The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommend therapy. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care.
hydroxychloroquine: I was diagnosed with sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis in 1998. Plaquenil quickly helped the swelling and pain in my hands, wrists, and elbows. After 4 years, a new doctor questioned whether I really had RA, and she took me off Plaquenil. Less than two years later, my hands seemed to freeze up, and I actually wore splints because of the pain. A new rheumatologist quickly put me back on Plaquenil. I have my eyes checked by a retina specialist twice a year. My only pain now is osteoarthritis in my knees and back, and I exercise and take occasional anti-inflammatories for that. I am grateful to Plaquenil when I remember how bad my pain and the swelling were before Plaquenil.
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hydroxychloroquine: I spent 10 years trying to get my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed - it runs in my family - but because I was considered "young" (in my 20s) when the pain started, and because it started in my shoulders (just like my mother), numerous doctors didn't think it was RA. Finally, a Naval doctor diagnosed it and added Plaquenil when Mobic alone was not alleviating my symptoms. Since being on both, I have had very few flares. I have now been seeing a rheumatologist, and to eliminate the remaining flares, he has since added sulfasalazine and I have been pain free for over 1 year now.
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Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine): I've been on this medicine since I was 12. I'm now 21. I have yet to experience any major side effects. Just recently I've noticed that it upsets my stomach if I don't eat with it but I guess it's because my doctor just upped the dose because I gained weight.
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Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine): I was recently diagnosed with Rhuematoid Arthritis. I have started to take plaquenil. I am having extreme nightmares like never before. I looked up the facts on the drug and it is a side effect.
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