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Plaquenil and weight gain

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Posted 8/1/2009 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
This occurred to me in another thread.  Has weight gain been an issue for anyone after starting on Plaquenil?  Thanks - good days to everyone!

Lucy

Posted 8/5/2009 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Lucy, I never had any weight gain. I had been on it for a few years....
Posted 8/5/2009 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Lucy, I was on it for about 3 months when I was first diagnosed, I actually lost weight...I think because I couldnt keep anything down while taking it!
Posted 8/6/2009 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
I stopped my plaq once and started retaining water like crazy, that's me. So actually it seems to be doing something for me in terms of keeping the water off.
Posted 8/6/2009 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
I started losing weight as soon as I started plaquenil. I have lost 85 pounds.
Posted 8/6/2009 2:52 AM (GMT 0)

Geesh - wish I'd never asked! tongue

As usual I seem to be the odd duck out.  I was losing weight without trying before starting on the plaq - and seem to be gaining without changing much of anything - since then, other than increasing my activity.  Guess which one is more distressing?

Thanks for the responses, though.  Gonna have to bite the bullet and really get serious about dieting and see what happens.

Lucy

Posted 8/8/2009 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Lucy, meds effect us all differently. Almost any med that can cause weight loss can also cause weight gain.
I also find that eating a lot of carbohydrates helps with the GI effects of the plaq and that can contribute to weight gain.
Sj
Posted 8/9/2009 12:00 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Lucy,

I was on Plaquenil for 2 yrs and gained 60 pounds. I had not changed my eating habits or my exercise habits during those 2 yrs. The only thing that I could figure was it was from the Plaquenil so I stopped taking it. The weight hasn't come off yet and I don't feel any worse for not taking it. Now, I am not advocating the stopping of medication, all I am saying is look at the whole picture.

Posted 8/9/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks, Blu - It's good to hear another side of the story - although not exactly comforting, and I'm sorry about your wgt gain.  Like I said - I don't feel I'm doing anything differently, either.  There seem to be so many angles to the wgt gain/loss thing.  I do think it's possible that weight loss which may have been largely muscle loss just prior to starting the plaquenil may have altered my metabolism.  How long have you been off the Plaquenil?

Sj - You brought to mind my "cracker habit" in the evening so I could take my second dose - I suppose those calories add up....

Lucy

Posted 8/9/2009 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Lucy-I have always disliked oatmeal. When I started plaq I also started eating oatmeal for breakfast it was the only thing I could tolerate and the only way the plaq did not leave me bedridden. (fortunatly that fades).
Sj
Posted 8/9/2009 2:42 PM (GMT 0)

Lucy,

I have been off the plaquenil now for about 1 month. I am still hoping that the longer I am off of it the better my chances are that the weight will come off.

Posted 8/11/2009 12:25 AM (GMT 0)

Blu - I hope you've alerted your rheumy.  I'd hate for you to flare after going off.  But I'm also really curious.  Please keep us posted on what happens with the weight and/or results of staying off the Plaquenil.  Good luck!

Lucy

Posted 4/15/2013 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
I have gained 30lbs since I started Plaquenil and I've only been on it a year...
Posted 4/15/2013 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on it for almost 3 years and my weight gain is due to me seeking comfort from the pain by eating too much sweets.
Posted 6/20/2014 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with MCTD (Lupus, Scleroderma & Polymyositis) on May 1, 2014 and started taking Plaquenil on May 2nd. Since then, I have gained about 15 pounds!! I haven't changed my eating habits (I'm a very healthy eater to begin with) or anything else. I am so discouraged... :(
Also the headaches that the Plaquenil is causing are horrific.
Has anyone gone off the Plaquenil and lost the weight they'd gained from taking it?
So discouraged..... cry
Posted 6/24/2014 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, there is a risk of plaquenil making you go blind but it is a small risk. You're required to have regular eye check-ups by a MD to prevent it. It happens to people who are on high doses for a long time.

It's the first medicine that is given to slow down the progress of the disease.

One of the ladies here recommends washing your mouth out with rum to soothe the sores in your mouth.
Posted 6/25/2014 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Sorry that you're having such a hard time with the Plaquenil. Most people when they take it have issues with their GI system. I've been on Plaquenil for 14 years now, in the beginning I was taking 400mg daily from 2001 until 2007. Then my new Rheumy cut it back to 200mg daily. The only issue I had in the beginning was some stomach cramping. I never suffered from any headaches from it.

My weight gain is from the steroids I'm certain and not the Plaquenil. Are you on anything else to treat your lupus other than the Plaquenil? If you're on steroids that can be whats causing you to gain weight. I can't offer any advice on losing the weight if you come off the Plaquenil.

Like Joy said, Plaquenil is the first medication they use in treating lupus. It has the least amount of side effects and seems to work well for most patients. Some patients can not take the generic form of the drug but need the brand name. Have you discussed your headaches with your Doctor about them? Maybe, he can give you something to help with the headaches.

Also, Plaquenil can take up to 6 months before you really start to see improvement from the drug. If you have any more questions please feel free to ask away and I hope that you can get your headaches under control.

Hugs,
Barbara
Posted 6/25/2014 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for your response. No, I was only diagnosed with MCTD on May 1st, so I've been on Plaquenil for 6 1/2 weeks. I stopped taking it a week ago and most of the horrific side affects have lessened considerably, and I've already lost about 5 pounds...
I go in to see specialists at MA General Hospital this Friday. Plaquenil has been the one and only drug I've taken, but aside from weight gain, I was getting migraines that made me feel like I was dying, my vision was immediately affected (blurry, photosensitive), my gums were bleeding, I was dizzy all the time and always has a terrible sore throat - not to mention the nightmares from Hell every night!!
I was also very irritable and was experiencing crying spells. Plaquenil does NOT agree with me for sure!!
I'll post more after my appt. on Friday.
Stay well!
Wendi
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