I just started plaquenil a week ago and feel terrible . I've never had tendinitis but I suppose that is what I now have in my neck shoulder area. My muscle/tendon is so tight it feels like a guitar strings and pops when massaged. Is plaquenil as dangerous as The FQ drugs? I am on a new abx regimen of plaquenil and clindamycin and feel horrible. I know it could also be a herx but feeling like this is not worth it.
I have been doing pretty well for several years… Back to 90% of my previous health most of the time. I began to experience a little more fatigue recently so went to my LL M.D. who recommended this treatment to hopefully eradicate lyme once and for all.
However now I'm worried that I could have caused permanent damage? Does plaquenil have the same dangers as Levaquin? thoughts?
Posted by bluelyme (Member # 47170) on :
Hi tx , i dont believe plaq is in the floruidinated drugs ...ther is a list that tutu had ...it does have a extremly long half life like 6 wks and can effect eyes .it is immunosuppressive and may have anti babs cyst busting abilities but maybe try alinia or tinidazole ...?
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) is a quinolone.
Fluoroquinolones are a combination of quinolones with fluoride.
The quinolone is one of the problem in fluoroquinolones.
I got refloxed on a plain, old quinolone drug. Ankle swelled up horribly.
Some people believe it's the fluoride that causes the quinolone part to go even deeper into the body.
Personally, I have no problem with fluoride. It's the quinolone part that does me in.
I got horrible problems from both fluoroquinolones (levaquin) and quinolones (primaquine).
Tinidazole also causes peripheral neurapathy and tendon problems. Be careful.
I wish I knew all this before I took any of these.
Posted by TxLymie (Member # 20847) on :
Thanks for the replies! I am still a bit confused though. Is there a difference in quinolones and quinolines. Spelling is almost the same.
And is there any way to tell if the quinolone (Plaq) is causing me issues...or is it a Herx? I already stopped taking plaq because I don't want to take my chances. I also had a lot of heart fluttering today...which is not a normal symptom for me. In fact, I feel so much worse now than when I went to the doc. I was actually not doing that bad but just wanted to knock out the Lyme once and for all but I'd rather just live with the "manageable symptoms" I had than feel like this....I have crazy fatigue, major joint and tendon pain, heart fluttering and can't sleep!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I've researched this some more. QuinolINEs are not quinolones. It appears that quinolONEs are quinolINEs. I had it backwards the last time I posted about this. Quinolines are the superclass. Quinolones are the subclass.
So plaquenil isn't a quinolone, it's a quinoline. I'd venture to say that since they're basically derived from the same stuff though, they both could be harmful.
Also, plaquenil can rarely cause heart issues too.
[ 08-05-2016, 10:35 PM: Message edited by: SickSam ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
NO wonder I can't tolerate either group. It contains a "benzene ring."
I'm pretty sure that is related to salicylates. No phenols or benzoates, etc.