I've been taking plaquenil for 8 months. It was a tough drug at first but now I have no problems with it. I have had light sensitivity but I attribute that to lyme and co's.I think it has helped me.
Good luck.
Posts: 348 | From maryland | Registered: Jul 2008
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Vision problems are extremely rare, but you do need to get your visual fields checked before or shortly after treatment begins.
My only side effect is ringing in the ears...very annoying, but I can live with it.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Tracy9: Vision problems are extremely rare, but you do need to get your visual fields checked before or shortly after treatment begins.
most have no problem
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96227 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Thanks so much to all of you for the information. It's funny because on other sites, I have seen comments from so many people with vision issues.
Does anyone happen to know if the side effects stop/reverse once off the drug (ringing in ears, etc.)?
I've heard a lot about hair loss, terrible rashes, vision impairment, etc.
Thank you! I wish you all the best! Any other comments are greatly appreciated!
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
This site lists the side effects for Plaquenil:
posted
I am on plaquenil. I was itchy at first, very very itchy. But that has passed now and I'm doing great. I wouldn't worry about it.
Posts: 55 | From New York | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
I've been on Plaquenil for 6 months with noo problems. I take 200 mg 2x a day.
Posts: 847 | From upstateNY | Registered: Dec 2007
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
The ringing of the ears did stop when I stopped taking the Plaquenil.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
The chances of having plaquenil toxicity is pretty rare. As an optometrist and a lyme sufferer, I have seen people taking plaquenil, even at higher doses many, many times over the years. I have literally stopped worrying about retinal issues. I still screen for them, but I've litereally only seen 3 cases in 16 years of practice. FWIW, I take it on-again and off-again when combined with clarithromycin. My LLMD is really cautious about that stuff despite my own reassurances to him.
For further reference, here's just one of many studies. It's an oldy, but a goody.
Incidence of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy in 1,207 patients in a large multicenter outpatient practice G. D. Levy, MD 1 *, S. J. Munz, MD 2, J. Paschal, MD 3, H. B. Cohen, MD 4, K. J. Pince, MD 2, T. Peterson, MD 4 1Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Bellflower, California 2Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Anaheim, California 3Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Bakersfield, California 4Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Diego, California
*Correspondence to G. D. Levy, Department of Rheumatology, 9400 East Rosencrans, Module 3100, Bellflower, CA 90706
Funded by: Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Southern California Region
Abstract Objective. To define the true risk of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinal toxicity by studying the largest single group yet evaluated. Methods. Retrospective chart review of all patients in the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Southern California Region, who had HCQ prescriptions filled from 1991 through 1993 (1,556 patients in 11 medical centers). Of 1,207 charts of patients who took HCQ and had documented ophthalmologic examinations, initial screening identified 21 charts (1.7%) that indicated possible HCQ toxicity. Results. We identified 1 patient with definite toxicity (1 of 1,207; 0.08%) and 5 other patients with indeterminate but probable toxicity (5 of 1,207; 0.4%). The incidence of definite HCQ retinal toxicity in patients treated with HCQ at <6.5 mg/kg/day was 0. Conclusion. In HCQ-treated patients whose renal function is normal, routine ophthalmic screening is not indicated if the daily dosage is <6.5 mg/kg. In patients whose daily dosage is >6.5 mg/kg or who have taken HCQ continuously for > 10 years, annual screening may be appropriate.
bt
Posts: 299 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Jul 2007
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