I haven't written in a long time. My update is that I've been off of Metho. since June!! I had to get off of it due to a stomach virus and urinary tract infection all at the same time. It took me a month to get better. My RA didn't flair, so when I went to see my Dr. in August, he said I could stay off of it. And, put me on Plaquenil, 1.5 tablets daily. I was on Plaquenil before going on the metho. So far so good. Does anybody else have problems with their stomach on Plaqunil. Something is bothering my stomach and I'm trying to figure out what it is. Part of it is stress I know. My 20 year old son moved back home and now my 18 year old son wants to move out. So, you get the picture. Anyway, any side effects you Plaqunil users have? The Plaqunil is working okay... I've been sore lately, but I think it's due to overworking, overworrying and not doing water aerobics since last week. Bad weather and a cold. But, nice chatting with everyone again.
Mimernote.
MIMER,
I WAS ON PLAQUINIL FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND IT GAVE ME BAD HEADACHES. THEY WERE LIKE MIGRAINES. I NEVER HAD STOMACHE PROBLEMS FROM IT. I,M NOW ON MTX ONLY AND THE ONLY SIDE AFFECT I GET FROM THAT IS I FEEL KINDA SPACEY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER I TAKE IT. IT'S A LOT CHEAPER THAN JIM BEAM
GOOD LUCK TO YOU,
DON
I am on Plaquenil and it makes my stomach hurt. I take a lot of Tums and make sure I eat when I take my meds. Also, Plaquenil is hard on the eyes to some people so get them checked and tell your eye doctor you are on it and that you have RA.
Good luck.
I've been on plaquenil for about 14 years and have not had any problems with it.
Stress will definitely kill your stomach. I feel for you. I use to have a revolving door on my house, when it came to the children, At one time I thought about moving into the garage...LOL and leting them have the house, just so I could have less stress.
I use to take Plaquenil and never had any real problems form it...but like everyone had mentioned, please make sure that you have your eyes examined, while taking it... also, you could try a OTC acid reducer like Prilosec, 30 minutes before taking your Plaq. if taking it with food or milk doesn't help.
Toni
Hi,
I am on Plaquenil 200mg twice a day. The directions tell you to take it with food. They are not kidding. If I eat I have no stomach symptoms, burning. If I do not eat.... I have been told that not following the directions for taking this drug can put you at risk for a stomach ulcer and or Gastric Reflux Disease.
Now I have a question to ask you Plaquenil users. I have a vague memory when my Rheumatologist first prescribed Plaquenil that he told me I could take two pills at one time or split the doses. I was very timid about starting this med so choose to split the doses. The problem is I work a maximum stress job. Stress and eating do not mix with me. I have to take dose number two just before I go to work. Do any of you take the 400mg all at once? I would be better off if I could take it in the morning when I get home from work and eat my large meal of the day.
Apreciate your advice,
Tmir/Barbara
I've always taken both at the same time(400mg)I have been on plaquenil for about 6 months I have to take 200mg twice a day and I have noticed when I take my morning dosage after about 20 minutes the bathroom is my bestfriend for an hour I mean some days I dont want to leave the house because I am afraid my stomach gets really upset but it has helped with the burning in my wrists so I tough through it.I've always taken plaquenil with food, and whenever I'm not sure a food will take the hit for me, I ask the pharmacist (for instance, milk or ice cream is a good food to take it with but yogurt is not.)
The only issue I've had with it is that it tends to give me gas, I think.
I can't take it because even after one dosage my head hurts so bad I could cry and it doesn't go away! It is weird how different medications have different side effects with different people.I have noticed now that some of you have mentioned it, mild sinus headache , gas and occasional loose stool after taking Plaquenil. Stomach burning almost always if I am careless and take it with no food. I had to start taking Tums for the Calcium in combination with Fosamax. The pharmacist told me to take it two hours before or after the Plaquenil as it might interfere with the absorption of the Plaquenil. Has anyone else been told this? I do know antiacid meds can affect the absorption of other meds. I was checked by an eye Dr before starting Plaquenil and have a follow up scheduled. Expensive as my insurance will not pay dime one for eyes unless its surgery.
Tmir/Barbara
Tmir/Barbara
I had my eye exams today - I hate the glaucoma test! I cannot for the life of me manage to keep my eyes open when they stick that little blue-light tube up to my eyeball. Everything normal, fortunately. Eye trouble with plaquenil is rare, so I hear, but very serious when it happens. My rhuemy has me seeing an opthomologist, rather than an optometrist. Maybe if you get an optho referral from your rheumy, the insurance will cover it?Hello Hatari,
No such luck I did see an Opthomologist. Awaiting humungous bill, coming just in time for Christmas.
Barbara/Tmir
Plaqnenil, twice a day, for twelve years. No side effects at all. It protected me from joint damage for years until I cut my doseage down on my own. Big mistake!Hi Leslie,
Were or are you on only Plaquenil all these years? It did keep you from getting worse until.... Why did you cut your dose down if I may ask?
Barbara/Tmir
Barbara,
I started the antibioitic protocal about six years into the disease and started feeling better so I cut my Plaquenil doseage in half. My rheumo said not to do this until my labs returned to normal, but since they were close I did it anyway.
I had been getting worse for several years, so my rheum added the AP. At this point I had almost no damage. It was ironic that while on the AP I felt better but was actually getting damage for the first time. Even when I was suffering and was only on the full dose of plaquenil, there was no visible damage in the xrays except for a little space narrowing which had been there since the beginning.
leslie
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Hi Leslie,
When you say you were getting worse while you were on the Plaquenil only did you mean pain? Deformities? Was the AP (antibiotic )if you had waited until the labs returned totally to normal supposed to control the RA by its self? Obviously you had x-rays before and after the Plaquenil that showed no damage to damage occuring. Strange and a bummer for you. I am so sorry. Why would the Dr tell you to quit the Plaquenil at all? The antibiotic AP is not a DMARD is it? Hope I am not being too inquisitive but am trying to learn all I can.
Barbara/Tmir
No, please ask. Worse as fair as pain, no joint deformity. I had xrays before I went on AP which was six years later and we compared from year one. I was told that my bone/joints were better than nine out of ten people!
The doc did not tell me to quit plaq...he was the oone that said stay on the full doseage until the labs returend to normla. I did this on my own since my labs had pretty drastically come down ( but not to perfect...). I guess the Ap was supposed to be able to supress the disease on its own once everything was normal.
It is a toss-up on the AP as far as classification. I have seen it called both a DM and AI. Depends on where you look.
Since going back on the Plaquenil my joitn changes have ablut halted which was good news at my last appointment. Little change ofr the past two years. Believe me I go every year now to make sure!
Leslie
Leslie