User Reviews for Plaquenil oral

My Daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis She was perscribed plaquenil For it and helped the pain and swelling in her body Tremendously but it has suppressed her immune system which has caused her to get a bunch of secondary infections other than that we're over all pretty satisfied

I had a very serious reaction to this drug, my entire body broke out in hives, then turned purple and I looked like a giant bruise and then it peeled, there was not a spot on my body that did not peel. I retained water, my legs and arms swelled causing major blisters that left permanent scars on my legs, I also had hair loss. I missed 3 weeks of work. HORRIBLE DRUG

This medication has given me a normal life for the past 11 years. How do I know? I was just recently taken off the drug and have become even sicker than before I was diagnosed. My quality of life went from an 8 to a 2 in just a couple of months. I highly recommend this medication. It has truly been a miracle pill for me. I'm back on it and waiting the 3-4 months it takes to work (at least that's how long it took the first time). I have a great opthamologist who has assured me he will catch retinal damage before I will ever notice a change in my vision, so as far as I'm concerned, I want to stay on Plaquenil until I'm forced off it.Read More Read Less

too many side effects.

The first two weeks of taking 400mg of this drug was hell. Very tired, nausea, threw me in to a "flare" (I have mixed connective tissue disease, with symptoms close to that of lupus.) After that time though, it has gotten better, and pain in my upper extremities has become better! I've been on it for 1 month.

This medication is helping to alleviate the inflamation and pain. My doctor prescribed that I take it in the morning after breakfast but it made me too naueseous and made my stomach hurt because there was not enough food in my system. I switched to taking it after dinner and my experiance is much better. Also, it has cleared up scabs that I had on my arms that would not heal for years. So far so good and I do not have any hair loss but I have only been on it for one month.

severe allergic reaction

My rhematologist placed me on plaquenil in winter of 2015 after experiencing a flare (40% of my hair fell out in 5 weeks and I was ALWAYS exhausted. Even if I slept it was unbearable). I've been on it a year, reluctantly. I do not want to have to be maintained on any chemicals or pills. Now that I've been on it a year the only thing that has improved is fatigue. But I"m not sure if it's because the flare passed or because of plaquenil. I still get joint, muscle and back pain so to me it hasn't improved the pain part of it. Read More Read Less

Have been on this medication for 5 weeks. I believe it has reduced the severity of my symptoms by about half. I am concerned about the eye issues, but will keep a close watch going forward.

I started at 700mg daily which I think puts me into an overdose situation. I experienced daily gastrointestinal problems. I informed doctor and he said to reduce to 600mg daily but the problem persisted. Now down to 400mg daily. Gastro problems not so severe now. My SLE symptoms were minor (Sjogren's symptoms primarily) and Prednisone actually solved it after a month. Now off the Prednisone. Recent blood tests, however, have shown an increase in creatinine levels (1.4 up from 1.0) for the first time (also have well-controlled Type II Diabetes). Can't seem to find out if the Plaquenil is the culprit. Still working on that. No other real symptoms of Lupus (also have Sjogren's and APL Syndromes). I really don't know if this drug is working or not since my symptoms leaned more towards a problem with Sjogren's. Frankly, this drug scare me a little...especially with the possibility of retina problems (and even worse worries at 700mg). I've been on Plaquenil for about 2-3 months. No joint pain, no rashes, just a family history, positive ANA and antibody presence for all three. I'll keep taking 400mg daily until the Rheumy says not to but I really don't know if its needed.Read More Read Less

I have been taking this drug (Palquenil) 200 mg twice a day for approx 1 year. I have had no side affects. I have sever Osteoarthritis in my hands and neck. The constant pain is gone as long as i don't over due using my hands. After a move and unpacking I was in constant pain and this drug has help me live a more normal life.

I've been on this drug for over a year & it's been great for me!!! The pain& swelling are gone. No side effects.

