covered in them. I have discontinued Plaquenil to see if it will clear up. | F | 40 | 15 days 200mg 2X D | 7/11/2011 | 1 | inflammatory arthritis | plaquenil toxicity resulting in scotomas (rings) in both eyes | I had yearly eye exams by an opthamologist, but never had a visual field test until I complained about not being able to find the cursor on my computer, and then failing the color-dot test. The Dr. also had skipped a year on the color test so said my problem could have been developing for over two years. Six months before my eye appointment, I starting seeing black and white flashes when I closed my eyes at bedtime, but it was only for a few minutes and didn't hurt. I thought it was related to stress headaches I'd been having. My advice if you take plaquenil is to tell your eye dr. immediately of any type of change related to your eyes/vision. I stopped taking plaquenil as soon as I failed my first color test. It has been five months and my vision continues to get worse. I am now trying accupuncture for the inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and would recommend people try that as an alternative. (I still take relafen and tylenol and use lidoderm patches) | F | 56 | 5 years 30 MG 2X D | 7/17/2011 | 4 | unspecified connective tissue disea | Nausea, upset stomach. Anxiety, nervousness, it is hard to tell the cause for that. Skin pigmentation, hair loss. I feel some tremors, specially in the head. Even with all this it is much less side effects than prednisone. | Plaquenil helped with my shoulder pain and definitively with the headache I used to have on a daily basis. My sed rate is going down and that is why I started taking it on the first place. Also, I don't have any more malar rash after sun exposure. | F | 48 | 5 months 30 mg 1X D | 7/26/2011 | 3 | Sjogren's | terrilbe itching back of scalp. Recent very red patch across back of neck. Anxiety. Feeling of malaise. Forgetful, I don't know if that problem is from this medication. Can't take too much noise, feel extremely stressed, tired. | I have been having what my doctor calls episodic flare up of Sjogren's. I have had itchy scalp for the longest, Rheumo says very likely the medication. I was taking 100mg x2 daily, he told me to cut second dose in half. My itching getting worse, and my scalp itched and burns. Some itching front of scalp, stomach, but the back of scalp is terrible and really red in neck area. The medication has always helped my symptoms, it's depressing that this is happening. Going for blood work. | 51 | 1 years 100/50 2X D | 8/1/2011 | 3 | lupus and sjogrens | short term memory loss and have become increasingly short tempered. Bruises EVERYWHERE. | Consultant Rheumy asked me to stop taking it today. Called Sanofi helpline and am waiting for them to return call to let me know if this is usual | F | 40 | 4 months 200mg 1X D | 8/25/2011 | 5 | suspected lupus due to celiac disea | no side effects/and many celiac lupus symptoms such as hair loss, ringing in ears, facial pain and rash, digestive issues and fatigue and severe pain are so much better after 1 week. I had lost 30 lbs in 3 weeks and am starting to put weight back on. Also awake almost too much in comparison. | Am told results can take awhile, if I continue to feel better am thinking I may someday feel like normal again. Still have very dry eyes, mouth and skin-but had that before rx. I have been off work for 2 months and was fearing there was no solution. Everyone reading this research celiac-it is usually the original root for all of these diseases and so many more. Left untreated ie: not changing diet-most often leads to CANCERS. No one tells you this...insist to get tested for celiac! | F | 49 | 1 weeks 200 mg 2X D | 8/31/2011 | 3 | Mixed connective tissue disease | This medication helped with the symptoms of the disease, but caused nasea, vomiting, forgetfulness, blurry vision, hypokelemia, and I was recently took off the med cuz it caused my EKG to have borderline qt prolongation. | F | 19 | 4 years 200 1X D | 9/2/2011 | 5 | Primary Sjogrins | I believe I have some thinning of hair. I have photosensativity (which is really bothering me as it is summer and I am outdoors a lot), but I had photosensativity prior to taking the drug. I am not sure of the MG dosage I take as I do not have the container available as I type