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Plaquenil and PMR
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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I can’t tell the difference between arthritis pain and PMR pain. To me, they’re all the same.
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 ReactionThere 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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1 ReactionThe 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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4 ReactionsI 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!
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?
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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3 ReactionsHi, 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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4 ReactionsThey take pictures of the backs of my eyes to follow the progression of this disease. Vitelliform lesions (dystrophy) are different than drusen (AMD).