plaqunil

[Diane48]

Been taking plaqunil for about two weeks now seemed to be feeling somewhat better but the last few days i have been feeling a little dizzy but today more so i do not know if this is from the medication yet or something elese so just been laying around today.but the medication seems to be helping some with the stiffness i have felt,

[jeanphillip]

I have been on this drug for many years and yes, it is a great help with lupus. Re the dizziness I haven't heard of anyone getting this symptom but everyone reacts differently. It could be totally unrelated. I would monitor it and mention it to your GP if you are worried. I hope the drug continues to improve things.

[Boldonganny]

Hi I have been on it for quite a while and not experienced dizziness. However w

Everyone is different. Have you got the information sheet that you get with the tablets. I have thrown mine out so cannot look, bit it will tell you on there what the known side effects are if that is any help.

[lupie46]

See your GP. I have been on Plaquenil for years and it has been great for me.

[tintin49]

been taking planequil for 2 months and it did not make me better but i was not worse and was eager to benefit from it eventually.

however this last 2 weeks had very bad symptoms. weak muscles,cant pick up my feet that weak,upper arm very fatigue and burning up all over. high temperature,headaches.

went to gp who told me stop it as i was allergic to planequil. my gp does not believe i have lupus sle anyway.

a week later still very very ill and after several phone calls and anather visit to gp phoned nhs direct who after 30 minutes on the phone said i was having a flare and i must see my rheumy or nurse.

they have a direct line to a nurse but since april i have never known the number. anyway she said that the planequil is to control the flares personally i think its made me have a flare. i am back on it still feeling bad but taking naproxen to help with the pain.

its not perfect planequil so for me the jury is out..

[mstr]

Hi,

I have been on placquenil (brand name Quinoric) for 10 months now. I would say that I started to feel a difference after about 2 - 3 months - less fatigued and with less aches. It has continued to help by taking the 'edge' off my symptom but not alleviating them completely. I have had a couple of flare ups since I have been on them. Also sometimes I feel as though I'm going to flare up and then it is not that bad - perhaps I am just better at listening to my body now when I get the warning signs.

To answer your question a bit better I tried to reduce my dose from 400 mg to 200 mg a few weeks ago by only reducing this every other day (on advice of rheumy previously). I was very tired again and very achy and painful joints. I have since upped my dose to my usual 400 mg daily.

I do remember feeling a little light headed/off balance after about 2 - 3 months on thi drug but I am realising that this was my condition and not the drug. I have also had less stiffness with the drug, though it is still there late pm/evenings. For me the drug has made a huge difference. Marion

[Izzchick]

Hi Diane48,

I started taking 200mg Plaquenil daily (or more specifially, the brand Quinoric) 5 weeks ago, and after my second week started to have horrible nausea and dizziness.

The nausea is a well known side effect, but the dizziness generally isn't although we're all different. I spoke to the Lupus nurse who suggested changing the time of day I take it, so instead of taking it after supper, I now take it after my lunch. The nurse said to try to work through the side effects, but if it becomes more than just a nuisance, I may have to come off it.

Apparently many people also seem to have more side effects with the cheaper Quinoric brand rather than the Plaquenil brand; the active ingredient is the same but the 'fillers' are different. I spoke to the pharmacist when my second month's prescription was due and she kindly gave me 'proper' Plaquenil instead.

The side effects seem to have died down now, although I have mild nausea some days. The dizziness seems to have also settled, thankfully. I also take Warfarin for Hughes Syndrome, so I don't know if that could have anything to do with my dizziness.

I've yet to feel any great benefit from the Plaquenil, but it's early days and now that i'm over the worst of the side effects (hopefully!) i'm happy to stick with it.

If you're able to, Diane, report your side effects to your GP/Lupus Nurse just to be on the safe side, and like you said, it could be something else which is making you feel so grotty.

I hope it settles down for you soon too, it's so disheartening when something which is supposed to help you feel better actually makes you feel much worse!

Sian. x

[Hidden]

i have been on this drug for 12 years now and avent ad a problem i still av flare up and am on naproxing aswell i started going dizzy about 3 mths ago and i thought it was cos i av uprd my tramodol wen i ad a routine blood test it as shown up that my blood is low and gave me iron tablets , not saying this is ur problem but it was 1 think i did not think of f at the time ,,hope u feel betterr soon xxxnow how u feel wen aving flare ups x

[Kirsty2510]

I tend to suffer from side effects very easily but am really lucky with Plaquenil although swear not so great with Quinoric and interesting to see comments about this.

I tried to reduce the dose from 400 to 200 recently and was so surprised to see the difference so I will be sticking to it and grateful I have no problems.