PLAQUENIL Reviews (HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE SULFATE)Average Rating: 3.2 (667 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare PLAQUENIL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken from shortest to longest duration (reviews with no time reported listed first). Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 |
More on PLAQUENIL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR PLAQUENIL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 4 | Early stage SLE - Connective Tissue | For the first 1-2 wks, horrible gas/GI upset. Still some stomach issues occasionally. | Although doc said 3 months to see improvement, I felt better after only 4 days. Joint pain is 80% improved, fatigue and malaise are 75% improved, hair loss 90% better, and no more sores on scalp or in nose. | F | 30 | 30 days | 1/14/2009 | 3 | Lupus, Sjogrens, diabetes | Increase in blood sugar, may be conincidental. No other side effects noticed at this time. | Energy level improved considerably within the first 10 days. No change in dry eyes or mouth. Cymbalta, which I began taking ten months prior to starting Plaquenil, controls neuropathy and joint pain effectively. | F | 38 | 30 days | 11/14/2006 | 3 | Lupus SLE | After being on Plaquenil for one (1) month I developed an itchy and blotchy red body rash on my arms, abdomen, back, legs and also a burn-like redness in the face. I contacted my Fam. Med. who saw me the same day and he contacted my Rheumatologist and they decided to take me off the Plaquenil for now. It has only been two days since I stopped taking the Plaquenil and the rash has faded a bit but has not completely disappeared. Also, my tongue is very red and feels like when you burn it by drinking something very hot (?) . My Lupus was caused from the drug Crestor which was prescribed for high cholesterol. I thought it would go away after stopping the Crestor but was told that, in fact, it was here forever. I am so so so angry!!! | Also, I find that at times I have difficulty with my eyes - like I need to close them very tightly to get better focus and I have a flashing on the sides. My face is quite swollen (I don't know if it if the Plaquenil (200 mg x 2/day) or the Prednisone (5 mg x 3/day). | F | 61 | 30 days | 3/2/2006 | 3 | Lupus SLE | After being on Plaquenil for one (1) month I developed an itchy and blotchy red body rash on my arms, abdomen, back, legs and also a burn-like redness in the face. I contacted my Fam. Med. who saw me the same day and he contacted my Rheumatologist and they decided to take me off the Plaquenil for now. It has only been two days since I stopped taking the Plaquenil and the rash has faded a bit but has not completely disappeared. Also, my tongue is very red and feels like when you burn it by drinking something very hot (?) . My Lupus was caused from the drug Crestor which was prescribed for high cholesterol. I thought it would go away after stopping the Crestor but was told that, in fact, it was here forever. I am so so so angry!!! | Also, I find that at times I have difficulty with my eyes - like I need to close them very tightly to get better focus and I have a flashing on the sides. My face is quite swollen (I don't know if it if the Plaquenil (200 mg x 2/day) or the Prednisone (5 mg x 3/day). | F | 61 | 30 days | 3/2/2006 | 2 | Lupus | Nausea, headache, irritability, very down or depressed, loss of what energy I had. | I've been on it a month now and so far nothing positive. I haven't felt any relief from my pain. But the doctor said it could take up to two months to notice a difference. So I am waiting to see. | F | 33 | 30 days | 6/16/2005 | 2 | Systemic/Discoid Lupus | Extreme gas, bloating, weight gain, sleeplessness. | First and second times I took Plaquenil, I had no problems. The third time around, I had many problems. The gas was unbearable. | F | 34 | 30 days | 3/7/2005 | 2 | Vasculitis | Fatigue, nausea, and recently a severe rash on legs, abdomen, chest and back. | F | 39 | 30 days | 9/15/2007 | 1 | Lupus like symptoms | After taking Plaquenil for 30 days, I developed a severe rash on chest, arms, legs, back. Dr. advised to stop taking Plaquenil, and to clear up rash, take 20mg Prednisone twice daily for 4 days and to also take 4mg Cyproheptadine three times daily for five days. It worked! | 30 days | 12/8/2008 | 1 | Sjogren's | extreme dry eyes, seeing flashing lights, fatigue, possible weight gain | I have been taking this about 1 month for peripheral neuropathy and Sjorgren's syndrome. My dry eye problem has gotten much worse since then - constant burning and lots of goopiness. I have incidents of seeing flashing lights about once