elleneliza
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Posts: 35
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Post by elleneliza on Apr 16, 2014 8:23:16 GMT -5
For those of you on Plaquenil, how is it working for you? I've seen two rheumatologists in the last year; the first one prescribed this and I didn't take it (my symptoms were very mild then) and when the second prescribed it, I tried it for three days. It gave me such bad stomach cramps- even at the half dose I started on- that I was in tears. I stopped because I was going on vacation and I didn't want to be sick the whole time, and then I didn't start again because I found paleo/AIP. I'm having a bad week symptom-wise, though, and I'm considering whether I should try it again. I just don't want to be on prescription medication. :/
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Post by EJ on Apr 16, 2014 19:01:43 GMT -5
Drugs stink. There's no getting around it. But if you need it and it can help you, you have to evaluate your need vs. the side effects. I was on Plaquenil for 2 years. I didn't have any digestive side effects like you did...but I did start developing cataracts! It can also increase the pressure in your eyes. So if you do decide to give it a try, make sure you see your eye doctor regularly. The drug didn't seem to help my condition at all. Luckily, once I stopped taking it, the cataracts went away. Good luck. Do lots of research-on side effects, other possible treatments, other alternative treatments-and make an informed decision. And remember, it can be just temporary. If it doesn't work or doesn't feel good, you can talk with your doctor again and stop taking it. And my advice is to give yourself some more time...a bad week might not be enough to jump into taking a new drug. I would make sure you're sliding downward steadily, go to the doctor to check your numbers, and examine your diet to see if you can make any healthy tweaks. Then I would consider the drugs. But it depends on how bad your week was Hopefully, you'll feel better soon!
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elleneliza
Ready to join the conversation
Posts: 35
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Post by elleneliza on Apr 16, 2014 19:19:38 GMT -5
Thanks, EJ. Yeah, it hasn't been so bad...and the eye thing freaks me out, my doctor told me about that and said I'd need to see an ophthamologist. I'll take your advice, do more research, and wait. I see my rheumatologist on the 1st for a follow-up, so I'll see what he has to say about my current symptoms, too.
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