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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twyliah 05/19/2014

I am trying plaquenil again. I stopped last time because I developed very bad headaches. As I inrease the dosage, I am getting headaches again. Should I stick with this awhile and see if the headaches go away or stop and try something new?

nipper69 05/19/2014

I can only tolerate 200mg a day. I tried 400mg but the headaches became intolerable.
If you try Methotrexate, be cautious. I had to discontinue Methotrexate due severe migraines. The migraines became far more disabling than the RA.

Best wishes,

Nipper

deleted_user 05/20/2014

Twyliah,

I am on 400mg a day and had headaches for the first few weeks (2-3 weeks). If I remember correctly I am in week 9 now. How long have you been on it?
I started increasing my daily water intake and when I feel a migraine or bad headache coming on I drink a cup of coffee if it's not too late in the day. I don't know if my body just got used to the Plaquenil or if it was the water, but it has gotten better since. I hope yours does too.

nerot 05/20/2014

I have been on Plaquenil for over 2 years. It seems to me that I had a headache for the first few weeks and that my eyes were light sensitive. After that there were no noticeable side effects. It worked very well for me to control the RA for about a year and a half. I am still on it but have added Enbrel.

Hope that you find something that gives you relief without creating more problems.

twyliah 05/20/2014

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions. I am going to stick with the plaquenil awhile longer. It seems to be one of the least aggressive drugs. Hopefully the headaches will go away soon!

JestersBaubles 05/20/2014

I just added Plaquenil to my regimen of MTX two weeks ago. I had a headache daily for the first week or so. It seems to have resolved itself now.

Dana

confoosed 05/21/2014

I get migraines too - before Plaquenil. I have been on Plaquenil for 3 weeks and have not noticed an increase in the incidence of migraines. I also have a stash of Maxalt, and I take if I feel one coming on. My migraines are triggered by atmospheric pressure changes.

Firstfall 05/21/2014

My husband got occasional headaches on this, BUT it worked super well. Just remember to get the eye exams yearly too...

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