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Ive just been diagnosed and put on 400mg of Plaquenil but now I feel worse!

Posted , 6 users are following.

brenda25965
brenda25965

I was sent to a rhymatholigist by my GP because a blood test came back with a marker of 57  when it should have been 7 indicating a connective tissue disorder, I had mild joint pain in my fingers and one knee, I suffered a little with  dry eyes and mouth and had a recurring dry cough and I was constantly tired though I did explain to my specialist that I dont sleep well and this has always been the case anyway he prescribed  Plaquenil 400mg once daily I'm taking it for two weeks now and for the first week I was fine and then I started experiencing sever menapausal symptoms , I've been on low dose bio identical hrt patches for the past 6 years because I suffered fairly bad eye and vaginal dryness and hot flushes, I had a hysterectomy 24 years ago, but I've been perfectly fine till the last few days and now all those symptoms are back and ten times worse I also feel weird at times I can't really explain it but the closest feeling I've ever had to this was when I had a general anisthetic and that feeling you get just before you pass out. It seems to me the cure is worse then the condition! Can any one help me please.

 

0 likes, 23 replies

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  • sally83545
    sally83545 brenda25965

    Posted

    Hi Brenda,

    I have been taking Plaquenil since Aug. 2014. (400mgs) I take 200mgs in the AM and 200mgs in the PM. I tolerate the side effects better that way. I am one of those that think it is a great drug..and I feel much much better! I am glad Lilly said to give it 6 months because it takes at least that to kick in. Auto immune disease

    is different for everybody. I tried the Paleo diet and though I felt better not eating Gluten and Sugar it didn't have any effect on my Sjogrens. Also, after being on it for three months I had a terrible flare of Lupus Arthritis and had to start on the Methotrexate.Which has improved my health so much I almost feel normal. Remember you may hesitate about treatment but Autoimmune does not hesitate it can progress quickly. My personal opinion is stick with the Plaquenil for six months then re-evaluate. Try not to be hypervigilant with how you feel find other things to think about and keep moving forward. Allow yourself time to heal and nurture yourself physically and mentally. The nature of the beast is aches, pains

    fatigue and brain fog..you may feel better one day and worse the next. Hang in there it does get better, I feel better than I have in 8 years..no joke. Good luck and feel better,

    Sally

    • pam_87693
      pam_87693 sally83545

      Posted

      Well said Sally, never forget that an AI disease marches on. I know my Consultant is a SJOGRENS expert and suggests a Mediterranean type food intake. With SLE or Lups fruit is essential as we need VitaminC which the body cannot retain. I'm afraid both Dr. P and I both disagree with fad diets. They can do far more harm than good. Likewise internet products from places Unknown. I know we are all different but if you have problems, get a nutritionalist to help. If you have allergies to food then in the UK you can be referred to a specialist. 
    • lily65668
      lily65668 sally83545

      Posted

      Actually Sally, I was advising Brenda to come off Plaquenil and wait six months to see whether she really needs it!cheesygrin It doesn't sound to me as if she needs to be on any medication at the moment, but that's just my view.
  • sally83545
    sally83545 brenda25965

    Posted

    Lily& Brenda!

    Oops! Sorry guys I misread!  I still stick with my advice though. One thing that was confusing for me when I was trying to get diagnosed is that I would flare and feel awful then two weeks later I would be fine thinking I was getting better then flare again... I lost a lot of time that I could have been using to let the meds start doing their job. If you are showing positive for a problem why wait? At some point you have to trust the medical profession. That doesn't mean you don't keep educating yourself and advocating for yourself. I've seen a lot of procrastination on this site..There has been a lot of research done on these drugs... that is why they are so widely prescribed...Give them a fair shake sometimes the doctor does know best. Feel better,

    Sally 

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