1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Plaquenil and PMR

Posted by novabill @novabill, Aug 6, 2021

Recently saw a rheumatologist for the first time. Prior to seeing her I reduced to 15 mg from 20 mg of prednisone now taking 5 mg at night and 10 mg in the AM experiencing what I call background pain. Doc added 200 mg of Tylenol arthritis twice a day for pain and it has helped. Since the blood work, only the sedimentation rate was mildly elevated, she has added 200 mg Plaquenil twice a day, Tylenol arthritis as needed. I’ll add the Plaquenil tonight. I’ll see the doc in 5 weeks - goal is to further reduce the prednisone.. will let y’all know how it goes.

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reets70 | @reets70 | Sep 6, 2023
In reply to @jfannarbor "I have had PMR off and on 30 years with an increase in prednisone (P) over..." + (show)
@jfannarbor

I have had PMR off and on 30 years with an increase in prednisone (P) over that time. I was put on hydroxycholoquine (H) to reduce the P. H has worked so well that I have reduced P from 10 to 4 with no problem. Since I have had PMR for 30 years and reduce P from 10 mg to 0 maybe 15 times, but never so easily. I now think I am in remission of PMR and want to reduce P and H as fast as possible to see if I am in remission and to get off these drugs, especially H since it interferes with my sleep and gives me weird dreams. Since we all have arthritis, I am now have arthritic pain but not PMR. That is some isolated joint pain and morning stiffnesss. What are members of this blog doing for arthritic pain after being off PMR medications? I was on low dose P (2.5 mg per day) and it work well for all my pain.

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I can’t tell the difference between arthritis pain and PMR pain. To me, they’re all the same.

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2 replies
wilckdds | @wilckdds | Sep 6, 2023
In reply to @reets70 "I can’t tell the difference between arthritis pain and PMR pain. To me, they’re all the..." + (show)
@reets70

I can’t tell the difference between arthritis pain and PMR pain. To me, they’re all the same.

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I don’t know for sure since I’m new to PMR, but I think there is a muscle factor with PMR , but not with arthritis.

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1 reply
megz | @megz | Sep 7, 2023
In reply to @wilckdds "I don’t know for sure since I’m new to PMR, but I think there is a..." + (show)
@wilckdds

I don’t know for sure since I’m new to PMR, but I think there is a muscle factor with PMR , but not with arthritis.

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There is definitely muscle involvement with PMR.

Another difference is that PMR stiffness and pain generally reduces as the day goes on but arthritic pain gets worse through the day.

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jfannarbor | @jfannarbor | Sep 8, 2023
In reply to @reets70 "I can’t tell the difference between arthritis pain and PMR pain. To me, they’re all the..." + (show)
@reets70

I can’t tell the difference between arthritis pain and PMR pain. To me, they’re all the same.

Jump to this post

The way I tell the difference between PMR and arthritis is that PMR is, for me, bi-lateral pain in my hips and shoulder girdles with fatigue for NO reason. Arthritis pain is more related to specific joints and muscles not generalized and not bi-lateral. I don't think of arthritis as associated fatigue but pain. I would love to hear from others about this distinction in my mind.

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1 reply
majryan61 | @majryan61 | Sep 9, 2023
In reply to @jfannarbor "The way I tell the difference between PMR and arthritis is that PMR is, for me,..." + (show)
@jfannarbor

The way I tell the difference between PMR and arthritis is that PMR is, for me, bi-lateral pain in my hips and shoulder girdles with fatigue for NO reason. Arthritis pain is more related to specific joints and muscles not generalized and not bi-lateral. I don't think of arthritis as associated fatigue but pain. I would love to hear from others about this distinction in my mind.

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I would agree @jfannarbor . I have both and my PMR after 2 yrs is diminishing and now the polyarthritis is kicking in. Arthritis Tylenol helps as I am down to 2.5 mg of Prednisone 5 days, soon to reduce to wkly. I feel my PMR lingers a little because for no reason I get fatigued. Good luck everyone!

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menetski4 | @menetski4 | May 29, 2024

I developed PMR while taking Hydroxychloroquine for na-SpA ( spondylo-arthropathy). Has anyone else had this experience? What source do you use to check drug interactions?

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pmrsuzie | @pmrsuzie | Jan 25 11:23am

Plaquinil has been suggested to me by more than 1 physician. After reading about possible side effects , I have ruled out taking this med. Although not a common occurrence plaquinil can cause retina damage.
Many years ago I was diagnosed with dry AMD. I started a course of AREDS vitamins. Some years later I had a visit with a retina specialist who changed the diagnosis to macular dystrophy. More specifically adult onset vitelliform dystrophy. I have bounced back and forth between my ophthalmologist and the retina specialist. Every 6 months I need an appointment. I already have vitelliform lesions. It was suggested asking the eye Drs about taking plaquinil. I have determined that monitoring plaquinil and an additional retina problem is too risky.
No treatment for macular dystrophy. The retina specialist says the eye vitamins will not help but I am taking 1 capsule daily instead of 2. The cause is genetic.

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1 reply
sandmason | @sandmason | Jan 26 7:51am
In reply to @pmrsuzie "Plaquinil has been suggested to me by more than 1 physician. After reading about possible side..." + (show)
@pmrsuzie

Plaquinil has been suggested to me by more than 1 physician. After reading about possible side effects , I have ruled out taking this med. Although not a common occurrence plaquinil can cause retina damage.
Many years ago I was diagnosed with dry AMD. I started a course of AREDS vitamins. Some years later I had a visit with a retina specialist who changed the diagnosis to macular dystrophy. More specifically adult onset vitelliform dystrophy. I have bounced back and forth between my ophthalmologist and the retina specialist. Every 6 months I need an appointment. I already have vitelliform lesions. It was suggested asking the eye Drs about taking plaquinil. I have determined that monitoring plaquinil and an additional retina problem is too risky.
No treatment for macular dystrophy. The retina specialist says the eye vitamins will not help but I am taking 1 capsule daily instead of 2. The cause is genetic.

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Hi, I took Plaq for 7 years when in my 20s for discoid lupus. Ive been taking it now for PMR for almost 2 years. Frankly I can't tell if it helps or not. It is a very safe drug though and much of the eye warnings are obsolete. I still couldn't taper more that 1mg a month, and I threw in low dose naltrexone, which also has no discernable benefits.
Methotrexate OTOH has been shown to have zero benefits in PMR, a new study.

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pmrsuzie | @pmrsuzie | Jan 26 6:28pm

They take pictures of the backs of my eyes to follow the progression of this disease. Vitelliform lesions (dystrophy) are different than drusen (AMD).

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