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Taking Imuran now-doctor adding Plaquenil. Is this semi-normal?

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Posted 9/20/2012 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
I found out I had Lupus in March of this year, after 3 rounds of antiobotics for pluersy and still wasn't getting better.

I was on steroids for about 2 months and then taken off and given Plaquenil.  In May, my doctor had me stop taking the plaquenil and started me on Imuran because I could still feel the pluersy.  Last week's appt, she started me on Plaquenil and increased my imuran because I can still feel the pluersy when I take a super deep breath.  I'm nervous about taking both because I can't find anyone who is taking both of these drugs.  Anyone here taking both?

Also - I've now had pluersy for 9 months (since January).  How long is the longest you have had it?  I'm wondering if I just damaged my lungs?

Posted 9/20/2012 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Plaquenil is usually a baseline medication that very often Lupus patients take for very long periods of time, if not the rest of your life. It's main purpose is to inhibit the severity of the disease - it doesn't seem to help a whole lot with existing symptoms.

Often we are given Plaquenil (to inhibit progression) and Prednisone (steroid to treat inflammation) to start with to get things under control. If our symptoms don't subside one of 3 treatments is usually prescribed - Imuran, Cellcept, MTX.

Plaquenil and (choose one: Imuran, Cellcept, MTX) are quite often used together. As our bodies are so very different, and lupus acts so differently in everyone, some of us respond to one of these 3 meds better than the others.

For me personally, I took Imuran for 6-9 months with no change in symptoms, it didn't help me at all. Then Cellcept for 18 months and my Lupus is mostly "quiet". Others Cellcept does nothing, but Imuran helps them a lot. Or MTX... It varies which of these 3 meds will help any one person.

I think your Dr is doing fine...haven't ever heard of issues with Plaquenil and Imuran together and it's a very common treatment plan.

PS. What kind of Dr are you seeing? A rhuemotologist is the correct Dr to treat Lupus...I ask because it's unusual to just do steroids, then just do plaquenil, then just do Imuran. A rheumy might have you on all 3 right now.
Posted 9/20/2012 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Whew..Thank you for responding!  I am seeing a rhuemotologist.    She did have me on Steroids during the first round of Plaquenil and then weined me off both and started the imuran with an anti-inflammatory (can't spell it - sounds like Indymaycin?) I stop that in 3 weeks and then will be on only Plaquenil and imuran - then blood work and check up, 2 weeks after that to see how I'm doing. I don't know a lot of Lupus yet and just wanted to make sure I wasn't a guinea pig because other than the pluersy still hanging around, I feel pretty good most times. I get fatigue, but rest as needed.

 I was just wondering why she is changing my scripts when I felt better this last visit compared to the month before.  I just can't shake the pluersy.  I guess I don't have 100% confidence in my doctor?  No reason for it..I guess I just don't want to accept I have Lupus.  I don't like taking medicine everyday and wish I could get off it..I hope to get off it someday. 

Thanks again for responding - I feel less anxiety now :)

P.S.  Anyone out there have Pluersy for 9 months or more? Is this common?

Posted 9/20/2012 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
I too suffer with pleurisy and pericarditis chronically. I've had lupus for 25 years and I also have a lot other issues. I have currently been dealing with a nasty case of pericarditis and also have a small pericardial effusion. That's where I have fluid in between my heart and the sack the heart sits in.

As for the pleurisy I have suffered with it on and off for over 3 years. I find the use of steroids and pain meds work best for me. Also, a lot of rest helps. That being said once the plaquenil starts working for you, you may find it goes away. The plaquenil can take as long as up to six months before you feel the results. Hang in there and I hope you start feeling better soon.

If I can be of any help, please let me know. Welcome to our forum and ask all the questions you want.

Hugs,
Barbara
Posted 9/20/2012 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the reply, Barbara. So...on and off for 3 years is much longer than 9 months. I'm not so worried now...I was beginning to think maybe I was getting lung cancer!
I'm glad I found this site - it's AWESOME!
Posted 9/21/2012 5:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, there!

I just wanted to chime in that I have had pleurisy for the better part of 2.5 years. I did have a nice 4 month remission earlier this year that I never once took for granted!

In the beginning, I, too, wondered if something else (worse!) was going on in my chest. Seems crazy, not to mention scary, to have something like that hanging around for so long, doesn it?!?!? Geez! 

I often find short-term comfort lying over a foam roller and stretching out my arms in a T shape, and I also use a hot pack on my chest in the evening.

I really hope that your new medication combination will provide you with some relief.

Take good care,

Nina

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