Hydroxychloroquine - thigh muscle weakness?

I’m not sure if you’ve tried Plaquenil instead the generic because of the cost. I was not able to take the generic, it gave me terrible stomach aches.
Plaquenil is very expensive for sure but it’s worth a try. When given the right dosage, it really does provide a lot of relief of pain etc from Sjogrens… hopefully without side affects.

Best Regards.

I have taken Plaquenil for Systemic Lupus for 30 yrs. I became blind in my left eye from a blood clot so taking care of my right eye was imperative . Plaquenil caused irreparable retinal damage as well as increased my pressures. It did however reduced my symptoms of 70%. It also caused me to fall very frequently.

What med are you taking now since you aren’t taking plaquenil ?

Hi - now that you mention it, I think I had that issue also. I was put on it for suspected PMR. I was on it for 5 months, and it did nothing to allow me to reduce my steroid dose. But what I did notice was my right thigh muscle (the left to a lesser extent) hurt like crazy when I walked up stairs. I thought it was from the PMR, but my new rheumy took me off of that and put me on a different med. I have been off the plaquenil for 1 month and I have no more pain in my thigh when I go up stairs.

I also have PMR and have been on steroids for 16 months . I have had muscle weakness in my quads walking up stairs and the dr thought it was from steroids. I started Plaquenil 4 weeks ago and now I have muscle weakness and pain, not on.y in my quads, but in my calves and biceps. Is it the Plaquenil? Will call dr . Not sure what is going on.

I can't believe I am reading this. I have PMR, but to get me to try to taper steroids, the rheum started me on generic Plaquenil. My right thigh muscle hurts, and walking up stairs is an issue - I can do it, but it hurts. I am trying to think back to if this was an issue when I was not on the Plaquenil - I have been on it for 4-5 months now, so it's hard to remember. I'm seeing rheum again in a couple of weeks and will ask about this. Thank you so much for this info. If I decide to cut back on it after talking to rheum, I will return here with an update. I fully understand that it could be pain associated with PMR, but I can tell you for sure I didn't have this pain when PMR first showed up. That pain was in my hips, shoulders, neck, and knee joints, but never in my thigh muscle.

Hi
I was very fit and active, a keep fit enthusiast until two years when I became unwell suddenly with breathlessness, chest pain, severe myalgia and pain in hands. Investigated in the acute admissions unit, diagnosed SLE.
Treatment with hydroxychlorquin 2oo mg twice daily was commenced, and continue to remain on it.
In the last 6 months I have suffered immensely with pain in my right leg and calf and more recently in my left leg. I get cramps and I have no energy to walk. I cannot climb stairs, i have to pull myself up holding on to the railings. When bad i am on my fours like a baby.
I was prescribed Methotrexate today. When I asked my Rheumy advised me to continue with hydroxychloroquine.
I have had enough. I am stopping this medication today.
I have taken this decision after the very helpful comments made by people like me who have suffered in the past
This is indeed a very valuable site

Hi. I have been on plaquenil for about 3 years now. I walk my dogs 4 miles a day and have always been active. For the past year, My legs have become progressively weak and tired all the time. It is difficult to climb one flight of stairs let alone a small hill. My PCP ruled out a vascular problem and said it is probably the plaquenil. My rheumatologist said it wasn’t the plaquenil but after doing my own research, I think I am going to stop it. I am on it for a mixed connective tissue disease. I think I felt better off it. I am of normal weight and active. No other medical problems but my legs feel like they are 30 years older than the rest of me!

I started taking this on 10/28/16 and have experienced every single side effect listed treatment was for autoimmune suppression. sjogrens syndrome, fibromyalgia and raynauds flare up. I was hospitalized for a week bc I suffered terrible muscle atrophy and weakness and couldn't stand up without collapsing I hit rock bottom on 11/1 and was hospitalized for one week three days ago i crashed and burned also went down 7 pounds since taking it and am 5'6" and now weigh 105 pounds. I called my dr on Saturday, 11/26/16 advised my doctor that I was feeling horrible,weak legs were terribly painful and he ignored my concerns. I have stopped taking it now two days and am starting to feel better. I still have terrible blurred vision, buzzing in the ears and of course still weak due to severe muscle atrophy and weight loss but so much better. Get off this stuff!! Its not good

Hi, although Plaquenil is prescribed for autoimmune diseases, such as yours, it can actually add to/increase the number of the symptoms. Muscle damage and (leg) pain being just 2 examples. It is great that you have responded so well to the new medication. I haven't taken either of these medications, but it thought it may help to know that the symptoms you experienced are common, so the discontinuation of Plaquenil could indeed improve these areas. Hopefully you will hear from someone who you can identify with : )