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Plaquenil and itching

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Posted 9/13/2007 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone else noticed that plaquenil makes them itch? I've been on it for 10 months and I noticed within a couple of weeks that I was pretty itchy. I recently went to the dermatologist for a rash and he said that my rash was from scratching. I think the itch has become worse since I started on Cymbalta. Does anyone else have this problem?
Posted 9/13/2007 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had some itching in the beginning of taking Plaq mostly on my upper arms but it eventually went away. I have to tell you though that I was bad, I would scratch and scratch at them and caused an ugly rash and broke skin so your dermy is right. See if they can give you some steroid cream which worked really well for me.

Take Care
Posted 9/13/2007 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I did not hv itching problem, but I heard some of the members did hv them.
Posted 9/13/2007 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Gloryroad, I've heard that some people are allergic to some of the fillers in the generic version of plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine). I'm not sure if you are on the name brand or the generic.
Posted 9/14/2007 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on generic. I'll ask my Rheumy about the brand name and see what he thinks. The dermatologist said that it is not an allergy to the med, but the itching may be a side effect. Of course the itching causes a rash, the rash causes itching...it's a vicious circle. I have some steroid cream that I am starting tonight. Thanks for the responses.
Posted 9/14/2007 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Gloryroad. They tried me on the hydroxychloroquine (generic) and the brand name plaquenil. While I reacted to both and was unable to tolerate them for too long, I did experience the itching especially on my back while taking the generic. Hope the cream helps you. Take care,
Posted 9/14/2007 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
gloryroad,
I just went back on the plaquenil yesterday but the last time I was on it for almost two years and would get the itchy skin, especially on my legs. I started using Olay Bath Skin Lotion while I was still in the shower and it made a big difference. You might want to try that. I know if you let your skin get really dry and it cracks they will take you off the plaqenil. Worse comes to worse see a dermatologist and they should be able to give you a script for something that will help.

Good luck!

Gidget^
Posted 9/14/2007 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hey glory,

I can attest to being one of the most sensitive to drugs my docs have ever seen!!! When I first start a med, I have to split dose into 1/4's and add 1/4 more each week. Yes with plaquenil generic, I have itching, intense I could scratch through my skin!!!! But it does calm down. I also get weird rashes but I get those from the Lupus. I find the disease is being treated and the med is attacking the inflammation, so one of the first places inflammation shows up is the skin since it is the largest organ we have. I have found that taking Claritin which is histamine 1 blocker and pepcid h2 blocker helps, but do not take a pepcid within 2 hours of the plaquenil because the plaquenil requires acid to work. Hope this helps you.

Leta
Posted 9/17/2007 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
I also got itching from the generic but have had no problems with brand plaquenil.
Posted 9/18/2007 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
I am so glad I got on here tonight! I have been so busy with school, work, teaching kindergarten age twins, etc. My new rheumatologist started me on Plaquenil about a month ago. I started at 400mg but I was throwing up and nauseous for 3 weeks straight. I dropped back down to 200mg, but I have been itching like crazy. I was just talking about it with my husband and told him I thought I should go to a dermatologist. I will have to call before my appointment on Oct. 4th, because the itching is unbearable!!!! Is there anything otc that I can use, or does it have to be a script?
Posted 9/18/2007 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi hdgott, I'm sure you can try using Cortaid to see if that gives you some relief. I'm sorry you had such a bad reaction (GI wise) to the Plaquenil. Mine started me off slow so even though the first couple of weeks were bad, I'm sure it would have been worse on a full dose. I'm glad the lower dose isn't making you as nauseaus. Hope everything goes well with the dermy.

Take Care
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