Plaquenil and Pain: What Users Say

• Ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2020

For Lupus "I've been taking Plaquenil for 6 days now, and I already notice a difference in my SLE. I almost feel normal. Before, I struggled with fatigue and pain. Since it's a mild stimulant, it helps with my energy, and my body is feeling so much better. I can't wait for a month to be up to see the results more clearly. I'll update then."

• Lum...
• June 3, 2011

For Sjogren's Syndrome "When I was diagnosed with Sjogren's, it was advised I start taking Plaquenil. I avoided it for months because I felt I had enough symptoms already without any side effects from medication. However, it became quickly apparent that the fatigue and pain were not going to allow me to continue working. Being in my twenties at the time, this was not an option. So I gave in and gave the Rheumatologist my consent. Six years later, I have no complaints. I work full time and on the occasions that I forget to take my Plaquenil for a day or two, I notice a substantial difference: pain, unbearable fatigue, etc., and overall being unable to find enough energy to live my daily life. I am completely derailed without it."

• Hol...
• November 13, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been on a roller coaster for years with Plaquenil for RA/Lupus. I take the name brand to prevent side effects of red, warm, swollen, painful hands, nausea, dizziness, hair loss, etc. Each time I try going back to generic, side effects return immediately. I'm not one to comment but I read so many reviews that sounded like either my ups or downs, so I want to encourage people to stick with this med and try the name brand (though expensive) if having bad side effects with generic. It could explain why some people have such opposite experiences. I get Plaquenil from an international pharmacy and it's much cheaper. It works better than biologics that contributed to or sped up the process leading to my cancer. I'm now 'cancer-free' and refuse to go back on them. I might have to get my vision checked and deal with other mild side effects, but pain and swelling are gone on Plaquenil. Anyway, please hang in there and give your body enough time to adjust to the med before stopping it. It's a risk versus reward scenario with meds."

• Sad...
• March 2, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I'm a 57-year-old female that has just been diagnosed with RA about 6 weeks ago. My GP gave me Arthrotech to get me through until I could see the rheumatologist. The Arthrotech made me sick, for every 4 pills I took, I threw one up. I went to the specialist yesterday, and he gave me Plaquenil - I've only taken it for 2 days so far (400 mg) daily, but I'm feeling worse (although the weather has changed - snowstorm). I can't believe how painful this disease is. Does it get any better? Will I have a pain-free, normal life one day soon? I don't go back to the specialist until May, but I can't imagine being in this much pain until at least May. I'm feeling so sorry for myself and crying because I'm tired, crying because I'm sore. When will it start working?"

• Sjo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 23, 2013

For Sjogren's Syndrome "I have been on Ranbaxy generic Plaquenil for 11 months now. I don't think it helps me very much, but I continue to take it because I am not experiencing any side effects. My condition is not well-controlled with this drug alone, and I will soon start an additional DMARD after recently finding out I am intolerant of MTX. My battle with Sjogren's has been so much more than glandular issues. It has attacked my biliary system, causing me to lose my gall bladder and have complex issues with the pyloric valve, lower esophageal sphincter, and sphincter of oddi. This causes a variety of symptoms such as bile and acid reflux, bile salt diarrhea, nausea, vomiting up bile, and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. I have signs of kidney disease too."

• She...
• December 4, 2011

For Sjogren's Syndrome "Plaquenil has given me back my quality of life. I think I've been on it for about 3 years now. However, I've recently stopped taking it as I am having flashes in one eye and don't have the money to see a retina specialist - or an eye doctor for that matter. Now that I have stopped the medication, I am back to having constant pain throughout my body - especially in my joints... and in my bones, and I am exhausted and sleep a lot without feeling rested. As soon as I get my eyes checked and if my exam shows good results, I will be back on Plaquenil immediately."

• Vet...
• May 1, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started this medication a week ago and have had very vivid dreams. I used to wake up with rib and hip pain/stiffness. I also couldn't relax and lay in bed because my body just felt restless. I would say that on day 2, I woke up almost completely relaxed and nearly no stiffness. I also started taking Celebrex on the same day, so I'm not sure if it's the combination of the two or one or the other, but I feel so much better. I am a 31-year-old female and a mom of a 1.5-year-old."

• Vet...
• May 1, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started this medication a week ago and have had very vivid dreams. I used to wake up with rib and hip pain/stiffness. I also couldn't relax and lay in bed because my body just felt restless. I would say that on day 2, I woke up almost completely relaxed and nearly no stiffness. I also started taking Celebrex on the same day, so I'm not sure if it's the combination of the two or one or the other, but I feel so much better. I am a 31-year-old female and a mom of a 1.5-year-old."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I live in the UK and have all treatment under the National Health Service. I have RA, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, blepharitis, and interstitial lung disease! Blimey, I hear you say quite rightly. I say it every day. I take hydroxychloroquine in conjunction with methotrexate and etanercept, and they seem to work well together. However, since my methotrexate was reduced (due to continual chest infections), I have noticed a recurrence 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
• 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."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am still trying to figure out what this drug is supposed to do because I still get the soreness in the joints and the swelling, especially in the shoulders and hands. Some nights, it's hard to sleep unless I take something for the pain in both."

• bat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Been taking Plaquenil for RA for around 6 months. Then, about 3 weeks ago, started having muscular pain, not as bad as the joint pain I used to have but enough to be concerned. Muscle weakness, painful, as if I worked out for 2 hours. Praying it is a dosage problem."

• bat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Been taking Plaquenil for RA for around 6 months. Then, about 3 weeks ago, started having muscular pain, not as bad as the joint pain I used to have but enough to be concerned. Muscle weakness, painful, as if I worked out for 2 hours. Praying it is a dosage problem."

• mar...
• September 23, 2010

"I started taking 400 mg Plaquenil (200 mg in the morning and 200 mg at night) 5 weeks ago, together with nortriptyline, and I started to feel the difference on the last day of my 4th week, the excruciating pain stopped. I had many good days, sometimes I still hurt, but I'm able to walk and feed myself during good days. Before Plaquenil, I had all bad days. Hopefully, I will have all better days now. I have no diagnosis yet, my doctor thinks I have inflammatory arthritis. This medication is like a miracle."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2020

For Dermatomyositis "I took Plaquenil for dermatomyositis, and it caused me to have pain and rash all over my body. Other than that, it didn’t help me."