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Are you taking Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) for PMR?
I was given Plaquenil about 4 weeks ago. 400mg once a day. I was told that it could take 6-8 weeks for it to work. I am feeling a bit better and can get out of bed easier than before I started taking it.
The pain in my legs and thighs has lessened for most of the day but I do take an occasional extra strength Tylenol some mornings. Right now my biggest problem is the pain in both of my biceps with right to left movement which does not letup at all. I have tried getting back to playing playing pickleball and my legs are no problem, but swinging the paddle is very painful.
I would love to hear from anyone also on Plaquenil about how long that you have been on it, is it working and what type and locations of pain you have, or if you have no pain.
Thanks.
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Just started hydroxychloroquine. Rheumatologist wants to get me off Pred 15mg to 10 and thinks that is better with less side effects. Anyone have feedback on that drug?
Hello @mezack25,
I combined your question on hydroxychloroquine with an existing discussion in the PMR support group titled:
"Are you taking Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) for PMR?"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/are-you-taking-plaquenil-hydroxychloroquine-for-pmr/
This discussion was started by @wilckdds and members @menetski4, @reets70 and @jrp11948 all joined the discussion to share their experiences.
@mezack25, you mentioned your provider wanted you to get off of prednisone because of side effects, were you experiencing them?
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3 ReactionsYes, I have high blood pressure that increased while I was on prednisone. In addition, I was very irritable and restless and had a hard time sleeping.
after weighing the side effects of prednisone with the pain of arthritis and stenosis, my doctor has me on prednisone again to manage the pain.
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1 ReactionI agree. To both your comments.
My prednisone dose is so low, 3 mg that I am not too concerned anymore about prednisone. I have been on the hydroxy 7 months and am starting to have side effects like fatigue subcutaneous bleeding neuropathy in feet and nausea. But I think a couple other meds that take have similar possible side effects and when I added the hydroxy it just made these symptoms show up. So will see rheumatoid doc soon to seek alternative medication.
It is suspicious don’t you think?
It took me 15 months to finally get off of Prednisone for PMR. I think there is so much that is unknown and it is hard to pinpoint what’s cause and effects of medication and what they might do to your immune system. I developed Eight squamous cell skin cancers while on Prednisone. Was that a side effect of prednisone or exposure to sun in my youth? I don’t think we’ll ever know, but like you said, “suspicious, don’t you think?”
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2 ReactionsIt’s a good drug. It has helped me through many painful episodes for the last 19 years. I will take it for the rest of my life if I have to. I’ve have had no side effects at all. I don’t know if it helped with PMR pain because I am still suffering with that pain every morning, but I think recovery is much faster with hydroxy.
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1 ReactionI have been on Hydroxy for 3 months at the suggestion of my rheumatologist. I have been on varying levels of pred for 3 years. The pred works until I taper down to 1mg and it is back again.
I truly believe my PMR started with my covid infection and I find that flare-ups seem to coincide with interaction with people (grandchildren) with illnesses. It is to coincidental.
Been on HCQ for 2 years after getting off of prednisone. No symptoms of PMR returned. Also I never have gotten a cold or flu while taking HCQ. Taking 200 mg a day.
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