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...
In October of 2015 my Ophthalmologist saw changes in my retina exam. She was not sure if this was real or the result of getting a new , more sensitive machine/camera.
She was slightly concerned, but not overly so. I have only been on Plaquenil since May of 2014 ( she doesn't feel this is enough time to have caused any changes/damage). But she does want to see me again at 6 months instead of 12 months to keep a check on things.
She also sent a report to my rheumatologist. I had a check up with him the next week and he was concerned enough to reduce my dosage of Plaquenil from 400 mg a day to 200 mg a day.
This fall I also changed biologics. It is hard for me to tell whether or not my additional morning stiffness, fatigue and mild joint pain is related to the reduction of the Plaquenil or the if the new biologic is not really working as well as it could.
I have not been in a full flare ( thank goodness) since I was diagnosed and started on DMARDs and s month later a biologic, but I have continued to have some pain, swelling and fatigue.
Has anyone reduced their Plaquenil and had an increase in their symptoms?
I see my rheumatologist in two weeks. Since I ended up changing two things ( my biologic (from Humira to Simoni) at about the same time my Plaquenil was reduced, I am trying to figure out which one might be contributing to my continuing issues of stiffness, swelling and fatigue,
BTW, when I was initially on Humira, I felt very good , but it started to fail and I switched to Simoni because my insurance required me to try it prior to Orencia that my Dr really wanted me to try.
I am still on the same dosage of MTX as I have been ( 15 mg) per week since I was diagnosed in May 2014.
If anyone has experience with reducing their Plaquenil I would appreciate hearing their results.
She was slightly concerned, but not overly so. I have only been on Plaquenil since May of 2014 ( she doesn't feel this is enough time to have caused any changes/damage). But she does want to see me again at 6 months instead of 12 months to keep a check on things.
She also sent a report to my rheumatologist. I had a check up with him the next week and he was concerned enough to reduce my dosage of Plaquenil from 400 mg a day to 200 mg a day.
This fall I also changed biologics. It is hard for me to tell whether or not my additional morning stiffness, fatigue and mild joint pain is related to the reduction of the Plaquenil or the if the new biologic is not really working as well as it could.
I have not been in a full flare ( thank goodness) since I was diagnosed and started on DMARDs and s month later a biologic, but I have continued to have some pain, swelling and fatigue.
Has anyone reduced their Plaquenil and had an increase in their symptoms?
I see my rheumatologist in two weeks. Since I ended up changing two things ( my biologic (from Humira to Simoni) at about the same time my Plaquenil was reduced, I am trying to figure out which one might be contributing to my continuing issues of stiffness, swelling and fatigue,
BTW, when I was initially on Humira, I felt very good , but it started to fail and I switched to Simoni because my insurance required me to try it prior to Orencia that my Dr really wanted me to try.
I am still on the same dosage of MTX as I have been ( 15 mg) per week since I was diagnosed in May 2014.
If anyone has experience with reducing their Plaquenil I would appreciate hearing their results.
Since simponi is an anti-tnf as is humira, it actually may be that anti-tnfs are failing you. When you start to have more bad days than good, I hope you'll be able to switch the biologic.