LymeNet Flash: PLAQUENIL

This is topic PLAQUENIL in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/51280

Posted by Debs (Member # 11003) on :

I am in chronic back and leg pain and saw my lyme doctor today and he gave me aprescription for plaquenil.

Any advice on this and side effects?

Thanks

debs : )

Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :

Anxiety.

Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :

are you combining the plaquenil with a macrolide antibiotic? plaquenil will alkilinise your cells and allow better penetration for the macrolide abx to get at the lyme.

I found plaquenil very tolerable after an initital phase of about 2 weeks to get used to. it gave me a bad headache at first and made my eyeballs hurt. then i never noticed any side effects.

good luck!

Posted by Lisianthus (Member # 6631) on :

Here is a few links to the side effects of plaquenil:

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/pla1337.shtml

http://www.medicinenet.com/hydroxychloroquine/article.htm

Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :

I took plaq for 3 years with my abx with no side effects but some dizzines which I am not sure where not from herxing. But I feel it make my herx's more intense.

go to www.drugdigest.com & type in Plaquenil. Very helpful site

take care & hope your pain lets up soon [group hug]

ps-You need to have your vision checked more often when taking plaq & also make sure to get a field vision test with that too.

Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :

Plaquenil can reduce inflammation. I am assuming that is what you are taking it for, since you mention pain. I've heard it mostly for hand pain.

If you will likely be on it long-term, you need to get regular eye tests, because it can cause eye damage over the long-term. You get a visual fields test when you begin taking the Plaquenil and then again every six months.

This way you notice the start of damage while it is reversible. My eye doctor has seen the damage, but it usually takes many years. And he sad the bad cases are where the patient never got their eyes tested for Plaquenil.

If you have good health insurance, they should cover it because it is a side effect of a medication. But check with them first.