I'm back on the Plaquenil / Quinoric, Zentiva roundabout. After taking Plaquenil successfully for 23 years, I am faced with the pressure of accepting a generic by my Pharmacist. I have been here before. Quinoric and Zentiva produced adverse reactions. Quinoric, that telltale rash, joint pain and malaise and Zentiva, joint pain malaise and, believe it or not, negative mood swings. Here I am again, proving yet again, that Quinoric and Zentiva do not agree with me. I've done Quinoric (see picture) now it's Zentiva's second turn. Quite honestly though until I visited my Doctor today, I felt like a bone between two dogs, my GP and my Pharmacist. Today I found out for sure that according to the drug book that GPs consult, Plaquenil is still available (along with generic Hydroxychloroquine). Plaquenil is available also online through private prescription. So the story that Plaquenil has been discontinued does not apply to the drug itself but rather to the suppliers of the pharmacies. The fact that Doctors can still prescribe Plaquenil also shows that another story that the Plaquenil no longer has a NHS licence, is untrue.
There is a difference in composition. The active ingredient is the same but the additives, the packers used to create the generic tablets are different from Plaquenil. Our adverse reactions are more likely to be in response to these packers. I shall behave and take the Zentiva for as long as it takes, but I have no real hope that miraculously I no longer will have an adverse reaction. To be sure, if that miracle happens you'll be the first to know.
NB. Zentiva is lumped under the general umbrella of Hydroxychloroquine generics. Unless your Doctor has done some research, he/she will not find it named in the prescriptive drug bible.
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I can't take Quinoric either, gives me stomach ache. The doctors have put a note on my prescription that where possible they are to give me Blackrock pharmacy brand. I seem to be okay on that one.
Hi Nikki 246. Blackrock Pharmacy Brand? I'll have to Google that one. Thanks.
When I enquired about this subject with the company a while ago. They say that Zentiva hydroxychloroquine is the same product as plaquenil it has just transferred to a different company. So if you were ok with plaquenil you should be ok with Zentiva hydroxychloroquine. I know patients have been specifically requesting that the GP puts this on their prescription and they check the pharmacy has it before handing over the prescription.
This was Sanofi's reply to my enquiry:
As you are aware, Plaquenil has now been discontinued.
This product has been transferred from Sanofi to our generics company Zentiva and is available as hydroxychloroquine 200mg tablets.
Please note that the formulation of hydroxychloroquine tablets produced by Zentiva does not differ from the original formulation of Plaquenil produced by Sanofi, the product has simply transferred companies.
There is however another generic of hydroxychloroquine available in the UK called Quinoric, which is also available in 200mg tablets. This version is produced by a different company called Bristol Laboratories, and may have a different formulation to Plaquenil.
Just to clarify for your information, hydroxychloroquine is the active ingredient of Plaquenil, Quinoric contains the same active ingredient but is produced by a different company and has a different name.
Thank you Angie, I'm sure that has clarified the situation for us all, me especially. When my Plaquenil runs out in 5 days time I go straight on to Zentiva. Will let you know the result.
Hi guys I always get plaquenil from my gp and have never been given anything else by the chemist.I am in Ireland so maybe it's still available here.Very interesting to know in case it changes in the future.Good luck with the Zentiva hope it's ok for you. Circles x
I've been 2 weeks and a half weeks on Zentiva and the rash has come back with avengeance, around my neck, front, side and nape and onto my shoulders. My Doctor says she can do little but order Plaquenil on repeat prescription (it is indicated as still available in her 'drug bible') and that it is down to the Pharmacist to provide. The Pharmacist has been told by his suppliers that Plaquenil is no longer manufactured. This is rather puzzling because, as you say, you can get it in Ireland, I could get it in Australia and it is available on line with private prescription. Someone seems to be telling porkies. When a medication is so important it makes me despair if it is being withheld because of cheaper generics, despair and driven mad with the itch!
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Hello Krackerrette. I did read your post, sorry I haven't got back to you. Thank you for your observations. I have been using coal tar soap and smothered tea tree cream all over the area. The rash is subsiding and certainly doesn't itch as much. I'll see how things go. The rash isn't as hot and angry as it was, which is good. I'll keep you posted.
I leave an update from the above post. I have been taking the Zentiva version of the generic hydroxychloroquine now for two months. The 'collar' rash has not disappeared. It fades but is still can be felt in the skin and still itches. It is also aggravated with heat and sun. I don't have any other side effects. I had hoped that I would de-sensitize over time, maybe I will, maybe not. For the moment I'm waiting to see.
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