I've stopped by here a few times the past few months and appreciate the advice and support offered...
I'm in the mild to moderate range of inflammatory arthritis -- RA or PA -- indications point in both directions (e.g., I have mild psoriasis and my inflammation symptoms are asymetrical, but I have a mildly positive RF.)
I've been on plaquenil since July (200 mg, 2X/day). I think I've seen some improvement overall, though some days/weeks I still struggle with stifness and widespread joint pain/swelling.
Here are a couple of questions that neither google nor my pharmacist had good or ready answers to:
1) I've been getting frequent, very mild headaches. Any chance it's related to Plaquenil? Pharmacist says no, but seems odd I'm getting them now. Will obviously ask RD, but appointment isn't for awhile. Any of you had headaches??
2) I drink alcohol (a glass or two of wine a few times a week). I know you shouldn't drink if on methotrexate, but my Dr. didn't mention it when prescribing the Plaquenil. Yet in my prescription handout, it says to notify my Dr. if I drink and that Plaquenil can affect the liver. Anyone know if I should be worried here? I don't mind cutting back at all, but would like to enjoy a glass of wine now and then (havaing a nice dinner with my husband does wonders to lighten things up in a year that's suddenly gotten very complicated).
3) I'm struggling with the fatique part of this -- does the plaquenil help just the joint symptoms, or should it be alleviating the tiredness too?
Thanks so much for any input!
Welcome to the board! You will find a lot of support and caring people here.
Plaquenil is a first line drug that is prescribed for RA. And like any other drug, it may not work or it may stop working. Sometimes using another biologic in conjunction with Plaquenil works a lot better. You should have more relief than what you are getting. I was on Plaquenil at one time also and experienced headaches once in awhile from it. Best thing to do is just give a quick call to the rd office and talk to his/her nurse or assistant about it.
A lot of people enjoy moderate drinking while on RA meds. It all depends on what your bloodwork shows the condition your liver is in. Keep in mind that all these meds can affect your liver. Just make sure that you go to all of your bloodwork appointments so there are no surprises.
I wish I could find something to relieve the fatigue!! I am on humira and mtx and still battle fatigue! I think most of us do and it is one the most frustrating aspects of this weird disease. Exercise, frequent breaks if you are working or cleaning, and listening to your body when it says to rest have helped me a little bit in the battle of fatigue. So does once in awhile just breaking loose and having fun.
Hope I was able to help you out a bit. Take it easy and take care. Look forward to hearing more from you!
[QUOTE=grammaskittles]
Hope I was able to help you out a bit. Take it easy and take care. Look forward to hearing more from you!
[/QUOTE]
I take a Milk Thistle and Dandelion supplement for liver cleansing and all of my tests have been great for liver function. It is inexpensive and readily available.
Take care,
Suzimom. I've had quite the opposite effect as you. My RA started as dailySuzimom,
I was diagnosed tentatively with RA (mild/moderate) in September and have been on the same dosage as you since then. I can't figure out myself if I'm getting better or not! There are days when I wake up and think - whoa, I'm getting better! I zip down the stairs, feel amost no pain while dressing my girls, and so forth. Then the next day or that night, BAM, something starts hurting, dang it! I, too, wonder how I'm supposed to know that the drug is working. Is it just supposed to keep anything worse than what I have from happening, or is it supposed to get the pain/swelling to zero?
I also suffer from the obssessed about every symptom thing. I think I know far more than I ever did about how my hands look, every wrinkle and crack as I stare at them and wonder what the h##l is going on inside there! I find that if I keep my brain really busy, I can forget about this for oh, say, five minutes! Am hoping that this will increase to something more!!!
Haven't had any more than usual headaches, and I still drink my wine - I agree that I will NOT let this disease take life's little pleasures from me!
Eileen
Suzimom - Just to add that I too started on plaquinel, as you know it takes time to feel any benefit but the rheumatologist was anxious to combine it with MTHX right from the start. I opted only for the plaquinel for two months but then added the MTHX.(the fear factor!!) I think the combination of the two works better, I had some headaches in the beginning but they disappeared, fatigued occurred a lot more in the beginning of the treatment as well, now it's not too bad at all. Still get pain bit nothing like it was in the early stages so at this point I would say that the combination of the two is helping, my rheumatologist seems to think so anyway. We all know that things could change down the line but I keep my fingers crossed for now. Plaquinel/mthx could take roughly 3 months before you feel any benefit. Good Luck. Gillian [QUOTE=Calgary] Suzimom - Just to add that I too started on plaquinel,