Muscle wasting

[Evaj3]

Has anybody had muscle wasting on Plaquenil? I have been on it for 6 years and I kept telling my Dr that I was having muscle wasting. EMG confirmed this so taken off of Plaquenil and feeling awful off of the drug. Oh have always lifted weights

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

Every drug can have an adverse effect and therefore anyone reading this should NOT stop any medication without speaking to your doctor. Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) has been successfully used to treat patients with SLE for many years and the majority of patients do not have any serious adverse effects.

Musculoskeletal side effects have included skeletal muscle palsies, skeletal muscle myopathy, or neuromyopathy leading to progressive weakness and atrophy of proximal muscle groups which may be associated with mild sensory changes, depression of tendon reflexes, and abnormal nerve conduction. Absent or hypoactive deep tendon reflexes and extraocular muscle palsies have been reported. Neuromyotoxicity has been associated with hydroxychloroquine (the active ingredient contained in Plaquenil) concurrently with worsening renal function.

References

"Product Information. Plaquenil (R). (hydroxychloroquine)." Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY.

Lonesky TA, Kreuter JD, Wortmann RL, Rhodes CH "Hydroxychloroquine and colchicine induced myopathy." J Rheumatol 36 (2009): 2617-8

Stein M, Bell MJ, Ang LC "Hydroxychloroquine neuromyotoxicity." J Rheumatol 27 (2000): 2927-31

With good wishes,

Ros

[skylark15]

Hi, Evaj3.

Once you stopped the Hydroxychloroqine, did you get back your muscle strength & bulk?