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Could it be that Plaq is just not for me?

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Posted 5/15/2007 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
I swear, I feel sick every day. I am going into week 3 of Plaq and the sore stomachs have just not ceased.

I eat, feel sick. I keep getting the runs also. I also have ringing in the ears.

I know this med takes many weeks to work, but when do these nasty side effects stop?

Maybe I'm not tolerating Plaq well?

Posted 5/16/2007 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
With all of my GI issues my rheumy started me off slowly on Plaq. I started off with taking 1/2 tab every other day and eventually worked my way up to the full dose within a couple of months and had NO GI discomfort at all. I would suggest talking to your doctor about that or maybe taking the "brand" instead of the generic. I hope you feel better soon!
Posted 5/16/2007 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
I have heard different things and timeframes from different people. I'm sorry you are having such a problem with it. Maybe it isn't something you can take and you'll have to try something else. As for myself I take 800 mil. 400 in the morning and 4oo in the evening. In mycase it has never bothered me other than occasional diarea but no nausia or bad stomach cramps and I just take the generic stuff. I don't even eat it with food Just a cup of coffee. But than again I take about 8 pills in the morning with coffee and never have a problem "so far" Maybe you need to discuss trying something else with your doctor. I hope you doctor can help you
hugs
carol
Posted 5/16/2007 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Stacie, I take the brand name. Your Doc started u off on a low dose? Wow, I wish he would have done that for me.
He even diagnosed me as low grade. He told me 200 mgs for the first 3 days, then up to 400 after that.
I mean don't get me wrong, it's great losing 10 lbs in 2 weeks, but I feel like hell....hahah!
I wonder if I should take only 200 mgs a day?

Carol, you can take it w/out food, lucky! You have a steel stomach! All that I've been reading on this med and the effects everyone has, it's baffling how not much info is consistant.
I almost feel that I will take it two more weeks then if I still feel like this, I want to stop it all together. I think I would rather feel the "lupus woes".

Thanks ladies :-)
Posted 5/16/2007 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Bad stomach & ringing in ears? With brand name Plaquenil? Over 3 weeks? Taking it with an absorbent food -- like a piece of bread or toast? No citrus with it? When is your next rheumy appt? If it isn't soon, I suggest calling and seeing if you can cut back to 200 mgs until your next appt. The ringing in the ears doesn't sound good to me... I know some people have stomach upset for 2-3 months, but I don't think they mean anything as severe as you are talking. I had 1-2 weeks of queasy stomach, but no diarrhea or nausea, just uncomfortable feeling. Cheers,
Posted 5/16/2007 11:23 AM (GMT 0)
I must have been very lucky when I started this med. I have taken 400 mg's every morning with a piece of toast and have never had any problem. Occasionally I did get an upset stomach but I would eat something and it would go away.

I hope you start feeling better soon.

Connie

Posted 5/16/2007 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
I agree to call the dr. and ask if you can go to a lower dose and see what happens.   I don' think that the "ringing in your ears" is a good sign.  Talk to the dr and see what they say.

Posted 5/16/2007 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
peacesoul, I too suffered a great deal from plaquenil for two or three months -- upset stomach, diarrhea, and cramping, but those awful side effects went away and I've been fine for the past three years. By the way I take 200mg in the am and 200mg in the pm.

I hope you have a good doctor who will adjust it so that you can tolerate it. Do you ever call and talk to the nurse between appointments. My dr.'s nurse is terrific & will pass my message on the the dr. and then call me back. It saves time, and keeps me from suffering till my next appt.

Good luck with this.
Posted 5/16/2007 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
It took a while but I am tolerating Plaq now (I take the generic) although I didn't have the ringing in the ears or anything like that. I would think that you definitely want to discuss that with the doc. It's hard because I think that every med used to treat Lupus has GI side effects with Plaq probably being the lesser of the evils in that sense. I hope there is something that they can help you with this.

Take Care
Posted 5/16/2007 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All....thanks so much for all your input. I really truly appreciate that :-)
I take the Plaq with my largest meal at supper time. So last night took it with a sweet potato and chicken.
Just today I was going to call the rheum to ask if I can cut it to 200 mgs. I will call him tomorrow and hopefully his secretary can get him the msg asap. I think tonight I will only take 1 pill instead of 2 (400 mgs). My poor stomach needs a break.
The ringing in my ears is pretty bad. I went to see an ENT (ear, nose throat) Dr on Monday. Oddly enough my ENT's told me his daughter has Lupus and takes Plaq and she had terrible side effects also with the ear ringing.
The ENT thought it was from the Lupus itself. He did a good work up on me and I will go for a hearing test in a few weeks.

Today has been a better day of the week so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks again all...........hugs to you

Jen
Posted 5/16/2007 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jen:

I'm glad you were able to see the ENT. Sorry to hear that you're having difficulties with the plaq and ringing in ther ears. I had a period of time, in the beginning, of having ringing in the ears. My doctor said it was from the lupus. I only take 200mg of plaq daily, I'm one of those ppl who can take it on an empty stomach. I just wanted to wish you well. Please take care of yourself and keep us posted.

Best Wishes,
Barbara
Posted 5/17/2007 1:03 AM (GMT 0)

Barbara Lee said...
Hi Jen:

I'm glad you were able to see the ENT. Sorry to hear that you're having difficulties with the plaq and ringing in ther ears. I had a period of time, in the beginning, of having ringing in the ears. My doctor said it was from the lupus. I only take 200mg of plaq daily, I'm one of those ppl who can take it on an empty stomach. I just wanted to wish you well. Please take care of yourself and keep us posted.

Best Wishes,
Barbara

Hi Barbara..thanks for the input. So just maybe 200 mgs will do for me.

So there is hope the ringing will stop then.....you just made my night.

Thanks and a hug for you :-)

Jen

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