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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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 4, 2023
In reply to @wilckdds "I was diagnosed with PMR this past August 21st and I was put on 400mg of..." + (show)
@wilckdds

I was diagnosed with PMR this past August 21st and I was put on 400mg of Plaquenil at night, daily. I am interested in hearing from anyone that has been on Plaquenil as far as to how long it took to start getting some relief, as well as if you started having any side effects.

Thank you.

Jerry Wilck

Jump to this post

Hello @wilckdds, Welcome to Connect. You will notice that we moved your post into an existing discussion on the same. I see that you already have a response from @reets70. If you click the link below it will take you to the beginning of the discussion topic so that you can read what others have shared.
--- Plaquenil and PMR: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/plaquenil-and-pmr/

Was there a reason your doctor or rheumatologist started you on Plaquenil instead of prednisone?

REPLY
1 reply
jfannarbor | @jfannarbor | Sep 4, 2023

I am not sleeping as well with Hydroxycholoquine. Also I have some very strange dreams. Last night I dreamed that a city 15 miles away had and atomic bomb dropped on it. I can't think why I would imagine that.

REPLY
1 reply
wilckdds | @wilckdds | Sep 5, 2023
In reply to @reets70 "I have a vascular condition that Lupus Patients usually have so I was prescribed 15 years..." + (show)
@reets70

I have a vascular condition that Lupus Patients usually have so I was prescribed 15 years ago with 400 mg of Plaquenel. 10 years ago, it was reduced to 200 mg, and I’ve been fine. However, I was diagnosed with PMR six months ago, and I really believe that Plaquenel has helped the symptoms to decrease, along with Methylprednisolone. It’s a good drug and it caused no side effects for me.

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Thank you for your reply and I am happy to read that you have found Plaquenil to be helpful for you with no side effects. I hope I will find that it works as well for me.

REPLY
wilckdds | @wilckdds | Sep 5, 2023
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @wilckdds, Welcome to Connect. You will notice that we moved your post into an existing..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @wilckdds, Welcome to Connect. You will notice that we moved your post into an existing discussion on the same. I see that you already have a response from @reets70. If you click the link below it will take you to the beginning of the discussion topic so that you can read what others have shared.
--- Plaquenil and PMR: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/plaquenil-and-pmr/

Was there a reason your doctor or rheumatologist started you on Plaquenil instead of prednisone?

Jump to this post

Thank you moving my post to the correct location. I’m pretty sure that my Rheumatologist did not start me on prednisone is because I am a diabetic.

REPLY
1 reply
wilckdds | @wilckdds | Sep 5, 2023
In reply to @jfannarbor "I am not sleeping as well with Hydroxycholoquine. Also I have some very strange dreams. Last..." + (show)
@jfannarbor

I am not sleeping as well with Hydroxycholoquine. Also I have some very strange dreams. Last night I dreamed that a city 15 miles away had and atomic bomb dropped on it. I can't think why I would imagine that.

Jump to this post

I am sorry to read that Plaquenil has caused you to not sleep well and have bad dreams. I’m sure this must be very upsetting and I hope that have discussed this with your doctor. Good luck

REPLY
wilckdds | @wilckdds | Sep 5, 2023
In reply to @reets70 "I have a vascular condition that Lupus Patients usually have so I was prescribed 15 years..." + (show)
@reets70

I have a vascular condition that Lupus Patients usually have so I was prescribed 15 years ago with 400 mg of Plaquenel. 10 years ago, it was reduced to 200 mg, and I’ve been fine. However, I was diagnosed with PMR six months ago, and I really believe that Plaquenel has helped the symptoms to decrease, along with Methylprednisolone. It’s a good drug and it caused no side effects for me.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your reply and am happy to read that Plaquenil has helped you with no side effects.

REPLY
wilckdds | @wilckdds | Sep 5, 2023
In reply to @wilckdds "Thank you moving my post to the correct location. I’m pretty sure that my Rheumatologist did..." + (show)
@wilckdds

Thank you moving my post to the correct location. I’m pretty sure that my Rheumatologist did not start me on prednisone is because I am a diabetic.

Jump to this post

I forgot to mention that I am also on Eliquis. I assume this also added to his decision making.

REPLY
reets70 | @reets70 | Sep 5, 2023
In reply to @ncgal "I am also on Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) 200mgs twice a day. I have been on Prednisone since..." + (show)
@ncgal

I am also on Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) 200mgs twice a day. I have been on Prednisone since April of 2019 for PMR starting at 10 mgs. I have fluctuated back and forth several times to when I got down to 5 mgs. when I started to get pain again. I was put back to 8 mgs in June with the addition of the Plaquenil. I am now down to 2 mgs with no pain. However, I do feel fatigued and get short f breath easily. I did go for a Covid test which was negative. I am wondering if it's a combination of drugs (I am on Anestrozole after having breast cancer) or just the Plaquenil as I was not this fatigued before taking it. Does anyone else have problems with taking Plaquenil?

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I don’t think Plaquenelis. Abusing the fatigue. PMR has caused more fatigue than I ever had, and I have been on Plaquenel for 15 years. Get your eyes. He led once a year.

REPLY
jfannarbor | @jfannarbor | Sep 6, 2023

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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