a week. I'm also feeling very fatigued. I am a regular exerciser (5 days a week) but have had to cut back my work-outs for lack of energy. That may explain the mild weight gain, or it could be another side effect of the plaquenil. I'm going to stop taking it today and see if things improve. My doctors don't believe any of these problems are from the medication, even though they all started about a week after beginning the medication. | F | 50 | 30 days | 2/25/2009 | 1 | lupus-rhumatoid-MCTD-&scleroderma | I'm 61 Have had these problems from birth & so do 2 sisters. In all such diseases the organs are attacked with no warning. While on Plaq.,I now have had diarrhea for 1mo.My vision is blurred and failing. My liver has enlarged. There is much more to be said but space will not allow. Why are we taking something that works the same as our diseases except we have less joint and muscle pain? I have been on steroids for 13 yrs.The problems show up when I'm on Plaq. I'm getting off again and will never swallow another one. Your organs can only stand so much, and the disease needs no help. | I think prednisone is a safer approach. It makes you fat. Plaq. doesn't. For some this may be a problem. I've been sick long enough to accept it. | F | 61 | 30 days | 9/2/2005 | 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 day | 2/2/2011 | 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 day | 10/4/2011 | 1 | Possible Connective Tissue Disorder | Unbearable rash and hives. I look like I have the worst sunburn ever. Every crease in my body like behind knees and elbows hurt like a sunburn. My skin is peeling with scabs. | I started having a rash and hives on my upper body about a week after starting Plaquenil but I thought it had to do also with a prednisone pack I had been on. I then started to get redness all over my body which was hot to touch on Thanksgiving. I went to the emergency room thinking it was something I had eaten. ER Dr. stated it was hives. I was given a shot of steroids, benadryl and I was to take 40mg of Prednisone for the next 4 days without a tamper down. The rash/hives got worse over the last few days. The Monday after Thanksgiving I went to my GP and she sent me to my Dermatologist immediately. I told him i felt like it was from the Plaquenil he agreed. I came off of it that day and my symptoms have gotten worse. I have had biopsies of my skin but still waiting for the results. I was told this is going to take over a month to get out of my system. This is a nightmare. | F | 54 | 30 days 200mg 2X day | 12/7/2016 | 1 | Possible Connective Tissue Disorder | Unbearable rash and hives. I look like I have the worst sunburn ever. Every crease in my body like behind knees and elbows hurt like a sunburn. My skin is peeling with scabs. | I started having a rash and hives on my upper body about a week after starting Plaquenil but I thought it had to do also with a prednisone pack I had been on. I then started to get redness all over my body which was hot to touch on Thanksgiving. I went to the emergency room thinking it was something I had eaten. ER Dr. stated it was hives. I was given a shot of steroids, benadryl and I was to take 40mg of Prednisone for the next 4 days without a tamper down. The rash/hives got worse over the last few days. The Monday after Thanksgiving I went to my GP and she sent me to my Dermatologist immediately. I told him i felt like it was from the Plaquenil he agreed. I came off of it that day and my symptoms have gotten worse. I have had biopsies of my skin but still waiting for the results. I was told this is going to take over a month to get out of my system. This is a nightmare. | F | 54 | 30 days 200mg 2X day | 12/7/2016 | 1 | no reason | heart side effects, dizzy, blurred vision, lightheadedness, chest palpitations fast heart rate, high blood pressure, chest pain, left arm pain, everywhere pain, tingling, shortness of breath | took this drug and it was horrible, been 35 days without taking it wondering how long i have to wait for sides to clear | M | 21 | 30 days 200mg 3X M | 1/24/2021 | 1 | Psoriatic arthritis | Caused a breakout of itchy hives/psoriasis. | I stopped the med but the itchy spots and flare has not gone away. It's been @2 weeks since I stopped the med. I hope the side effects go away soon! | F | 53 | 30 days 200 mg 1X day | 6/15/2023 | 4 | UCTD with Lupus like symptoms | Nausea, dry heaves, dizzy, stomach pain, diarrhea, noises in my ears - lasted for about a week to a week and a half. Strange dreams but I have insomnia (pre-plaquenil)so the fact that I am sleeping is a good thing. | This is my second time attempting to get on Plaquenil.The 1st time my mobility improved