HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Did plaquenil help your RA

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/31/2014 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with seronegative RA/inflammatory arthritis in mostly my hands and feet a few years ago by a Mayo doc. Another doc thought I had an overlap or mixed connective tissue dz. since I also have morphea (scleroderma of the skin only.

I was curious if anyone felt that plaquenil helped their RA symptoms of joint pain, swelling and also fatigue? It didn't seem to work for me a few years ago and I went off. I've had a lot of long term remission but now it's back. I have a script for it but can't decide if I want to start it again. I have to take the name brand which is $100 a month for me. The generic tears my stomach up.  I've got to make an appt with my former rheumy that's 3 hours away. Ugh! The rheumy in my current town retired. They weren't that great anyway. Thanks!!!

Posted 7/31/2014 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Look online at the maker of this medication to see if they have a discount plan you could use.

Nope, I took one pill and ended up with more problems from this medication than any others...including eye problems made worse by this medication...to me it's not a good medication, Now that does not mean it won't work for you.

Sure hope this medication can help you again!

Has your doctor ever had you on methotrexate?
Just wondering, hope your feeling better soon...
Posted 7/31/2014 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Chartreux, methotrexate was the next step. I was supposed to get an MRI of my hands but I seemed to go into remission for quite a while, so I didn't get the MRI. Then, the rheumy here retired. Sooooo.....
I will check for some plaquenil coupons again. I think I did before and didn't find any. Usually, it's the new meds that have all the coupons. I really think there is something in generic meds that doesn't agree with me. I am sensitive to a lot of stuff like sunscreens, lactose, etc.... with a lot of allergies too.

The plaquenil seemed to help my mucous membranes thought and it's almost worth it for that! LOL....
Posted 7/31/2014 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Plaquenil also reduces my blood sugars almost better than the metformin that I take!!!! I have to be careful not to go too low.
Posted 7/31/2014 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
It is very frustrating not to be able to get a medication that helps, I had to refuse a eye drop just because it was going to costs me $120.00 with insurance, what are we saving with medications going beyond our reach,?surely insurance must realize this is out of control and sooner or later those insurance people will need coverage. Turn around, it'll get them too....
Posted 8/1/2014 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I think even the people who work for BCBS have to pay a lot of money for their insurance and drugs too! Gone are the days of cheap anything!

I think someone on here told me about the name brand plaquenil when I was taking it and it bothered my stomach. It makes you wonder about the generics for sure!
Posted 8/1/2014 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on plaquenil for about two years now. Helps greatly when my RA meds are working for me. Unfortunately I have had to be changed several times. But I continue to take the plaquenil as I would hate to come off of it and find out it was really helping during these times.
Posted 8/8/2014 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
I think Plaquenil definitely can have this side effect or in combo with something else I am taking. I had pain throughout my body (almost like a generalized flare, which is my kind of flare), but really bad in legs and lower back, again left side considerably worse to the point of really affecting ability to walk.

I stopped the drug, called the Rheumatologist and she said she didn't think it could come from the plaquenil and to be careful of the web.. I say be careful of the Plaquenil, people know their bodies. (also got severe diarherra- but lost a few pounds - also lost sense of taste). She did say come off of the meds for a week and then start back at half dose and stay on that longer until fully acclimated until trying full dose Stayed off for 10 days mostly got better or at least how I felt before the Plaquenil and went back on it 4 days ago --- guess what -- pain in my hands and extremities, particularly legs, coming back again. Hasn't yet gotten to where it was the first time, but moving in that direction. Probably going to try to stay on it to see if the pain subsides. Has anyone else stayed on it through the pain long enough to see if it does subside.

Thinking it hit my eyes this time, not yet sure, as my eyes have been getting slightly worse since before the Plaquennil and went to eye doc a few weeks ago and prescription was only very moderately worse than a few years ago, but will be watching very carefully for eye problems. I do take the lowest dose of lipitor and saw that someone else thought they had an interaction. Will talk to Rheum about that shortly.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply