Hi wondering if any of you on Plaquenil have experienced itching? I get extremely itchy just above my knees. It is so distressing that I scratch so much until i am bruised and I am in tears!
Not sure if the plaquenil is helping my RA but if I come off it then I might see a decline in health.
Anyone help?
Tartankiwi
hi tartankiwi
I have been on plaquinil for 2 years now. The first 2 weeks were awful, I itched like hell all over. The dr told me to double my daily antihestimine tablet, (I have excema) it worked. I too itch above my knees and other places too but it isn't as unbearable as at was first, but I don't mind as plaquinil is the least toxic ra drug. Just make sure you always take it with food or else you'll get stomach ache which is very painful. I take citrazene. Hope this helps.
I've just started medication for arthritis and I've been on Plaquenil for only about 3 months. At first my rheumy put me on prednisone but she doesn't think it's a good drug to take for the long term and weaned me off of it only after a month and a half and started me on plaquenil. I haven't had any side effects at all, I heard people get bad rashes or stomach problems but I haven't felt any bad effects. I just had SOME itching but it went away after a day or two. I do have some darkening on the skin on the side of my face but I also take birth control pills (ortho trycyclen lo) and that is a known side effect of the Pill, so maybe with the Plaquenil it's more noticeable. But it's nothing a little makeup can't fix.
I was concerned about getting rashes/itchiness too as I had eczema as a child (I eventually outgrew it) but it didn't come back when I got on the plaquenil. The itchiness I felt was very minor and I think that was also because of the changing weather and me being lazy about putting on sunscreen (a big no no). I don’t feel it anymore.