this. | I am on the generic form of plaquenil; it kicked in within two weeks while I was away on vacation...I thought, at the time, that it was the climate that made me feel soooo much better. When I returned home and still felt better (and still do), I realized it was the drug. I have had my disease since I was a teenager, so I am well into the symptoms at age 63. With the drug I do not have the joint pain, and just feel better generally. It has made a big difference in my life, and I hope I can continue on it. | F | 63 | 6 months 200 2X D | 9/8/2011 | 1 | lupus | TERRIBLE POISON! | I took plaquenil for a week and felt terrible. I noticed strange taste in mouth, terrible nightmares, and general awful feeling, fatigue, stomach problems. I discontinued. 2 weeks later I broke out in awful hives on face/chest. Dr. didn't believe me that it could be allergic reaction so he put me back on plaquenil for one more week, this time at 400mg/day. He thought it was lupus flare so I received very high pulse therapy treatment of medrol. I was in hospital for a week, I went home, and it got worse. I had to take 75 mg/day of prednisone. The second week of taking this poison I began hearing voices and noticed I felt much much worse and this time was convinced, despite all the doctors advice, that it was a severe allergic reaction. I had a skin biopsy done which confirmed it was an allergic reaction and not autoimmune related. I have experienced terrible effects. For almost 2 months all the skin on my body peeled off despite being on high level steroids and it also caused me to have a fast heart rate and feel nervous/irritable and shaky and have very dry eyes and high eye pressure. BEcause of being on high level steroids I have experienced very bad side effects such as infections/moon face/weight gain, etc. all that comes with prednisone. The allergic reaction also triggered a lupus flare. The whole reason I started on this medicine was to reduce the amount of prednisone I was taking. This medicine has caused me months of suffering and thousands in medical b | F | 25 | 14 days 200 mg 2X D | 9/12/2011 | 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 | 4 | Undifferentiated interconnective di | None that I remember when first taking but for approx. 8 years now I emit a BAD odour from FLATULENCE. Not the explosive kind, but seems like a slow leakage constantly, It is isolating and causes me to cancel many social functions. It was only in reading this site that I could see it may be the Plaquenil. Luckily it only became a problem towards the end of my working life. | I am thankful for the way it reduced my pain & stiffness and gave me back my mobility and energy (if I also balance my life properly). Just want to know HOW to get rid of the flatulence side effect - and does Plaquenil cause a yeast overwgrowth? | F | 68 | 18 years 400mg 1X D | 9/24/2011 | 4 | Possible Sjogrens | Sometimes a little dizzy if I don't take it with food. I want to eat less-Yah! | I look forward to taking it each day. It lessens my pain and helps me bounce back from stuff much faster than usual. Much better than the other alternatives I think. | F | 56 | 5 months 200mg 2X D | 9/26/2011 | 1 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Irritability, anorexic (lost 10 pounds) food tasted metallic, no relief from joint pain, in fact I felt worse, muscle twitching @ night. This is an anti-malaria/lupus med as well. This stuff was like poison to me. Stay away from it. Hyaluronic Acid 50 mg. orally, + Glucosamine & Omega 3 plus prayers has helped immensely. :-) | F | 60 | 30 days 200 mg. 2X D | 10/4/2011 | 3 | UCTD | Diarrhea,gas,nausea and bloating. | Big mistake...Got off Plaquenil and have been experiencing horrible symptoms of fatigue and pain. Unable to work for the past few month.Got back on it about six weeks ago and still waiting for it to kick in. Won't go off it again if it starts working like it did before! | F | 54 | 45 days 400 1X D | 10/5/2011 | 5 | Lupus | I have experienced basically no side effects from it. Though, I have noticed that I have more gas. I didn't think to equate this to Plaquenil, but after reading some posts, maybe it's the reason. | I was diagnosed with Lupus, and my main symptom was a low platelet count, and that has started to rise. As far as I can tell, it works great! | F | 25 | 10 