Are you taking Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) for PMR?

I was NOT given Plaquenil for PMR. I was given Prednesone which worked wonderfully. Later, when I developed arthritis (swelling in my hands) I was given Plaquenil. So now I take both.

I was treated for PMR for some time and eventually got off pred without issue and new rheummy found I had Sjogren's so was given 200mg of Plaquenil. Over the last couple months I have developed what I can only describe as typical PMR pain, mostly in my legs but noticible in my arms too. I have recently had IvIg (5 days for Sjogren's neuropathy) and the hydrocortison they gave as part of the side-effect preventative knocked the pain right out temporarily. Seemed classic. So my plaquenil didn't do anything for the PMR pain. However, I just started Rinvoq I it does seem to moderate the PMR pain. I am waiting to see if it holds true when the blood levels start increasing. Will be interesting thing to tell the company about. I'm taking it for Crohn's and RA (the RA dose which is 15 mg). If it turns out to be a asset in PMR also it will be a real boon. Much less hard on the body than pred.

I take HQC with my Pred, don’t think it does any good with PMR but I like to take it when covid cases rise, yes, I do believe it helps against Covid.

According to my Rheumatologist corticosteroids are used early in the course of the disease. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) can be added later depending on the progression of PMR. However, Hydroxychloroquine like many drugs is also used for other autoimmune diseases. I developed RA shortly after my diagnosis with PMR, so whether my doctor would have held off with adding the medication if I had PMR alone, I don't know, but he did say he was adding it for the RA and did indicate it would benefit both PMR and RA.

Do you mean HCQ?

When I was in the process of being diagnosed I was given shots of hydrocortisone in both hips 1 month apart. They worked immediately and lasted about a month each time. Both hydrocortisone and prednisone cause a rise in blood glucose and I cannot take either as regular treatment because I am a diabetic. So this is the reason that I am on Plaquenil. Right now the worst time of day for me is when I get out of bed in the morning and I usually get better as the day goes on. I take an occasional Tylenol when I know that I will be sitting for a long time, for example when out to dinner or playing table games. So far nobody has said that have started on Plaquenil right after diagnosis. Maybe I’m the only one. Time will tell.

I also was playing pickleball (crippleball). My PMR started in December with a hamstring charley horse during a game! The inflammation went up to my butt, so painful for a month I couldn't even sit on it. When I tried to play again both inner hip joints went wild with pain, no arthritis previously, and one shoulder. I figured out what it was when both shoulders, both hips left me unable to get out of bed. Started 20mg prednisone right then, had on hand because hubby is an internal medicine doctor.
So we also had Plaquenil on hand and I started that in April, 400 to start, then 200 after 3 months. I cannot tell if it helps or not because I'm having trouble tapering down, doing 12.5, 13 every other day.
I went to a pain clinic and got low dose naltrexone, tapering up over a month. I can't tell if that's helping at all yet either but I'm sleeping better.
I had trouble finding my own doctor to handle this as my new PCP is so scared of prednisone she insisted I see a rheum, which took 8 months and he blew me off, very annoyed that I was already on prednisone, like I was going to lie in bed for 8 months. He refused me as a patient. PMR people are largely on Medicare and it doesn't pay to fill a practice with us. too common.
So hubby writes my RX instead of my PCP.
I can play a little Pickleball now but I got out of shape.

Funny you mention that. My husband got "it" in June. I was on 400mg HQ for PMR and living with him, I had a head and chest cold but tested negative and didn't feel at all sick.

After 15 years on Plaquenel and no issues as a result, I now have PMR! I don’t know if the Plaquenel helps or not, but I’ll stay on it for the rest of my life.

Sorry to read that you now have PMR, but I’m wondering why you were taking Plaquenil for 15 years.