Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Hello everyone!

I'm on week 2 for my Plaquenil (generic) and was up all night with horrific stomach bloating and insomnia. I've read about all of the side effects for this drug and now know these symptoms could be drug related. Has anyone had these side effects with Plaquenil? Do they eventually go away? Could Methotrexate be safer in the long run, especially considering potential eye damage that may be caused by using Plaquenil? I don't see my rheumy again until October but I was encouraged to call if I had any concerns. Thought I'd run it by this forum first

Hi, yes I am on Plaq. It caused me to be unblievably gassy. I wouldn't even leave my house unless I had to. Lol..I even stayed by my dogs if people came over and would "blame it on the dogs" for my house smelling like ass. I found not taking both pills together helps so now i take 1 in am and the other about 8pm and use a gas relief med in between. It has not stopped it but almost. My bigger side effect is very vivd nightmares. Sometimes it is just one long one I'll sleep thru but some nights are like very wicked , short ones one after the other that wake me alot. When I have stopped meds due to illnesses the nightmares stop completely so I know it is the Plaq. It's even listed as a side effect.

I laughed when I read this reply..so funny! I have dogs too, so I can also use them as my excuse I have had the nightmares and vivid dreams almost since the first night I took the Plaquenil. Those I don't mind as much, they're almost entertaining. I think the worst thing is the recent insomnia I'm experiencing. The Plaquenil is split up into two 200mg doses AM & PM, and I am currently in a dose-down cycle of 10 mg of Prednisone daily (going to 7.5 next week). I'm hoping the lower doses of Prednisone will help with sleeping issues. My rheumy told me that if I need to dose-up on the pred. I can but I'm hoping I don't have to. Thanks for sharing on this!

My only problems with Plaquenil were a severe allergic reaction with hives everywhere, erythema multiforme, had to go to the ER twice, get injections of benadryl and steroids to bring the hives down, it was bad! Ugh freaks me out just thinking about it again. Anyway I had to stop taking it. I didn't have any stomach problems to speak of that I can recall.

Hopefullyl that will go away soon for ya! My allergic reaction didnt' start until about 6 weeks post start of the meds, the doc said it takes about that long for it to get into your system so it coincided together timewise.

Cherokee, that's some bad reaction. I'm glad it was resolved for you.

MrsMMA, our poor dogs taking the blame..lol.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who enjoys a good nightmare. I read mostly horror novels and love good horror flicks. My Rheumy raised his eyebrows at me when I told him that and said he had never heard someone say they enjoy nightmares..lol. Now these consistent, one after the other, short ones though are a different story. I just keep waking all night, not being able to quite remember them but left feeling very uneasy and then jumpy the whole day long. Kinda disturbing.

I haven't noticed insomnia from it but I did go up to 2500mg of B12 this past week for mouth sores and fatigue. Holy Moly, I am struggling to even be sleeping by 2 am even though i am dog tired.

The only problem I had with Plaquneil was headaches. in fact, it did raise my eye pressure and that wasn't good. I never could tell it helped me. However, If I had been able to combine it with another RA med it might have. On the other hand, eye pressure would have stopped it.

I didn't have insomnia with it but do with pred. But , thinking about it maybe Planq did cause insomnia since I had such a hard time of sleeping until the last few months. ???

I used to have horrible nightmares and don't anymore...now I am wondering if Planq was the cause. I never told my rheumy about them so never knew where they came from. I assumed they were from meds but didn't think about the Planq. Well, I guess I have the answer to the nightmares.

I don't rememebr what dosage of B12 shot is but I am starting 2 injections a week for a few months. I really can tell a difference the day after I take one and then wind down a few days later. I have Pernicious Anemia and have to inject B12 for body to absorb.

I had to laug thinking about you that use your dogs as a cover. LOL! We do find ways to overcome.

Hugs

The weird dreams I'm having with Plaq are not so scary as they are bizarre and I'm guessing that's why I find them a bit entertaining. I slept a lot better last night, probably from exhaustion from no sleep the night before, but I do tend to awaken more often after the weird dreaming. Friday I will step down half a pill of Prednisone. I'm really hoping that helps with the insomnia. Plus, Prednisone tends to make me cranky (outspoken more than usual) so I'm sure my family will appreciate that. I do take a combo B vit everyday, I wonder if that adds to the extra energy at night? I will keep an eye (literally) on this Plaquenil though. The vision side effects seem to be the scariest. Hair loss and rashes don't seem like a picnic either. Someone had written "don't fear the meds, fear the disease," but the meds here do all seem a bit scary in my opinion!

MrsMMA - I have to agree that the meds are just as scary as the disease but understanding them and knowing what side effects to watch for is important... because my RA was so severe when I was dxd I was but on Enbrel first (besides pred) and I was really scared to take it but my pain was so bad I had to make a choice and the pred, pain meds and muscle relaxers alone were not cutting it by any stretch. So after talking to some people here it helped me realize I needed to try. Especially to hear from people who are actually taking the meds. I am sure(hope anyway) what the person meant was don't let the side effects from the meds stop you from getting treatment. They have to warn us, and yes it does and can happen but keeping monitored by your doc and doing blood test regularly will help prevent the problems.

It's important try to stop the progression of the disease and the meds are really the only way for that to be a possiblity for us. Not to mention the pain is unbearable, and the side effects of that is just as damaging in many ways. I was in a horrible place for a year and a half the pain was crippling me, depression, anger, couldn't think clearly or do anything.

I was scared but I don't regret making the decision to take the Enbrel. To be honest, I am still scared of it. I imagine I always will be. I would most definitely prefer not to take any of the meds but I'm feeling better and that is worth it to me right now.

Best wishes *hugs*

Linda

The person who stated that the disease was to be feared and not the meds was trying to say that even though the meds have side effects,untreated RA is far worse. I knew I was ready to try anything when I was diagnosed and my RA is just at the beginning stages (or less aggressive) at this point. The pain and fatigue were alleviated immediately upon taking the Prednisone....I had forgotten what it felt like to be pain-free! So I know I have to stop this disease from progressing and right now that means Plaquenil. Guess that I'm saying I agree with you 100%

I was agreeing with you 100% also.. all of this unknown is scary, the meds, not knowing how you will feel from day to day, how it changes your plans and your life...Its funny because I remember my mom saying to me you never know what the future holds and I never thought it would hold anything like this for me and I always thought as long as I had my life goals and the plan to get to them then I knew what it would hold (for the most part anyway) because it seemed like when I followed my plans, I'd reach my goals and my future. I know what she meant now. I think she was just letting me know goals and plans are good but I couldn't really predict my future no matter how much I planed it LOL

I am so glad your RA was caught early, it will really make a difference for your future, it will allow you to learn how to take care, figure out the ins and outs, control it better .. knowledge is definitely powerful .. it gives us the tools, mindset and ability to fight and protect ourselves better.

Is the Plaquenil helping? I truely hope so.

Best wishes *hugs*

Linda