Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine instead of Prednisone

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and chloroquine (Aralen) are slightly different variations of the same medication. Plaquenil is a disease inhibitor for Lupus... reducing the progression of Lupus. It takes 2-3 months to build up in your system, and requires an annual eye exam due to rarely but possibly affecting the eyes. It seldom has any effect on EXISTING symptoms, but may keep new symptoms from appearing.

Here is some more information. /www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-treatment/lupus-medications/antimalarial-drugs/

As a disease inhibitor, Plaquenil works much differently than Prednisone, which reduces inflammation thus reducing symptoms. These two are often used together, but are not interchangeable as your question somewhat suggests.

If Prednisone is not effective, or if it's needed for more than a few months, most rheumatologists phase out the Prednisone and try one of these three: Imuran, Cellcept, or MTX. Many Lupus patients will respond to one of these - but it's trial and error as to which medication will work for any individual patient. It's not known how or why these work.

For me, Imuran did nothing - nothing good, nothing bad. Cellcept, however, was my miracle and put my Lupus into a "quiet" state. (They don't say remission with Lupus, as it's easily re-triggered by even the smallest stress.)

Let us know if you have more questions,

I don't know the answer to that question. I do know that there are different classes of anti-depressants, and the one that helps you may not be easily replaced by one in a different class. And I'd guess that an interaction may be the same for everything in that class? Dunno', just thinking out loud.

I usually use the Drug Interaction Checker at /www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php to figure out these things, although I'd also ask the Dr prescribing each medication. It shows only a "moderate" interaction between Plaquenil and Prozac.