This medication relieved my joint pain, muscle weakness, myositis, pleuritic pain, and fatigue after about 2-3 months of starting the medication. I know this medication has bad reviews but after a few years of using the medication with a dose 600mg and above you risk these side effects. Plus Patients are supposed to get an eye exam every six moths while on medication to catch these sign early. I was diagnosed with SLE at 18 years old and it changed my life. I rated the the satisfaction 4 out of 5 because it takes a couple months to actually change your immune system to rid the SLE symptoms. Also when get off schedule or stop taking it for a while you do start to experience SLE symptoms again. And my last reason is for the possibility of the eye side effects. But with Medications such as this you have to choose whether you want to feel sick everyday for the rest of the life and cope with the symptoms or take the medicine to feel alive again. I personally have never experienced a full blown flare up and because of that my doctor put me on the medication until I'm 21 too lower the risk of ever having a full-blown flare up for the rest of my life. I will not continue this medication after that window to not put myself at risk for eye toxicity. Everyone is different and medications affect them differently but most of these post against the medication are from people who have taken the medication for over 10 years and are of an older age when the body starts to have to work harder to consume the medication. Other than that, I would recommend this medication for a couple years, not for a life-long treatment.Read More Read Less

I have systemic Lupus...took Plaquenil with great relief over 10 years...then woke up one morning and left eye COMPLETELY BLIND. Eye surgeon diagnosed RUPTURED RETINA...little to no chance of saving any sight w/surgery, but might hopefully keep from having the eye REMOVED due to eye shrinking from ruptured retina. Surgery has brought back SOME sight...but little. RUN FROM THIS MEDICATION!!! I had NO SYMPTOMS of eye problems until the eye went completely blind OVERNIGHT. If you ARE on this medication...SEE AN EYE SURGEON TWICE A YEAR to assess the retina...very involved exam, but might save the eye before much damage is done...which you cannot notice yourself...the retina is around the BACK of the eyeball itself. I did NOT see an eye surgeon annually...and my rheumatologist never stressed it or insisted on it. If I had it to do over again...I WOULD NOT TOUCH THIS MEDICATION although it gave me MUCH RELIEF from the systemic Lupus arthritis pain which is EXCRUCIATINGLY BAD. I was told over and over and over again by the rheumatologist that Plaquenil is "so safe" and that eye problems are "so rare" I shouldn't worry about that. WORRY ABOUT IT!!!Read More Read Less

I have been on hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) for 13 years and I go to my Eye Dr. for my annual visual field exam. Well I get bad news, I now have what he claims to be poison in one of the eyes. And they saw a bright light in the eye. So my advice to you is DON'T TAKE THIS MEDICATION! (Don't mean to shout). See if there is another alternative please because it could affect you in the long run. Please stay away from this medicine if at all possible. If it happened to me, it could happen to anyone.Read More Read Less

I have severe RA. Started with Methytrexate, and developed a bad cough and heart palpitations. Went to the generic of Plaquinile and after a year of being on, my skin started peeling, including the palms of my hands and feet. I have never been diagnosed with excema, but now I have told that I have that. And to top that off, I have light patches on both my arms and legs that look like vitaligo. It is a mess!

Diagnosed with Psoriatic arthritis and put on generic Plaquenil 200mg 2x/day one yr ago. Also use Meloxicam 15mg once/day. Stomach issues alleviated by taking with lots of food. Nausea avoided by taking Plaquenil with lunch instead of with breakfast and Meloxicam. Joint pain lessened and I thought that I was home free. Then my hair began to fall out, a lot. I want it to stop falling out, but I am afraid to stop this drug. My rhuemy told me that if this didn't work that the alternative was biologic infusion. Thank goodness for this forum to get our fears out for all to see.I guess that I will buy some hats.Read More Read Less

I was prescribed this by my doctor to wean me off prednisone. After just 2 weeks, I broke out in a whole body rash with horrific itching. Bad drug.

Used plaquinal for 4 years. My skin was darkening on face. Blotchy patches.

it makes me dizzy, tired, and now my eyesight is blurry, going to the eye dr. on Monday. I have been on it for 8 months, and I am very concerned about my eyes.