Plaquenil User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• Dante
• September 9, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I had Lyme disease and a subsequent RA dx, I have been on Plaquenil for 7 months. 200mg 2x a day and now 1x day, It has helped a great deal. I was also taking Collagen and a few herbs for inflammation, I am doing much much better and able to do a lot of things I thought I never would again, I have occasional stiffness but it's hardly an issue,,, On the downside, I do have bad nightmares, not all the time but they are something I am not happy about, Anecdotally, they may be correlated to Alcohol, I occasionally get nausea and headaches as well but the headaches are mild and only once a week or so. Fingers crossed that the side effects diminish and that this drug keeps on keeping on,,, I am 55 ...best to you all D"

• Sewbi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I'm a 30 year old mother of 2. I have been taking plaquenil for about 2 years now. Initially it helped a great deal. I'm noticing my pain levels rising and now I've developed tinnitus. I'm told that plaquenil can cause permanent deafness. So I'm going to have to seek other options. Methotrexate is not an option due to the damage to my lungs pre diagnosis. I'm honestly scared about the cancer risks of other medications but now I don't have a choice."

• Juelle
• January 11, 2020

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "Horrible drug for me. I was on it for about three days when I noticed a spotty rash everywhere on my face. On day six I was out and about when I started sweating, lost hearing, got very nauseous and then collapsed. I started convulsing on the ground. Fortunately this happened right outside of an allergy clinic and they were trained in first aid and had supplies. I had a cannula for a saline drip put in right there on the hallway floor, an oxygen mask put on my face, and they tried to intubate so that I could breathe. I had very low blood pressure and heart rate when the paramedics arrived. There was so little blood pumping that their finger heart rate monitor couldn't pick it up and they had to do it manually! On the way to the ER my glucose levels were VERY low and heart rhythms wonky. After hours in the ER they determined it was an allergic reaction/adverse effects from Plaquenil. Disclaimer: This was just my experience and was a fairly experimental choice of treatment in my case!"

• Rosin...
• July 23, 2014

For Lupus "This medication worked great for me except for some stomach upset which was I tolerating because I wanted to stay off Prednisone. However, three weeks into taking the medication, I developed an allergy to it and broke out in hives all over my body. So I had to discontinue, sadly. Very sorry not to be able to take this medication as it seems the best one for controlling my Lupus with the least side effects."

• sandy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 23, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking plaquenil for the last 6 months. It has worked so well to reduce my inflammation. Along with methotrexate I have next to no RA symptoms. Do take this with water or food as it can upset your stomach. Also try to eat healthy as I have noticed increased appetite on this medication"

• Joanna
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2019

For Lupus "I have been taking for five years. My ALE is on the mild to moderate side of things thank goodness. I regularly get my vision screened and so far so good. My arthritis has gotten much worse and is affecting almost all of my small joints in hands and feet. The only thing I have noticed has been a gradual darkening of my skin. Which would be okay if it was an even darkening but alas, only in blotches. Can't really say if Plaq helps me and am considering discontinuing it."

• Diane...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been using Plaquenil 3 months. It has helped my RA pain subside a lot. While my Rheumatologist says I'm in the beginning stages of RA, she nonetheless put me on the Plaquenil. However, my hair is falling out rapidly so I have weened myself off of it and will never use it again."

• Barb-...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2016

For Lupus "I had only had a mild SLE flare about 30 years ago. I had plenty of the discoid lupus symptoms, but they were easily controlled with avoiding the sun and using sunscreens,especially in the last 20 years. I developed another auto-immune problem about 15 years ago.(gluten intolerance or or possible CD.) I ate the "gluten-free" Cheerios when they hit the shelves about 6 months ago, and almost killed myself, as they were not gluten free. This touched off a SLE flare of unbelievable proportions! Practically every joint in my body was hurting SO badly,and I had fever and fatigue and did not respond to NSAIDs. Placquenil has been my lifesaver! Adhering to an anti-inflammatory diet for a month helped, also. The price-worth it."

• Science...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Plaquenil for two months to treat newly diagnosed RA. The duration and intensity of the flares have been reduced, but I am still suffering with aches and swelling in my small joints and elbows. I have had mild nausea and am having my eyes monitored by my optometrist."

• Anonymous
• December 24, 2011

For Lupus "I was diagnosed with Discoid lupus in 2009 and I began using Plaquenil once I stopped breastfeeding. Initially, the only difference I noticed was my hair stopped falling out. After taking Plaquenil for a less than a year my face and neck started turning black. My dermatologist is convinced that Plaquenil is the culprit and just recently confirmed it. Between my rheumatologist and dermatologist they're trying to find the right medicine that will work. I've been using bleaching creams for about 9 months and they haven't worked well. I tried to come off Plaquenil but I experience bad headaches and hair loss."

• Charl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 20, 2016

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "I did not have any adverse effects as such on starting this medication except mild skin rash, have been on it for about 4 years. Have been relatively okay but what produced a dramatic improvement was an antiinflammatory , antitoxic diet with no artificial,packaged or canned foods, no sodas etc. accompanied by yoga and especially breathing exercises pranayama dIly 30-45 minutes which produce miraculous results over time."

