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Why is plaquenil so essential for my pmr medication treatment? No one
I have a 14 year history with a pmr diagnosis and long- time treatment with diminishing prednisone and successful control of symptoms. Plaquenil has always been prescribed. 200 mg. Once daily. I am in a flare up now and still symptomatic at 5 mg prednisone. My rheumatologist suggests p.t. And strengthening is the right path. What do we know about where plaquenil fits in? Do people take more than 200 mg?
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https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/hydroxychloroquine-oral-route/description/drg-20064216
400 mgs can be taken
For treatment of arthritis:
Adults—At first, 400 to 600 milligrams (mg) taken as a single dose or in two divided doses per day. Then, 200 mg once a day or 400 mg taken as a single dose or in two divided doses per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
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2 ReactionsI was taking two a day for 5 years, then down to one a day for the rest of my life. Plaquenel is a drug used for Lupus patients as well as arthritis patients. I also have PMR but it was never prescribed for it.
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2 ReactionsIf I recall correctly from when I was first put on hydroxychloroquine 5 years ago, there is research done by the veterans administration on veterans who served in the South Pacific theater in world War II who had autoimmune diseases and were also on hydroxychloroquine because there had been malaria where they were serving.
If I recall correctly, the veterans who had been on hydroxychloroquine for malaria treatment and prevention did long-term radically better with their various autoimmune diseases than those that did not.
I don't even know if the mechanism is fully understood, but it is a fact.
It is a useful medicine for those of us with autoimmune diseases.
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5 ReactionsIs your dose 200 mg per day or more?
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1 ReactionPlacquenil is prescribed as a first line drug for many inflammatory autoimmune disorders. It is usually well tolerated and effective. The dose is somewhat based on weight but 200 to 400 mg a day is the usual maintenance. However, the longer one is taking the drug more likely long-term side effects can occur. Placquenil takes 2 to 3 months initially to start working so it builds up slowly and is not used for controlling flares with a dose increase. Higher doses would be more suitable for long-term maintenance if flares occur frequently or 200 mg/day is not effective. If one is already on prednisone , a dose increase to suppress a flare is the usual method of getting it under control. 5 mg a day is a low-dose and your doctor could give you guidelines for increasing it when you have a flare and then gradually decreasing as the flare subsides.
It’s important to get eye exams every 6 months and get muscle enzymes checked if muscle weakness occurs, as rarely, eye and neuromuscular side effects can occur. I hope your flare subsides soon!
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2 ReactionsYou're absolutely correct