within the first week but I developed sores in my mouth and nose after being on it for two weeks. By the fourth week my sores were still active. My Rheumy told me to come off of Plaquenil so that we could find out if the sores were part of a "flare" or response to the Plaquenil. The sores cleared. After three months being off of Plaquenil my sores returned when I was "flaring". Hence it was determined that the sores are part of my autoimmune disease not a side effect of Plaquenil. I agree. I am now back on Plaquenil. My muscle and bone stiffness has greatly improved. I've had one flare which was brought on by a fall (I sprained both ankles and my right leg). Even with that trauma- my flare only lasted three days. I have taken Plaquenil for one month taking one 200 mg per day. Now I am entering my second month. I have started taking one 200 mg twice per day. The side effects listed have come back and I am hoping that they subside over the next week like they have in the past month. | F | 44 | 33 days | 7/19/2009 | 4 | RA | Gas,burping, bloating, acid reflux, stomach pain | Had loose stools in the first 24 hours (I'm not prone to that at all so I'm sure it was the drug) but that cleared up right away. Actually, I'd have to say that it has improved my bowel function. It wasn't until the 30 day mark that this other GI stuff started. I did take several doses without food, so I'm wondering if that could have caused it. AT 10 days I started seeing big improvements in the morning stiffness that had been dogging me for months, so in that respect I was pleasantly surprised because I wasn't expecting any help before 2-3months. Dr. had said that patients continue to improve even more in the 6-12 month range and he didn't know why it takes so long. I had resisted these other drugs because of the side effects, but while the dr. was patient, he kept suggesting it. It has definately made an improvement in my condition. He says he's had a lot of success in patients like me, who have been on the drug for "decades" and that he's had no eye issues in patients | F | 52 | 34 days | 2/26/2008 | 2 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Stomach & eyes seemed to tolerate it well, but I did get shingles, a complex breast & axillary (arm pit) cyst on the opposite side most affected by the shingles & a nasty bronchitis-type infection I'm still fighting off a month after stopping it. I'd never had bronchitis before that I recall. Seems like my immune system just couldn't handle it. My hair color changed from blonde to brunette (friends & family asked if I had my hair dyed - I didn't, and have quite a few gray hairs now I didn't before & hair loss too.) It did help the RA pain quicker than I thought, so getting sick, the breast issue (which seems benign, but we're not sure if it's a benign cyst or cancer, which in some women apparently this drug can cause - I suspect because it can suppress your immune system? I'm not sure, but I still have breast swelling, itching & a fairly large cyst(s) - my right breast is heavy, chest wall is painful, itchy at times & red. Antibiotics didn't do anything to h | This drug seems to work well for the RA pain & it's my understanding it helps slow or even halt the bone damage, but the problems I had clearly outweigh the benefits, so my rheumatologist took me off it. I also have hepatitis C, which was likely from blood I was given during surgery as a child, which is why the doctor couldn't give me methotrexate (MTX) and many other RA drugs, I had Graves' disease as a child (thus the surgery, that involved quite a bit of blood, that in those days wasn't screened for hepatitis C & although my levels of hep. C are very low, may be why I didn't tolerate this drug. After about 2 weeks I did notice a bit less joint pain & by the 3rd week it was very clearly starting to help (the rheumatologist said it could take 6 months for it to work, but I'm VERY sensitive to many things & I did notice a change for the better for the joint pain until I got sick, then it was far worse. The 4 rating on this site says, "This medicine helped", 3-"Somewhat Satisfied - this medicine helped somewhat" yet a 2 says, "this medicine did not work to my satisfaction", thus my rating. This medicine worked for the RA, yet because of the complications, it clearly wasn't worth it for me. My sister had similar problems, so it may have to do with this medication and genetics. Hopefully some day they'll be able to test genetics in advance, IF that is the cause of the problems (she doesn't have hepatitis, or other problems | F | 48 | 37 days 200mg 2X day | 7/18/2012 | 5 | RA | Crazy vivid dreams! No others. | F | 26 | 45 days | 2/14/2007 |