Hi, I haven't posted here in quite a while, but I had some questions. I hope you can help.
Has anyone been able to take plaquenil as your only DMARD? If so, how long did it work for you? Did you still flare occasionally?
I've been on plaquenil, prednisone and zorprin for 3 months (for RA) and am feeling much better. Although I know that everyone is different, I was just curious about the experience of other people with this drug. I'm hoping that I won't need anything else for a while at least.
Thank you for any and all responses!
I take Plaquenil and Relafen. I’ve been on the Plaquenil since August 2004. It took about 4 or 5 months before I got the full effect and worked really well for the next year.
Then, my RD and I thought that since I was doing so well, we'd cut the dosage in half. BIG MISTAKE! I had a terrible flare. I immediately increased the dosage but didn't have the same great results I had before the decrease. I went from having no flares when I started the Plaquenil to having one every other month or so. I wished I'd never reduced the dosage to begin with.
My RD has suggested adding Methotrexate several times but I’m really reluctant to do that.
I’m not sure if that helps or not.
I am on Planquenil, with Imuran and Enbril. I am not able to tolerate MTX so she relplaced it with Planquenil and we just added Imuran because I am not 100%.
I gather that the planquenil is kind of a wimpy drug. I am on 400 mg per day. How much are you on???
Plaquenil was my first DMARD, and was my only DMARD for years. It took about six months to kick in, and pretty much totally eliminated all symptoms of RA from my body for nearly seven years. The only other medication I took was one Aleve every morning. Then, two years ago, it abruptly quit working, and all heck broke loose. My doctor added MTX, and that worked for about 18 months before the pain and flares returned. Now I'm on Humira (in addition to plaquenil and MTX), and am almost symptom free again. I sure hope this combination remains effective for a while.