HEADACHES | Arthritis Information

HI ALL,

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RA A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND HAVE BEEN PUT ON PLAQUINIL AND MTX. I HAD HEADACHES FROM THE MEDS, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE WAS CAUSING THEM.

I'VE BEEN DOING SO WELL WITH THE RA THAT THE DOC TOLD ME TO TRY CUTTING THE PLAQUINIL DOSAGE IN HALF. AFTER THREE DAYS, I DEVELOPED A BAD HEADACHE THAT HAS LASTED FOR A DAY AND A HALF. HAVE ANY OF YOU HAD HEADACHE PROBLEMS AFTER STARTING MEDS OR GETTING OFF OF MEDS?

THANKS FOR ANY FEED BACK, AND MANY PAIN FREE DAYS!

DON

Hi Don,

Are your headaches migraines? A week or so after starting Plaquenil and Prednisone I had a horrible week of migraines and still get migraines fairly regulary. I take Imitrex for it.

I'm pretty sensitive to headaches, and have certain triggers--being very hungry, squinting, hormonal fluctuations. If you experience tension headaches, it could be that the arthritis pain itself is triggering headaches (probably more likely if you experience pain in your jaw or neck).

Hopefully, you won't have many more of those headaches, but if they do persist, your doctor might have some suggestions for reducing them.

HI WILLOW,

I'VE NEVER BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH MIGRAINS, BUT I THINK I DO GET THEM. I HAD BAD HEADACHES BEFORE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RA. IT NOW SEEMS THAT PLAQUINIL TRIGGERS THE HEADACHES AND IF I START USING EXCEDRIN AS SOON AS I FEEL THE HEADACHE START, I CAN KEEP IT FROM GETTING TOO BAD. I HAVE A CALL IN TO THE DOC NOW ABOUT THE BAD HEADACHE I HAD LAST NITE AND I'LL MENTION IMITREX TO HIM AND SEE WHAT HE SAYS.

THANKS FOR RESPONDING

I tried mtx and got headaches from it- I only tried it once. Headaches didn't bother me as much with the plaquenil, it felt like it was a less severe treatment. Hope this helps