Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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art4life19 02/16/2018

I just started taking Plaquenil 200mg twice a day. Added to Methotrexate 2.5 mg 8 tablets once a week. 5 mg of Prednisone twice a day and 800mg of Motrin twice a day. And I am still in a lot of pain! I can't wait for it to kick in hopefully it will. I don't just have RA though I also have Osteoarthritis, Scoliosis, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatique Syndrome all of which give me pain. I was also in a car accident years ago that caused damage to my neck and back. I use mineral ice gel or something like it that I buy at the dollar tree called icy blue gel for muscle rub it works well it is warm for a while and cool for a while when you put it on there is a lot of menthol in it which i like very icy. Anyway I feel like I am going to pull my hair out waiting for this medicine to kick in and work! My back is killing me , my knees and my wrist is very weak and tender I can't lift anything it is slightly swollen and it hurts everytime i move it which is alot considering it is my hand which i have to do everything with. I need a brace that I can wear that goes up to my wrist.

californialynn 02/16/2018

Just my opinion.....

Why oh why oh why even bother with Plaquenil?

Is there some reason why you're not on biologics?

WarriorGal 02/16/2018

I ditto Calif...and what is "recently"?

art4life19 02/17/2018

I started taking Plaquenil this month. I think Plaquenil is a biologic.

Kimhurts 02/17/2018

Plaquenil is not a biologic and I agree with Lynn and Warrior. I will be shocked if you get anything significant from that med. I take it, but I take it with MTX and a biologic. I honestly don't know why I take it other than my doctor told me to. It isn't cheap. Maybe I should ask my doctor if I can drop it and save money.

Did you ask for a biologic and the doctor gave you Plaquenil? How long did they tell you it would take to work?

peppyest 02/18/2018

Good luck with Plaquenil.It's an old drug and very slow mover.I found it useless. and told my Dr I was done and he agreed.Try to keep the prednisone as low as you can.One of my biggest regrets is going on it,it's caused a lot of damage.I'm finally down to 11mg and have a lot of pain but refuse to increase it.

peppyest 02/18/2018

Oh and plaquenil is not a biologic.

nonightshades2 02/19/2018

Plaq is the bottom rung of meds....usually fewer potential side effects and some insurance companies require it first before stepping up to the next level and if your taking MTX with it and it doesn't work then you'll most likely drop the Plaq, keep the MTX and add abiologic.

If you haven't already make sure to get a base line established of your retina and have it checked every six months to avoid the Plaq damaging your eyes.

art4life19 02/20/2018

thanks for the advice I thought I would give it a try but I don't think it is working but I don't know how long it takes to work.

californialynn 02/20/2018

Insist on a biologic, and if not that, insist on MTX.

MarleneJ 02/21/2018

Plaquenil is a waste of time, supposed to be what they start you on for some insurance. I just recently found out it can damage your eyes for up to 5 years after you come off of it.

I have been on it twice, a year each time, and it did nothing, Time to demand a biologic. Or find a new rheumatologist.

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