• Autumn
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "When first diagnosed 3 yrs ago, my rheumy wanted to try Plaquenil first. He did tell me that some people develop allergies to the drug. Sure enough, three months in I developed hives all over my body. Had to stop the drug. Now I have Kenalog injections every 5-6 months which have worked well for me. No side effects and I am returned to my pre-RA self. Plaquenil is a great treatment for many; just not for me. Every person's physiology is different. My GP has also been researching some older drugs that he thinks were back-burnered due to new biologics. I'm researching as well."

• Jesse
• November 16, 2010

For Lupus "The only reason I gave Plaquenil a 9 instead of a 10 is because I still need Imuran as well. Plaquenil is a great medicine but it's important to have your eyes examined every 6-12 months to check for a RARE side effect of eye damage."

• C Wife
• December 9, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Plaquenil for about 15 years without apparent side effects until this year. But this year I have developed severe swelling of the face and red rash on the upper half of my face. This also includes very difficult itching in odd places on my body, my eyebrows and eyelashes, my earlobes, my lower legs and lower arms, my scalp and of course where the red rash was. This was twice cleared up with heavy doses of antibiotics and Cortisone. However my rheumatologist took me off all arthritis drugs and we added them back little by little. When plaquenil was finally included with the other drugs again, it took about three days and my My face started swelling and the rash and and itching. I can only assume that this was the cause of my allergic reaction, even after all the years of use."

• unama...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 29, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I live in Uk and having all treatment under the National Health Service. I have RA, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, blepharitis and interstitial lung disease ! Blimey I hear you say quite rightly. I say it every day. I take hydroxychloraquine in conjunction with methatrexate and etanercept and they seem to work well together. However since my methatrexate was reduced ( due to continual chest infections ) I have notice recurrance of swelling and pain has increased. I am now on 80 mg of morphine ( MST slow release ) x 2 per day and oramorph ( instant effect morphine ) for breakout pain. Docs told me that they know the three meds work in conjunction with each other but they don't know why ! Who cares - give me the drugs. Hope this helps."

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2008

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

• music...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2013

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "I just started this medicine a few weeks ago. My rheumatologist told me that it could take up to 12 weeks to work. I have had stomach cramps, diarrhea, headaches, and worsening of symptoms in my joints. I am not going to give up on this. I don't really want to rate it because I have not been on it long enough. I wanted to comment so that others could possibly get some encouragement to hang in there if possible."

• Anonymous
• January 9, 2011

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA in October 2010 and have been on Plaquenil (200mg 2x/day) and Celebrex (200mg/day) for 3 months now. I've noticed a slight improvement in my hands and fingers as far as morning/evening swelling goes but the stiffness and pain still persist. I go back to see the RA doc next week and am hoping he can either increase the dose or add something else to the mix because I'm still not feeling all that great."

• spunk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am still trying to figure out what this drug is suppose to do cause I still get the soreness in the joints and the swelling especially in the shoulders and hands some nites its hard to sleep unless I take something for the pain in both"

• Grandma
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 8, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have taken this medicine for 2 years it helped my hands so much more like 100 percent, but I can tell that my eyes and getting bad have a eye doctor appointment next month. What I didn’t know was it could cause your hair to fall out - it’s been falling out bad I just found out yesterday that this is one of the side effects so I am stopping this medicine. Hopefully I can take something up for all of you out there that have no side effects you are so blessed!!!!"

• Laffy...
• February 9, 2015

For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease "I started taking this medication three months ago,November. The doctor told me it would take up to three months to work .After the first month the fatigue lessened.I didn't want to sleep all day long,I actually wanted to move.Soon after the occurrence of joint pain also lowered.It still hurts when I push myself to hard and on.rainy days but the pain isn't consistent anymore."

• emily...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2017

For Lupus "I was eventually diagnosed with SLE in 2012, 3 months after my first (& worst) flare. I took prednisone for a week, & started taking 200mg plaquenil & 2400mg ibuprofen daily, & 50-150mg tramadol as needed for pain. In my experience, the prednisone helped to reduce the excruciating, debilitating joint pain by calming the inflammation, & plaqenil & ibuprofen keep it at bay...for the most part. My rheumatologist took me off plaquenil 2 years ago; I still take 400 mg of ibuprofen 2X/week. I still get flares once or twice a year, but they are not as bad...6, as opposed to a 10 , on the pain scale. Tinnitus started a few weeks after I started plaquenil & I still have it. It's vastly annoying, but at least it doesn't hurt! best of luck to all!"

• kat
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I tried this med for mild to moderate rhuematoid arthritis and after a few days of stomach aches I started getting severe stomach pain that had me doubled over. I realized it had begun when I started taking the Plaquenil. I called my dr and we agreed I should not be taking it. Less than 24 hours later my pain was gone. Not for me! Never again... it was a terrible experience!"

• Bell
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2020

For Lupus "I started taking plaquenl about 2 weeks ago for SLE and if I had been drinking around the time I’m suppose to take my pill I just wouldn’t take it and I missed about 2 days and this has been my worst flare up. No side effects. I’m moody but that’s just a normal 21 yr old female. Don’t be hesitant to try this because anything is better than the pain of chilblains and joint pain. Will update in a few months."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2012

For Sjogren's Syndrome "I have taken Paquenil for approximately 9 months and have started getting red peeling sores on my legs, thought it was psoriasis, but now I am unable to show my legs because the sores are so many. Stopped taking medicine for the past week, will be going to the doctor today."