months 200 2X D | 10/7/2011 | 2 | utcd | F | 53 | 25 days 200 mg 1X D | 10/8/2011 History | 2 | SLE, suspected RA & Sjogrens | Stomach cramping, diarrhea, mild to severe headaches, dizziness, bloating, gas, loss of appetite and nausea. | After having a terrible 4yr battle with debilitating fatigue, joint pain, muscle weekness, neuropathy, you name it and I suffered from it, I finally found a doctor whom discovered I was positive for certain antibodies and suspected that I had Lupus. I later became pregnant with my son and I was terrified knowing the condition of my health... The further along I became, the better I felt as odd as it sounds. It seemed that my sickness went into remission. I had my energy back and my body didnt hurt half as bad. It was great. My son was born 5wks early and the hospital encouraged me to breastfeed. I still felt better while nursing until I stopped producing milk after about 6wks and all of my symptoms came back tenfold. Obviously there must have been certain horomones that played a role in my remission. I was baffled. I was referred to a Rheumatologist a few wks ago and he ordered another blood test. My blood results showed the presence of antibodies ( ANA, Histone autoabs, U1RNP autoabs, Rheum abs). Amongst other findings my neutrofils where low, lymphocytes where high, and eosinofils where high. Also, the tourniquet was left on my arm the entire time and thats usually a no no when checking blood for certain things because it can cause inaccurate results. He said little about my results other than diagnosing lupus. I have had alot of symptoms of Sjogrens syndrome as well and severe dry skin all over, dry mouth, and dry eyes are just to name a few. I was eager to start whatever | F | 26 | 10 days 200MG 2X D | 10/20/2011 | 5 | MCTD | Initially a little stomach cramping and felt spacy on 2nd day. Since then no side effects. | Suddenly felt like a new person 2 months after starting the drug. No pain, increased energy and don't need to go to bed at 8pm anymore. Feeling wonderful again! | F | 42 | 3 months 200mg 2X D | 10/24/2011 | 5 | Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia | Occasional nausea and lethargy. No biggy. | Plaquenil has changed my life - I no longer stagger to my feet in the mornings and have to hold on to furniture to get around for the first 3 hours of the day. This is a vast improvement on my quality of life, and my nightly leg cramps have ceased. | F | 48 | 18 months 200 mg 2X D | 10/25/2011 | 1 | have lupus I am worse than when I started takink plaquenil | why is it being sold to help persons with lupus when it is not helping? | F | 60 | 360 days 200 mg 2X D | 10/29/2011 | 4 | lupus | nausea (if not taken with food) | My pain and fatigue have been significantly reduced since I started on Plaquenil. | F | 21 | 9 months 200 2X D | 10/30/2011 | 3 | Lupus, pain in joints and feet | First week I was so sick to my stomach I cried...and I'm tough! Bad gas, terrible cramping and still trying to work everyday, killer! Suddenly, after week one my stomach feels better. I am still taking prednisone, which had massively reduced my pain already, really have not noticed any other relief, in fact this week has been a little worse. I guess that is just a bit of a flare though because I doubt the plaquenil could be built up enough to sort things. Just wanted to comment that the stomach torture improved, so if you exp. that, keep going. Maybe we too will feel the miracle others have described! | Just scared when he takes the prednisone away the plaquenil won't be enough but I'll check back in for sure! | F | 48 | 9 days 200 mg 2X D | 10/30/2011 | 1 | arthritis | After 14 days-sore throat,headaches, diahorrea,rash on torso,arms & thighs;muscle twiching at night; | relieved arthritis pain but side effects too unpleasant | F | 53 | 21 days 200 1X D | 10/31/2011 | 1 | MCTD | Symptoms started with a sore throat and general overall flu-like symptoms and then a horribly itchy red rash all over my torso, back, arms, thighs, and butt. Never felt well while taking them - acutally worse than my regular disease symptoms. | The steriods prescribed to clear up the rash made me feel GREAT - the best I'd felt in years. | F | 39 | 21 days 200 2X D | 11/3/2011 | 5 | MCTD/ borderline Lupus | It took 8 months of feeling horrible with the most random pains ( chest pain, ovaries pain, GERD) before it started working for me. Once it did work I was feeling great. If I feel under the weather I take x2 daily for a couple of days and it does the job. Patience is key, I say give it a try! | F | 36 | 2 years 200 mg | 11/30/2011 | 4 | Rheumotoid Arthritis | Plaquenil means instant nausea for me but I have learned to time it about 15-30 minutes after a good size meal to lessen the feeling. In month 2 the migraines kicked in completely out of the blue and put me on my ass. But I feel enough relief from the RA that the migraines are almost worth it. Now I'm just waiting for my stomach to revolt from the Excedrine and coffee cocktail I take to get rid of the headaches. Still Plaquenil is worth it to me. It's side effects pale in comparison to prednisone withdrawl or RA pain. | F | 37 | 3 months 400 daily | 12/3/2011 | 5 | UCTD | vivid dreams, nausea | F | 31 | 7 years 400mg/day | 12/8/2011 | 3 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | I just started this medication yesterday and my 1st dose my lips felt funny and I got this metallic taste in my mouth. Then during the night my instestines felt gurgly . Today was my 2nd dose and I got the taste again in my mouth again. Then I just felt loopy and I am not sure why that is. I am going to stick with it and see what happens and hopefully it will help me and the side effects will go away. | I am super scared about the eye side effects. This seems like a very dangerous drug and I am making sure that I pay attention to all of my side effects. Oh, I also got a sore throat after taking these 2 doses. Anyone else ever get a sore throat after taking it? Weird for sure!! | F | 42 | 2 days 200 2X D | 1/9/2012 | 4 | Lupus | Nothing other than Nausea when I don't take it with food | F | 29 | 1 years | 1/10/2012 | 4 | Rheumatoid Arthritis; Fibromyalgia | Diarrhea that lasted about a week; flatulence that was very bad for the first two weeks, then tapered off and now is infrequent, but uncontrolable; headache when first taken each day starting the second day for a week; stomach cramping; | I was told up front from my Rheumatologist that Plaquenil caused stomach cramping and bowel issues in the majority of the patients tested, so I was aware of it when I started it. I was also told it could take up to three months to start working. I was in so much pain that I was willing to give it that amount of time if I would be at least partially pain free after the three months. Luckily it started working within the first week, which I deemed worth the side effects I was having so long as they went way by the fourth week. They did, I don't have the headaches or nausea now. I do have uncontrolable flatulence which can be unpleasant in social situations but is mostly silent and non odorous. My pain is quite a bit less, I do still have flare ups and achiness when I squat, stand, sit or walk for long periods of time. My morning stiffness is lessened as well. Each person is affected differently by medications, so you have to choose if the side effects are worth the outcome of the medication overall. For me they were, but I understand many people do not like this drug and will tell others to not use it. If you have mild to moderate side effects, I would suggest giving it a few weeks to see if there are benefits to taking it before you try another medication. | F | 29 | 3 months 200 2X D | 1/14/2012 | 5 | RA and Sjogrens | In the beginning I had the stomach pain but my doctor ordered Omeprazole and I have not had any problem since. I will get itchy at times. I also take Ibuprofen 400mg TID, Tramdol 100mg about every 4 hours, Vitamin D supplement. It changed my life. I was in bad pain for about 8 years before this. It took a little while for meds to kick in (3 months). I lost 40 pounds ( but that was good) I was overweight. I take my meds regular and on time. If I get off schedule it does not work as well. At bedtime, I take 100mg of Tramadol, 800mg Ibuprofen and I sleep like a baby. I take the Plaquenil 200mg in the morning. | Take at the same time every day and keep schedule. Be patient and give it time, it is worth it. Check eyes yearly. Get doctor to give meds for stomach pain. | F | 53 | 3 years 200mg 1X D | 1/18/2012 | 1 | Systemic Lupus | Bulls-eye retinopathy in both eyes, despite at least once-yearly