Plaquenil side effects

[ginai54]

Hello,

I was diagnosed recently and started this med a week ago. I'm experiencing some diarrhea( normal according to what I've read), but now am also having really intense pain on the left side a bit under my rib cage- like a really sharp pinch, that gets worse if I bend forward, and lift my leg at the same time
( Iknow this is weird), like you were doing an abdominal crunch. I've called my MD about this to see if it's normal, but haven't heard back, and I wondered if this sounds familiar to anyone on this med. It doesn't feel like cramps- and since I just started recently, wondered if others are familiar with this.

Thanks
Ginai54

[kageyd]

Ginai, it doesn't sound like a typical "side effect" of much of anything I've ever used or heard about. Here's a good URL on plaquenil, multiple pages. My Rheumy started me on sulfasalazine rather than plaquenil, but it was 50-50, she just felt the sulfasalazine would begin the "attack" on RA more quickly and more strongly. And I didn't want to jump to meth right away because I love my glass of wine with dinner! With Sulfasalazine I am moving very slowly towards the high dose because every time I up it I bring back stomach pains again (a known side effect).

Good luck, and let us know what that weird pain turns out to be. Kageyd

http://www.rxlist.com/plaquenil-drug.htm

[nikilotta7]

Not sure if it helps or not but my uncle has similar pains when he infections in his spleen and liver. He also has RA. It could also be a tendon or muscle seperating from rib, kind of like a stitch in your side when running?

[kageyd]

See my dialogue with Sunshine recently. In my view all the interesting things are being talked about now on the large 3000 member Facebook Rheumatoid Arthritis Group. I kept hoping others would "come back" here but I guess that's not going to happen.

I'll keep looking here. If you have any trouble with the FB Group, post the issue here and I'll try to help.

Kagey

[Fabfiftyfive]

Plaquenil is a DMRA albeit milder than most. I was taking plaq for several years until my teeth started showing signs of damage. My legs also started showing black spots. Having RA for 43 years, I've chosen not to take the DMRA's due to their side effects. With any medication you need to weigh the side effects with the benefits. Pain on left side under rib cage is not condusive to plaqunil. Might want to get ultra sound.

[kageyd]

43 years!! Wow, that's the longest I've heard of, though I'm new to RA overall. Well, I won't match that, as I was just diagnosed in November, at age 69 (but I have had osteo for over 40 years, with one artificial hip, which makes it hard to separate out RA pains and osteo pains).

Did your RA get persistently worse, or did it sort of settle into what I guess people call a "flare" pattern where you were OK for long periods, and then suffered flares? What meds over the years did you find most effective, without too many side effects? I know those are hard questions to respond to, but any kind of a long-term "snapshot" is of interest.

At least you are living proof that "living with RA" is a good motto.

All my best to you, you are a STRONG person. Kagey

[Fabfiftyfive]

After I counted up the years, I too was amazed. My RA was first diagnosed in my left wrist at 12 yrs. old. Fusion was performed in 1971. Other joint replacement surgeries in hands was 86 & 87. Expiration of plastic prothesis at the time was approx. 15-20 years. Over the last several years they have fractured. I am not in pain but my hands look very strange. I don't advocate joint replacements in hands unless absolutely necessary. Hands take a lot of abuse and the wear and tear is obvious. I had to have the surgeries when I was 28 because I couldn't diaper or hold our daughter very well. Plus the pain was chronic. I did have many short term remissions through out the years. I've tried it all...natural remedies, fasting, methotrexate, prednisone, NSAIDS, pain meds, etc. I have found I am doing ok with minimal pain medication along with NSAID. RA was at its' worse after my daughter was born in 1984. I felt fantastic when pregnant, complete remission of all symptoms! 8 weeks post pregnancy both knees flared and had to have emergency aspiration and injections. Unfortunately I had to wean my daughter from breast feeding over night. I went down to 83 pounds. I really thought I was going to die. Post pregnancy flares are very common in RA women. I wish they could figure out why majority of us feel fantastic while pregnant and bottle that remedy some how. Adult onset, I've heard is no picnic. I wish you the very best and yes you CAN live a normal fulfilling life with RA!

[kageyd]

Thank you, Fab. I've been through some pretty rough patches in life, and I worked a lot with elders in distress; I have immense respect for survivors, like yourself, who just keep life moving along best they can. If I had gold stars for courage, you'd get one today!! Kagey

[thunder]

I was diagnosed over a year ago with RA. By the time I left the Rheumy, I was to be taking several medications incouding - Plaquenil, Methotrexate, Prednisone, folic Acid, Tramadol and Flexeril. When I left, I felt so overwhelmed, I did reasearch on all of the medications and just basically said - NO WAY! I thought I would wait until I couldnt take it anymore. Well, in the last few weeks, I have been just plain miserable - intense pain, swollen ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, elbows..I feel like I have been hit by a truck!! I have an appointment to see Rheumy on the 21st of this month. I am so scared to take all of these medications...Can someone please tell me things will be ok? Or that I should not take them and try something else. This is now effecting my job, my home life, my marriage and my sleep. Please give me some insight as to what I am in for. I appreciate any replies. By the way, I am a 40 year old woman. Thank you!!

[JeniGreat]

Thunder, I am 39. I will be 40 in a few months. I started with symptoms about 3 years ago and have not been diagnosed yet. I hate the fact that I am only 39 and have something going on like this. I hate that I don't know what it is. And I wonder, gosh, if I feel like this now...what am I going to feel like when I'm 60, 70 and 80.

Since you are close to my age can you tell me how long you suffered with symptoms prior to being diagnosed? And what symptoms you had prior to diagnosis? And what, if any, symptoms have appeared since you've been diagnosed?

Any information you can provide me will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[jessielee72]

Please look up Neprinol AFD, if you want to try something natural before you trigger other problems in your body from the RA meds try this one. I have been able to go back to work, FULL TIME. I have been off of work for two years because of my RA symptoms and lack of diagnosis, and also these medications for it. I had enough of feeling sick all of the time. I am 38 with 4 kids and do not wish to live my life like I was before I started taking Neprinol AFD. Within three days of taking this, I was completely off any medications, and I do not even take pain meds unless I have a headache, and it even helps for that too. I am a barber and I work all day long with no problems, I really hope someone reads this and checks out what this product has to offer!! I have been well now for 3 months, and I was sick every day for the full six months before I started this pill. I take the Neprinol and my hormone pills and that is it. It cleans your blood of fibrin that causes inflammation, it relieves pain, it gives you energy, and the only side effects are when you start to rid the nasty waste in your body, like some loose stool, headache, but that is it. This pill mix of enzymes, antioxidants, ect.. that our bodies are lacking. My asthma and allergies are even better from this. So please check into this and read the testimonials.

I am living proof there is something beside dangerous meds that can help with RA. and without the nasty deadly consequenses