gluten free hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)?

This is probably a shot in the dark, but here goes. I've been on a gluten free diet since the end of August, and have been very careful with the food I eat. At the same time I started the diet, my pharmacy switched manufacturers of the hydroxychloroquine (generic Plaquenil) I've been taking. Supposed to be an identical product.

The problem is that my stomach has been giving me way more problems since starting both the GF diet and the new Plaq, which, like I said, happened at the same time. I have been blaming the added supplements I've been told to take by my doctor to counteract the malabsorption problems stemming from the CD. But I've had a flare even when off the supplements - so I'm confused. Has anyone else had a problem with gluten and the generic plaquenil? Or know a good site where I could find current information?

I have called the manufacturer of the new Rx and they just say that "their suppliers don't intentionally use wheat, etc" - I think it must be a standard phrase - but they will not say it is Gluten free. These flares are driving me crazy - seem to happen about once every 7-10 days - almost cyclically - and knock me out for a couple days with stomach problems, headache, fatigue, and just all around malaise.

Thanks in advance for any help or info......

Lucy

Hi Lucy, I am sorry you are having these problems.

I have heard some people have a hard time with the generic plaq (nothing to do with gluten free diet tho), maybe trying the brand name for a month and see if you continue to have the same problems. I've been on a gluten free diet since 9/03 and on Plaq (generic) since 3/04 with no problems.

It is also very possible that when your lupus is flaring it may affect your GI tract. Also, do you eat a lot of dairy? I have noticed if I am in a lupus flare and my gut isn't right and I eat dairy, it's almost like I've eaten gluten.

I hope you can find some relief soon!

After sifting through all the possibilities - and then finally stopping the generic Plaquenil for a week, and restarting with brand name Plaquenil - my stomach problems vanished. So it appears that the pharmacy's switch to a different manufacturer of my generic plaquenil was the culprit afterall.

Unfortunately, it now costs me an extra 30 bucks a month. Both my rheumy and GP have said that when the pharmacy says the products are "identical" it's not literally true - that maybe the main ingredient is identical, but the fillers, binders, etc. are not - and they have many patients who have no trouble with one supplier, but can't take another manufacturer's. I'm still not sure whether the issue was gluten, and would have occurred with either of the generic manufacturer's (Brand Plaquenil is gluten free).....or something altogether different. Just glad to have my stomach back to normal.

Just thought I'd post in case others have similar problems.

Lucy