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 Date added. 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 |
| 3 | Rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme Disease | hair loss (slowly lessening), severe pain bottom of feet (x2 weeks when first started), tingling electrical shocks on face (after 5 months), occas. gas pains, bloating, toe cramps, difficulty remembering, scattered thoughts (although because of all the meds I'm not sure the plaquenil is the reason) | I was put on this by my rheumatologist after years of being told I had OA. She decided I had RA when prednisone absolutely resolved all joint pain. One month later I was finally diagnosed with Lyme by a specialist and was told I had it for many years. Now I am on Biaxin, Tetracycline and Plaquenil. I have had a gradual decrease of joint pain and stiffness. I am still optomistic about continued improvement. | F | 54 | 5 months | 11/19/2008 | 5 | SLE | Diarrhea off and on. Some nausea and gas, but went away after a couple of weeks of continued treatment | Started to have hair loss shortly after I took the medicine. Quit taking it. Rheumy said it would be highly rare for it to be from this drug and to start taking it again. 1 week before I started taking it, my hair started falling out again. Finally realized it was a side effect of my SLE, not the drug. The two times I have stopped Plaquenil, I have been hurting so much I'm usually in tears and at the end of my rope when I go see my rheumy. The starting back on the treatment, life gets better again and I feel like I can manage life again. I sleep better on this because my pain is so much better I CAN SLEEP! Something I struggled with for 4 years before I was diagnosed. I'll never go off it again. | F | 31 | 4 months | 11/13/2008 | 4 | osteo arthritus/fybromyalgia | excessive wind,severe depression | been taking this for aprox 2 months with no severe side effects ,until i had a period of severe depression which i could not shake off.it wasnt until reading this site that i thought it could be this drug.almost to the point of wanting to killl myself i stopped taking this 3 days ago and am a changed person ,what a sda shame as it made such a fantastic difference to my life joint wise,70% better most days nearly back to being 21 again ! but alas i coulnt risk being so depressed again , | F | 47 | 60 days | 11/11/2008 | 5 | RA caused by Joint Hypermobility | Initial week horrendous wind, diarrhoea 90% of the time for 1 month. Itchy skin ongoing and bruising very easily. Reduced appetite.Tiredness with some insomnia. 200mg tabs > 2tabs once a day with or after food | Consultant prescribed this as I had regular episodes of RA with increasing longevity of attacks. Although blood works came within normal parameters the physical presentation showed the classic clinical signs of RA and after further examination it came to light I was hypermobile in all my joints and this can cause RA. After discussion ( hasn't prescribed for hypermobility cases) and the necessary eye tests, we agreed to trial run for 6 mths but any possible improvement may not be apparent for 12mths. 2 wks into the program and joint swelling started to decrease less painful attack experienced. 2 mths later, hands are almost back to normal with full range of non painful mobility. Slight ache experienced when with hindsight I realise attacks would have occurred. Have not been crippled with swelling nor pain at any point since starting this medication. Lower back pain has decreased but not eradicated - will need to look at improving my posture for this. Would recommend this medicatio | F | 39 | 3 months | 11/10/2008 | 2 | Lupus | Hair loss in one area of my head, stomach cramps, gas, itchy skin, blurred vision, terrible nightmares, hallucinations in dark/poorly lit rooms, migraine after I didn't take it for a couple of days. I have a lot more anxiety and cry over ridiculous things. I feel like I did when I was pregnant, and I'm definitely not pregnant. | This doesn't seem to have helped. I don't have an actual dx but my rheum wanted to try this since lupus seemed most likely. While I do have a little more energy, ritalin works better! (My pcp started me on low dose of ritalin for the fatigue) I see rheumy tomorrow and I'm going to tell him I don't want to take this anymore. The mental side effects are not worth the little bit it does physically. | F | 24 | 11 weeks | 10/23/2008 | 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 | 3 | SLE and Sjogrens | A little gas during the first week. After 2 weeks, I started having a burning sensation in my arms (on and off for a few days), but that is gone. | F | 29 | 5 weeks | 10/17/2008 | 4 | SLE | Hyperpigmentation | It took several months before the plaquenil worked for me, decreasing pain/swelling. Doesn't help the fatigue. I also take a small dose of prednisone daily. After 3 years I developed dark spots on my legs. The dermatologist says it's the plaquenil. I will not stop taking it though. | F | 44 | 4 years | 10/15/2008 | 4 | ra | It took 5 months. I got severe itching, burning and felt my nerves were on the outside of my body. I felt like I had pins sticking in me. My thigs broke out in a buring, red sensation that was intolerable Ater 4 days of prednisone and antihistamines I stll have it. I jalso had ightmares and dreams in the beginning. | It worked great at controlling my RA. | F | 53 | 5 months | 10/11/2008 | 4 | Sjogren's/Fibromyalgia | 1 mo. some nausea/bloating/gas, now just intermittent gas. | Take 200 mg. twice a day right after eating. This is giving me back energy and helping with joint pain. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Doesn't work as well as Prednisone but definitely less side effects. I've had NO headaches, rashes, anxiety, depression. Still battle sleep problems due to fibro, unfortunately. | F | 55 | 2 months | 10/10/2008 | 3 | R/A - Discord Lupis | Ichey skin, sharp pains in mouth numness around mouth, teeth fells like there not real,rash looking skin on feet. | Only start taking it for 2months and the severe iching started about two weeks and seems to be getting worst, I was wondering if anyone esles feel the sharp pains in month area, will see Dr on 14th will stop taking it or not take it every day, I'm on 200mg twice a day | F | 47 | 2 months | 10/10/2008 | 5 | Lupus SLE | Stomach upset for the first week. Developed severe allergic reaction after three weeks that included swollen face/lips, and red itchy rash all over upper torso and face. | Rheumatologist said he had never seen such a severe allergic reaction to this medication. It was just starting to work for me and was finally giving me my life back so needless to say, I was completed devastated when doctor told me it would be too dangerous for me to stay on it. But, I'm a huge believer that things happen for a reason. On to plan B, whatever that might be. | F | 44 | 3 weeks | 9/29/2008 | 5 | SLE | None | I've been taking Plaquenil for three years and have not had any noticable side effects. It helped with joint pain but did not help much with muscle pain or fatigue. I do feel much safer on it since it inhibits antibodies. | F | 46 | 3 years | 9/24/2008 | 4 | UCTD, Early stage SLE | Initial cramping, diarrhea, headaches, brain fog. | Plaquenil benefits started within weeks of taking it. Pain level dropped but does increase during flares where Plaquenil doesn't help as much. Will keep on it as it's probably kept my early stage SLE from progressing, according to my Rheumy. | F | 51 | 3 years | 9/23/2008 | 2 | rheumatoid | constant headache starting at the base of the head burning in stomach and liver area after food sick feeling ONLY after eating pressure feeling in the back of the eyes dry frizzy hair...dry skin...brittle nails diarrhea and GI upsets | These side effects came on slowly after about 1 month of using this drug, they should market this drug as a diet pill as I lost over a kilo in 1 month. | F | 52 | 1 months | 9/14/2008 | 2 | chronic inflammation | none | I derived no benefit from this drug -- no difference in pain or in SED (inflammation) rate. | F | 41 | 1 years | 9/12/2008 | 3 | connective tissue disorder,sjogrens | I havent had any side effects other than weight loss. Most people would gladly welcome that but Im starting to get concerned because Im eating normaly and still losing weight. I think its been too soon for me to notice any benefit from it(have only been taking it 2 mos). | F | 47 | 2 months | 9/1/2008 | 5 | SLE | Some stomach cramping, diarrhea. Symptoms subsided after one week. | Even though I've only been on Plaquenil for a little over a week, it has given me my life back. Most of the fatigue and muscle/joint pain is gone. There is still some, but NOTHING compared to what I was feeling a month ago. I hope it lasts. | F | 44 | 1.5 weeks | 8/26/2008 | 5 | SLE | Stomach cramps, diarrhea, and gas, all lasting only about 1 week | Started with a blood clot in left leg in Feb 08. Was diagnosed with Lupus Anticoagulation and was put on Coumadin for the rest of my life. Other symptoms began appearing shortly after the clot (TMJ, rashes on arms, joint/muscle pain, hand swelling, fatigue). Was finally diagnosed with SLE in July 08 but it was 5 months of pure hell not knowing what was wrong with me, one symptom after another popping up with no relief in sight. Started Plaquenil last week. Was told it would take about 4 months before seeing any results. However, after less than a week, have already noticed a good amount of decrease in muscle/joint pain and increase in energy level. Like many others on this site, I feel like I've gotten my life back and now have a renewed hope for my future and living with this disease. | F | 44 | 5 days | 8/20/2008 | 1 | Sjogren's Syndrome, MCTD | Severe itching, chronic severe insomnia, fatigue with agitation, worsening of restless leg syndrome, panic with no history of this happening before, nausea, esophageal pain, loss of appetite, feeling sick, hair loss | I was placed on 200mg 2x day, (130#) no blood done, no eye exam recommended. I have had Sjogren's for 9 years. I rated it a 1, but, if it works for people, who am I to recommend they should not take it, however I believe this drug gets rated higher due to the skew of this rating system. Philosophically, I feel it is a 2. This medication made me worse, and that puts me in the minority. I was told it was not treatment, but only to relieve symptoms. I was told it would not affect the course of autoimmune disease. I do have severe esophageal dysmotility and this drug is not for any one with stomach issues. I also have myopathy, and this drug causes muscle weakness. More problems I do not need! With Sjogren's, my eyes are at risk already. I also have significant neuropathy which may be why the insomnia and neuro issues got worse. There are a lot of new biologicals out there now, that are more treatment based. I had to weigh the good against the bad, and it was one of the worst dr | F | 55 | 1 months | 8/20/2008 |