checks, when I got blurry spots doctors dismissed it at 1st, until my retinas were permanently damaged. | I have ring shape blurry/blind spots in both eyes, right worse than left. The plaquenil helped with the lupus symptoms for the ten years I took it but you MUST be EXTREMELY VIGILANT about the eye problems and if you get any vision issue at all, go get checked immediately and do not let them dismiss your symptoms. The damage to my eyes is now irreversible and may continue to get worse. | F | 38 | 10 years 200 mg 2X D | 1/20/2012 | 2 | UCTD | Nausea, had to take at bedtime so this s/e would wear off.. Optometrists don't take eye problem potential seriously saying that doesnt happen nowadays. Quit taking it. | F | 54 | 4 years 200mg | 1/23/2012 | 3 | RA & Sjogrens | stomach cramping, gas & gas pains, headahes, increased depression & irritability (not sure if this is due to not feeling good or directly from the drug) | Not far into treatment yet, but feeling somewhat less achy. However, headaches stomach cramps and mental state are not good. Feel like crying all the time & have no motivation. I used to be a regular runner & self-motivated self-employed person. Just want to feel like 'myself' again...hoping the Plaquenil helps me return to 'normal' after a few more weeks of treatment. Doc said 6-8 wks for results to show. | F | 38 | 21 days 200 MG 2X D | 1/29/2012 | 4 | Undifferentiated connective tissue | It was tough to start Plaquenil....at twice a day I had hallucinations. However, my rheumatologist encouraged me to stay with once daily dose. It took about 5 months, but one day I realized my joint pain was significantly less and stamina improved. I didn't have another flare for almost a year. Hard, but worth it and all side effects have subsided. | F | 47 | 2 years 200mg | 2/6/2012 | 4 | MCTD, Sjogrens, Reynauds, Fibro | Occasional nausea, diarrhea, gastro issues, HTN with tachycardia. Nothing that would outweigh the benefits I have experienced. Also got itching on legs that turned into severe ugly bruises about a month into taking meds and then went away until it happened again about a week ago. However I am on a few other meds and cannot say for sure it's the Plaquenil causing this. | Seems to be working great for me! I also believe that I feel well due to my positive mind set and the fact that I am very active. I've been at the other end of the spectrum before with negativity and depression and I see a world of difference! Good luck to all of you suffering with auto immune disorders... if Plaquenil isn't working for you I hope you find something that will! | F | 35 | 5 months 200 2X D | 2/9/2012 | 1 | Inflamatory arthritis | Nausea, stomach cramps and diarhea, headache, weight loss, fatigue, general "unwell" feeling. | i was on generic plaquenil for a month. Took myself off of it because the side effects were worse than the disease. My rheumatoligist talked me into trying brand name plaquenil last week, saying that possibly it would not affect me as the generic had. After taking it for less than a week, I am having the same problem I had with the generic. Also talked with my opthamologist and decided that the risk to my eyesight was not worth it. Now I'm just trying to get it out of my system so that I don't feel like this. I can cope with the joint pain better than with the side affects caused by this drug. | F | 65 | 1 months 200 mg 1X D | 2/19/2012 | 1 | Lupus and Fibromyalgia | After 2 weeks of being on Plaquenil had allergic reaction. Broke out in hives from head to toe, also had to go to emergency room due to face, lips and throat swelling. I was prescribed Prednisone for allergice reaction and also had prednisone injections. Was overdosed on steroids which caused physocisis, mania and terrible heartburn. It has been six weeks since taking plaquenil and still having hives. It has been awful experience | F | 46 | 2 weeks 200 mg 1X D | 2/28/2012 | 4 | Sjogrens Syndrome | I had rashes on face, neck, inside of elbows, behind knees and all of Sjogrens symptoms. When started taking plaquenil I had crazy dreams at first. | After 3 months I feel so much better. My energy is not back 100% but I feel that I can function with my busy teenagers schedules. The rashes are much better and if they start to come back I just use some hydrocortizone lotion in addition. I worry about my