I took Plaquenil along with Methotexate for a few months. I started having severe migraines but they quit once my Dr told me to go off of it. Plaquenil may work differently for everyone that's just my own personal experience. I know there are certain eye tests you're supposed to get before you start and once you've been on it a few months. Wishing you the best!

Didn't work for me unfortunately. I had rashes making me look like a strawberry. The first 6 weeks were fine but then I had to stop.

It was easy for me. No side effects, no problems, worked okay for about 8 months then had to add MTX (methotrexate). The only thing to make sure of with Plaq is that you see an Ophthalmologist right away (make appointment now may take a week or two to get in) and tell him what your taking and he'll know to do the exam to set a base line for your eyes....than he'll (or she'll, excuse me) need to do follow ups every six months. If the Plaq is causing damage to the eyes this'll show it right away so the Plaq may be stopped before bad damage occurs. That's an Ophthalmologist, not an optometrist....you don't need a vision exam you need data on the enter eye ball. It doesn't hurt, they have new gadgets and software that really does it quite efficiently.

Don't be apprehensive about Plaq. If if doesn't do the trick just wait until you get to MTX which will be next, then the biologics added to the MTX. You're entering a new world bannc, one that I wish you didn't have to enter. But you are, get used to it. If you don't get a hold of the RA you will most likely experience incredible, unimaginable pain. Here's a little idea of it, think of what it feels like to have your shoulders and wrists and fingers and toes and ankles and all those joints are dislocating in slow motion at the same time. If you don't treat the disease you'll also feel it running down the tendons and muscles of your arms and legs (that feels like you have ground glass lining them). Then the synovial lining (look it up) around all of your organs swell as well and they can have irreversible damage. Did you know that you have a joint where the collar bone meets the breast plate? Oh what fun that one can be.

Make sure your RA is competent, if not sure then get another. You must be your own best advocate in managing this disease. Try different diets and things....look at my name and research night shades and RA. Listen to your body, don't over work a joint or you'll pay BUT do not become a lump either, you must move and keep moving. Beyond the joints pay strict attention to your liver and your brain. The brain must be kept as calm as possible (anxiety may be coming and you'll do better if you can deal with it without meds to knock it out). You might as well stop drinking alcohol now because when on MTX, you drink then your basically fry your liver quickly. If your put on Meloxicam (anti-inflammatory,generic for Mobic) then you don't take anymore aleeve or ibprof, etc.

Learn, read, practice self discipline. You can do this, you will have an active, enjoyable life.