[ 11. May 2006, 02:31 PM: Message edited by: luke339 ]
Posted by nan (Member # 63) on :
It changes the acidity in cells allowing for greater antibiotic penetration.
That's as I understand it...but someone may correct me.
Posted by tjtighe (Member # 4057) on :
And it is an anti-malarial med as is Mepron.
Posted by lesley1954 (Member # 7626) on :
Dr. J (CT) prescribed it for my daughter because her positive 31 and 34 bands on the Western Blot as well as her HLA-DR2 positive genotype put her at greater risk of an autoimmune reaction to Lyme. Plaquenil is an immune suppressant, which is why it's given to people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus (I think).
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
1. With abx like Biaxin for better abx penetration
2. As part of Babesia treatment because of anti-malarial activities, although some doctors believe it is not effective here.
3. To relieve arthritic symptoms. It's not known why, but plaquenil releives sympoms in people with RA and Lupus.
I first started plaquenil with Biaxin and stayed on because it really reduces stiffnes and pain in my hands. If I stop taking it, stiffness comes back in 48 hours.
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
I was also told it changes the pH (acid/alkaline)to help antibiotics penetrate better.
Posted by lymedesign (Member # 8791) on :
Lesley1954
Dr. J (ct) also prescriped it for my daughter (9) because she is HLA-DR4 positive. She took it for three days and had to stop due to severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. She was supposed to take 100 mg morning and night. Does your daughter have trouble with it?? It makes me wonder if she was herxing or if it was a side effect of the drug. Severe Stomach cramping is listed as a side effect.
Posted by lesley1954 (Member # 7626) on :
Hi Lymedesign, Plaquenil made her very nauseous for the first week or so. She took Zantac several times a day and then she was OK. She didn't have diarrhea. Thankfully, she has had few GI problems throughout her 9-1/2 months of abx -- both IV and oral. I think her early nausea was a side effect of the medication, not a herx. Maybe you could try starting your daughter on 50 mg/day and slowly ramp up from there? Lesley
Posted by luke339 (Member # 8580) on :
Thanks for the answers everyone.
Posted by liz28 (Member # 4946) on :
Actually, plaquenil is not a malaria drug. It can be taken to prevent catching malaria, although it's one of the weakest drugs on the market for this purpose, and it does not cure malaria.
It used to be prescribed in conjunction with macrolides to alter the pH of cells. There is now an advanced-generation macrolide on the market called ketek, which makes plaquenil unnecessary.
Posted by Littlesprout (Member # 7406) on :
I am on 400mg per day because I have the band 31 and the DR4 gene. I have already gotten my eyes checked, was told by the eye doc that I need to do it once a yr.
She has a patient that has been on it for RA, 15 yrs with no eye problems. My friend couldn't take it because it caused terrible ringing in her ears. I also have ringing (going on 30yrs) but the plaq didn't make it worse
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Good Lord. reading this thread makes me wonder.
Why is it prescribed?
Posted by tabbytamer (Member # 3159) on :
quote:Originally posted by Littlesprout: I am on 400mg per day because I have the band 31 and the DR4 gene. I have already gotten my eyes checked, was told by the eye doc that I need to do it once a yr.
I thought eye exams were supposed to be every six months when on plaquenil? Anyone else here this?
Posted by Mathias (Member # 5298) on :
Yes, eye exams every six months are recommended. I did that when I was on Plaquenil.
Posted by luke339 (Member # 8580) on :
How do i know i have an over active immune response? What if supressing my immune system is a bad thing in this case wouldn't that be a bad thing? Like taking steroids?
Posted by Health (Member # 6034) on :
I was on Plaquenil, and thought I was going to die from it. I could not figure out what was going on with it, I did not know if it was a good thing or not,
I thought it was a herx, but when my herpes canker sores started to come out, I then knew I was headed for trouble. I then thought if I did not stop it, I would die.
It was supressing my immmune system I believe.
I was taking plaquenil with minocycline. I then stopped the plaqeunil and added in flagyl and within a week, my immune was better, herpes was starting to go leave, my mouth.
I was then treated for babesia.
I read on here that if one has a coinfection, plauenil could make things worse. I was SO ill on it, I cannot state enough how ill it made me, it was like the feeling when I was OFF antibiotics and the lyme/babesia was coming back, a horrid nightmare.
I am quite sure this is what was going on, because I stuck with the plaqeunil even cut back dosage, but still did not get better, got worse, and the fact that herpes came out, that let me know.