plaquenil for rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 02-27-08 18:28pm
I'll try to make this short. I'm 38, have
rheumatoid arthritis (otherwise, in
excellent health). I have heard/read
horror stories about this disease (and
have my own unfortunate stories) but I
want to tell EVERYONE about the medication
my doctor prescribed. It's called GENERIC
NAME: hydroxychloroquine / BRAND NAME:
Plaquenil. Unlike ALL the other
medications with serious side effects,
mortality rates, etc. etc., this one works
for me. Virtually no side effects (a
very, very small percentage of people will
have eye problems. I spoke with my eye
doctor and in his 25 years of practice, he
has NEVER some across anyone who is on
plaquenil to have contracted any eye
problems).
Please talk to your doctor and really
press the issue if they don't agree with
giving this medication a try. It's been
around for decades. Why ALL doctors don't
recommend it is still a mystery to me.
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1873 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
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Thanked:10
Posted: 03-05-08 05:05am
Plaquenil belongs to group of drugs known
as disease-modifying, anti-rheumatic drugs
and is usually used as second line in
therapy of RA like slow-acting medicine.
Did the treatment with NSAIDs fail?
For how long you are using Plaquenil?
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dawnleonardi
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 3
plaquenil for rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 03-06-08 18:20pm
My first doctor prescribed mobic (didn't
work) and then was recommending steriods
and a myriad of other medications. I
switched doctors and he prescribed 8 mg of
medrol for two months, simultaneously
taking 400 mg plaquenil a day (my doctor
stating that it takes approximately 2
months for the plaquenil to take effect).
After 4 months of 400 mg plaquenil a day,
I'm now at 200 mg a day (total 6 months so
far). I go back to the doctor in June
2008 for a check up. I don't know if
everyone will have the same effect - but
before plaquenil, I was immobile
(everything from my ankles, knees,
shoulders, fingers - you name it, couldn't
move it).
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1873 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 20
Thanked:10
Posted: 03-17-08 06:06am
Retinopathy (irreversible retinal damage)
are dose-related, and has been observed in
some patients who had received long-term
or high-dosage therapy of Plaquenil.
Have you been examined by ophthalmologist
before starting the treatment?
Are you aware that you need to do
periodical exams of eyes at least every 3
months?
Have you been tested for your knee and
ankle reflexes after months of Plaquenil
use?
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