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What next if plaquenil doesn't work?

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 3/25/2011 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
I have some sort of auto immune issue with lots of joint pain and fatigue. I have been on plaquenil for about 10 weeks now without much success. My doctor said if I don't feel better in a few more weeks, we could switch my medicine. He said it would be one that they would have to more closely monitor me on with some blood tests. What med could he be talking about?? I was thinking it was methotrexate but I do not want my hair to fall out. Does it always cause your hair to fall out? It might be coincidence but since on the plaquenil, I have noticed a growth spurt of hair especially at the hairline. It has been a lot thinner these past few years.
Posted 3/25/2011 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Plaquenil made me sick, so I can't take it either, but there are other medicine out there,
the doctor's will get you on something that'll help, keep hope...well wishes to you and try the methotrexate,
to see if it can help...Vitamin B-12 might help with the hair, ask your doctor about that, well wishes
to you and I hope the mtx can help you....
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Jeanneac)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
healing hugz and well wishes and keep us posted on how your doing...
Posted 3/25/2011 9:10 AM (GMT 0)
hi jeanneac it will be methotrexate.
no methotrexate doesn't always mean your hair will fall out or thin but some of the side effects are scary, but before you an progress onto other meds methotrexate is mandatory.
for me methotreaxte and plaquenil does't work and i' intonate of sulfa so i am started embrel which states you have to have tried 2 of 3 meds and methotrexate is 1 of them.

good luck
Posted 3/25/2011 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
thanks dee. Yea, I am allergic to sulfa or I'd be on celebrex right now. I wish the plaquenil was working but it's not. I feel so bad every day. Prednisone ran my blood sugar up but I felt great on it, not that you want to take it for too long.
Posted 3/27/2011 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
I started with predisone. Then graduated to plaquenil With it. Had headaches with the plaquenil so went to the sulfar and predisone. Sulfar was a waste of time and since I had a little help from the plaquenil he switched me back to that with pain meds for the headaches and body. Recently i went back for app. and plaquenil had stopped doing anything so he added the methotrexate to it. I did not want to take it. I had heard and read lots of nasty things. I even posted here about not wanting to take it. I did though. Just did my 3rd dose today. I have had the sickness to my stomach and not felt like me including exhausted but it's not as bad as I feared. I have to have liver and crp retest next week. My hair is coming out slightly turn Not in clumps are anything, just a little here or there. Really though in order not to have worse things happen it is what we have to do. I know it is scary but anything to stop the pain and misfunction of not being able to use my hands or move my knees or not have my ankles cave out and fall. (like i did friday) shocked Take care of yourself and big(((HUGS))) on your journey. Heather
Posted 3/27/2011 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry you had to go back on the mtx. I hope you get some relief from it. I read here that folic acid helps the shedding. I switched back to cymbalta three days ago and have experienced huge relief. I suspected that I had fibromyalgia on top of the inflammation. I guess cymbalta also helps pain in general. I am so relieved but hope I don't start having bad side effects from it like I did before with a very dry mouth and gritting my teeth at night.

Thanks for your reply Heather. Best of luck to you too!!!
Posted 3/27/2011 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
I take Cymbalta too for the FM. I guess it helps me. I don't even know anymore. I have been on it for almost 2 years and wanted to go off to see if I noticed a difference but as I am sure you know that is very difficult. Besides my Rheumy doesn't want me too.
I take folic acid with the mttx. I think if I didn't I would be in bad shape. Now that my dose was lowered I feel more like myself. Can't say if it helping with the RA yet, it takes awhile. Good luck with whatever you decide!! Heather
Posted 3/27/2011 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
I tell ya, these AI diseases are nothing to sneeze at and neither is bad fibromyalgia. I don't know if we get the fibro worse with AI diseases or what but I was in so much pain. The fatigue was horrible too.

I am glad I switched to the cymbalta, perhaps the combination of it and 400 mg of plaquenil will work for me. It seemed to help the swelling in my hands too.

I had an uncle with RA whose been dead for years now but it was before all the better drugs came out and he was so crippled up. It was so very sad. I don't know how he stood it. I am glad there are better drugs out there now.

I don't know how you manage this disease and 5 kids, wow!!!!
Posted 3/27/2011 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
I took Plaquenil for six months. It took three weeks before I noticed any improvement. By three months I noticed significant improvement. After five months I felt great. Unfortunately, I developed an allergy to it and had to stop. I have been suffering pretty much ever since. My doctor started me on Chloroquine three weeks ago. I am just now starting to notice improvement in symptoms. It is very similar to Plaquenil.

Hope you find something that works.

Blessings,
V
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