Reviewer: Aka sonny, 65-74 on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I started at 700mg daily which I think puts me into an overdose situation. I experienced daily gastrointestinal problems. I informed doctor and he said to reduce to 600mg daily but the problem persisted. Now down to 400mg daily. Gastro problems not so severe now. My SLE symptoms were minor (Sjogren's symptoms primarily) and Prednisone actually solved it after a month. Now off the Prednis ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I started at 700mg daily which I think puts me into an overdose situation. I experienced daily gastrointestinal problems. I informed doctor and he said to reduce to 600mg daily but the problem persisted. Now down to 400mg daily. Gastro problems not so severe now. My SLE symptoms were minor (Sjogren's symptoms primarily) and Prednisone actually solved it after a month. Now off the Prednisone. Recent blood tests, however, have shown an increase in creatinine levels (1.4 up from 1.0) for the first time (also have well-controlled Type II Diabetes). Can't seem to find out if the Plaquenil is the culprit. Still working on that. No other real symptoms of Lupus (also have Sjogren's and APL Syndromes). I really don't know if this drug is working or not since my symptoms leaned more towards a problem with Sjogren's. Frankly, this drug scare me a little...especially with the possibility of retina problems (and even worse worries at 700mg). I've been on Plaquenil for about 2-3 months. No joint pain, no rashes, just a family history, positive ANA and antibody presence for all three. I'll keep taking 400mg daily until the Rheumy says not to but I really don't know if its needed.
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Reviewer: KatVJo, 19-24 on Treatment for 1 to less than 2 years (Patient)

Comment:
This medication relieved my joint pain, muscle weakness, myositis, pleuritic pain, and fatigue after about 2-3 months of starting the medication. I know this medication has bad reviews but after a few years of using the medication with a dose 600mg and above you risk these side effects. Plus Patients are supposed to get an eye exam every six moths while on medication to catch these sign early. I w ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
This medication relieved my joint pain, muscle weakness, myositis, pleuritic pain, and fatigue after about 2-3 months of starting the medication. I know this medication has bad reviews but after a few years of using the medication with a dose 600mg and above you risk these side effects. Plus Patients are supposed to get an eye exam every six moths while on medication to catch these sign early. I was diagnosed with SLE at 18 years old and it changed my life. I rated the the satisfaction 4 out of 5 because it takes a couple months to actually change your immune system to rid the SLE symptoms. Also when get off schedule or stop taking it for a while you do start to experience SLE symptoms again. And my last reason is for the possibility of the eye side effects. But with Medications such as this you have to choose whether you want to feel sick everyday for the rest of the life and cope with the symptoms or take the medicine to feel alive again. I personally have never experienced a full blown flare up and because of that my doctor put me on the medication until I'm 21 too lower the risk of ever having a full-blown flare up for the rest of my life. I will not continue this medication after that window to not put myself at risk for eye toxicity. Everyone is different and medications affect them differently but most of these post against the medication are from people who have taken the medication for over 10 years and are of an older age when the body starts to have to work harder to consume the medication. Other than that, I would recommend this medication for a couple years, not for a life-long treatment.
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Reviewer: screen name, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 10 years or more (Patient)

Comment:
I have systemic Lupus...took Plaquenil with great relief over 10 years...then woke up one morning and left eye COMPLETELY BLIND. Eye surgeon diagnosed RUPTURED RETINA...little to no chance of saving any sight w/surgery, but might hopefully keep from having the eye REMOVED due to eye shrinking from ruptured retina. Surgery has brought back SOME sight...but little. RUN FROM THIS MEDICATION!!! I h ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I have systemic Lupus...took Plaquenil with great relief over 10 years...then woke up one morning and left eye COMPLETELY BLIND. Eye surgeon diagnosed RUPTURED RETINA...little to no chance of saving any sight w/surgery, but might hopefully keep from having the eye REMOVED due to eye shrinking from ruptured retina. Surgery has brought back SOME sight...but little. RUN FROM THIS MEDICATION!!! I had NO SYMPTOMS of eye problems until the eye went completely blind OVERNIGHT. If you ARE on this medication...SEE AN EYE SURGEON TWICE A YEAR to assess the retina...very involved exam, but might save the eye before much damage is done...which you cannot notice yourself...the retina is around the BACK of the eyeball itself. I did NOT see an eye surgeon annually...and my rheumatologist never stressed it or insisted on it. If I had it to do over again...I WOULD NOT TOUCH THIS MEDICATION although it gave me MUCH RELIEF from the systemic Lupus arthritis pain which is EXCRUCIATINGLY BAD. I was told over and over and over again by the rheumatologist that Plaquenil is "so safe" and that eye problems are "so rare" I shouldn't worry about that. WORRY ABOUT IT!!!
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Reviewer: DMARD, 45-54 Male on Treatment for 10 years or more (Patient)

Comment:
I have been on hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) for 13 years and I go to my Eye Dr. for my annual visual field exam. Well I get bad news, I now have what he claims to be poison in one of the eyes. And they saw a bright light in the eye. So my advice to you is DON'T TAKE THIS MEDICATION! (Don't mean to shout). See if there is another alternative please because it could affect you in the long ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I have been on hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) for 13 years and I go to my Eye Dr. for my annual visual field exam. Well I get bad news, I now have what he claims to be poison in one of the eyes. And they saw a bright light in the eye. So my advice to you is DON'T TAKE THIS MEDICATION! (Don't mean to shout). See if there is another alternative please because it could affect you in the long run. Please stay away from this medicine if at all possible. If it happened to me, it could happen to anyone.
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Reviewer: kathy, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 6 months to less than 1 year (Patient)

Comment:
it makes me dizzy, tired, and now my eyesight is blurry, going to the eye dr. on Monday. I have been on it for 8 months, and I am very concerned about my eyes.

Comment:
it makes me dizzy, tired, and now my eyesight is blurry, going to the eye dr. on Monday. I have been on it for 8 months, and I am very concerned about my eyes.
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