eyesite and if it will stop working over time. Have pain in joints during the night if I miss a dose. | F | 46 | 3 months 200mg 2X D | 3/3/2012 | 3 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Flatulence, headache, diarrhea, upset stomach | UPDATE to my posting on 1/14/2012: I have been on Plaquenil for 7 months now. For the last two weeks I have found that it has reached it's limit on helping my pain and that my joints are constantly stiff and achy. I have been taking Naprosyn 1-2x a day to help the pain, but it is just barely taking the edge off. The upset stomach, flatulence and headache are gone. My rheumotologist is now adding Methotrexate to my regimine, but not taking me off of Plaquenil until she is sure MTX is working, so that I don't lose all of the benefits of the drug and be in more pain. While the medicine worked for the first six months, it was nice being pain free. But not all medications work for everyone. Explore your options before settling on or rejecting a medication. | F | 29 | 7 months 200 MG 2X D | 3/9/2012 | 2 | discoid lupus | woke up one morning with severe rashes on back, chest, neck area, and buttucks area, went to see my dermy, and waiting for biopsy to see if allergic to it, or flare up | stopped taking it after I noticed the rash, not sure how long if I was allergic to it that the rash will go away | F | 50 | 3 weeks 200 1X D | 3/9/2012 | 5 | SLE | Stomach sensitivity, doctor told me to take Prilosec which helped. | I use to be on Prednisone for 3 years and it helped in the beginning but later I was in a lot of pain. Plaquenil is like a miracle drug! I feel like a different person, today i can run, go to the beach, and stay very active (the sun doesn't bother me) and had consistently perfect blood work in the last year. | F | 34 | 2.5 years 200mg 1X D | 3/10/2012 | 4 | SLE Lupus | First two weeks had minor nausea and some bloating. I have major IBS so I didn't even realize it was from the drug until looking back on it later. I have noticed a bit more occasional IBS symptoms depending on what I eat since being on it but really not much worse than I have been in the past. Wholistic stuff and Prilosec helps with that and again, I have always had major stomach issues plus I take a ton of other stuff for sezuries since the Lupus is in my central nervous system. Other than that no side effects and I am a side effect type of gal. | Before the drug I was non-functioning. Couldn't work, couldn't spend time with my family and I had no life. After three months I started to notice some energy returning. After 6 months I was hiking again. Now the initial big energy boost didn't last. The Lupus flares did return but overall I would saw I am better on Plaquenil than off. Lupus still sucks big time and it is always up and down but I wouldn't be funtioning without Plaquenil. | F | 37 | 18 months 400mg 1X D | 3/14/2012 | 3 | SLE | On the original dosage I was suffering from chronic diarrhea and hair loss within two weeks. Second time around (with 200 mg taken at morning and night 4 days a week) these have taken longer to kick in. Have started to experience a lack of motivation and feel like I am not quite connected to the world. I am also quite anxious for large parts of the day and having never been a big sleeper I am sleeping even less which isn't helping me cope with anything else | Am relieved that I am not going mad with respect to the anxiety and the insomnia, but I agree that the benefits even after such a short space in time have been worth it already. | F | 46 | 28 days 200-400mg 1X D | 3/17/2012 | 2 | ??? +ANA/possible SLE or MCTD ?? | Headaches daily, fatigue, weakness, flatulence, depressed 1st week with anxiety, generally ill-feeling. | F | 36 | 3 weeks 400mg 1x/d | 3/21/2012 | 5 | Sjogrens and Lupus | Its wonderful. Only symptoms were the first 2 or 3 days I was a bit depressed. My appetite is a LOT less but then I needed to lose some weight. But after that, I felt better and better. Its been a miracle drug for me. | My eyes stopped being dry; mouth no longer dry either. Increased energy; better spirits. My joints only hurt a little now so I take some tramadol. Overall, It's a miracle drug for me. I love it and I don't know what I would have done over the last 6 months without it. It saved my life. | F | 65 | 6 months 200mg 2X D | 3/26/2012 |