plaquenil toxicity?

Karol · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:44 am Post subject:

Hey sitsinthecorner

Good news. Wink

Gingerbread Kat · Sea Monkey Joined: 28 Sep 2008 Posts: 13

Hydroxychloroquine (Hchloroquine) has worked, to some extent for me and I go in to have my retinas checked every 6 months.
But I've begun to have vision problems (which don't seem to be related to the Hchloroquine) and am getting paranoid as any damage is irreversable.

My doctors don't like to give me prednisone; but say they're reserving it for a major flare. But HELLO! I am in pain 24/7!
They give me muscle relaxers, nabmetone (for inflamation), prosilic for the damage in my stomach all the pills have caused and for pain: hydrocodine<--which makes me 'stupid'.and tylenol.

What's next? I don't know.
I hate going to the DR anymore as all they do is pile more meds on top of what I have.

What will happen when I stop the Hchloroquine makes me ache to just think about it.

~GingerKat

rere7896 · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:29 am Post subject: wow

I am shocked that your doctor will not give you prednisone. That was the first med my doc put me on and I think you are the first person I met that has NOT been on prednisone. What is his reason for not putting you on? Just curious. I know all doctors are different and I'm sure your's is doing the best he knows how and I'm sure not everyone is on prednisone but I honestly was shocked reading that.

Gingerbread Kat · Sea Monkey Joined: 28 Sep 2008 Posts: 13

I HAVE been on Prednisone but only during a 'Life Threatening Flare'. When I was younger I did take it for a year or so ... but always a small dose.

THEY say that "...prednisone only masks symptoms and serious organ involvment can develop while the patient feels fine....".
"High on Prednisone".
THAT happened to me. Sad

THAT usage of prednisone is likely the cause of my osteoporosis at a 'young age'. I break easily, now.

I WISH my DR would put me on prednisone anyways! I am tired of hurting! When I ask: he says they are 'reserving it for flares'. Hurting 24/7 is not a flare?
.NOPE.
Not for Me says He.
"A Flare" is when I have sudden 'organ involment' or go Septic or some fun like that.

Since I have had SLE for 35 years (or more); I have only ended up in Intensive Care a dozen times. .ONLY.

Now they have this term for Old Lupies like me: Mixed Connective-Tissue Disease, "MCTD".<--you can Google it.
It is a potpourri of everything that is auto-immune they could fit into 100 words or less. Wink

This is just getting too much fun for an older woman, like me.