Plaquenil - how long for side effects to subside?

That would drive me crazy. Call the doctor and ask if you can take some Benadryl???? Maybe that will help???

I have never taken this drug, so I am not one to comment on it.

This will put you to the top of the list for more replies.

Quick question - are you sure its side effects of the med?

So, I've read the half-life is from 30-60 days. That is one of the reasons I didn't want to take it - that's a long time to stick around.

I did read hair loss, photosensitivity, itching area all potential side effects of Plaquenil, so hopefully those will subside soon as the med levels drop.

I would ask your Dr. if you can take something in the mean time like PeteZa mentioned - an antihistamine maybe?

Did the ABX help you at all?

nice, good to hear :)

I just started doxy, plaquenil, flagyl, and rifampin--though rifampin gave me a bad reaction (adrenals?) and LLMD switched me to bactin, which seems to be working.

How ya doing toronto...? I may have to stop bvt for a bit too.how are you supporting your adrenals? Rhuemy just gave me some plaqunil but heard it can cause ophthalmologic issues too...i got similar itchyness when i added Houttunyia maybe its bart?

Since this this thread still is of use to people, I thought I would chime in on Plaquenil.

It's the kind of drug that builds up in the system and has to get to a certain level to be effective. Now that is in regards to joint pain which is what most doctors use it for now. We know it is an antimalarial so that it works in fighting the co-infections.

Not knowing I had Lyme&Co my doctor put me on it for joint pain that was new and not relieved by the meds I was. He told me it would take 3 months for it to build up enough to work. The only major side effect, and it is major, is that sometimes in can build up in the eye and damage vision. But it is something they can catch easily. I had to have a baseline image of my eyes (with a kind of fluoroscope) before starting the Plaquenil. After you have been on it a while, you repeat the test and they compare the results. Even the tiniest change will be detected before it does any damage. A new study came out in the last year that says if you take the standard dosage (200mg, think it's twice daily) you don't need to repeat the imaging until you have been on the medication 5 YEARS (as long as you have the baseline).

The article is www.eyeupdate.com/plaquenil-updates

I'm not saying your reactions weren't real. They certainly are. They are all signs of an allergic reaction, so the Benadryl is a good idea. I wouldn't take the Plaquenil again.

A lot of people on the forum have allergic reactions to meds. It may not necessarily be the med itself. It could be the binder or a chemical they use in the process, but best to stay away from everything you react to.

Because Plaquenil is the kind of drug that builds up in the blood stream (and tissues I suspect), it has a very long half life. Simple drugs like abx can take as much as a month to completely clear from the body. So the Plaquenil could hang around for a while.

Carry the Benadryl with you. I use the children's liquid because it goes to work faster. I usually throw it in my purse and if I eat something that doesn't agree with me or a new med kicks in I don't have to run around liking for a pharmacy.

Hope you're having a better day,
Kim