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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Muscles & Bones
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Simponi or Plaquiryl

connect2u
connect2u
Hi Everyone,
One of my doctors recommended that I add the medicine Simponi or Plaquiryl. Has anyone tried either one of these, or have any knowledge of these two drugs? I especially am interested in any problems or complications that go along with these medicines. Thanks and wishing you all many pain free days to come.
Emerald22
Emerald22
I haven't taken either of them so I can't speak to side effects or efficacy but I'm pretty sure plaquinel is a dmard like methotrexate and Simponi is a biologic. I dont know if Simponi is an infusion or an injection.

I'm starting Remicade next month which is an infusion & my rheumy said Simponi Aria will be next if Remicade fails. Im assuming Simponi and Simponi Aria are the same med but maybe they're different?? If so just ignore everything I just said. Lol

Sorry I couldn't help more!

Take care,
Emerald
carrottop50
carrottop50
I am on plaquenil and it has helped a lot with my pain and swelling. If I miss one of my daily doses I am in pain by evening. I do have diarrhea about 3 days a week so that isn't so good...but I am also on Mtx so not sure which one is doing this too me. My doc has said she is thinking about lowering my meds if my blood work doesn't get better at my next appointment... but I don't think that will work. she may have to change my meds instead...
as for Simponi... I have never use that one.
Just hope whichever one you do take it works well for you. Have a great week.
Angelpuss
Angelpuss
Plaquenil works well for many people. Unfortunately, I had a reaction where I was spirally into depression and had to stop.
Simponi is a biologic but not one I've tried. It's a monthly self-injection usually used with methotrexate weekly.
I'm not a medical person but it just seems to be a strange choice of meds from your doctor as Plaquenil is a tablet, usually used earlier on and Simponi is a biologic which are usually used after DMARDs have not been effective.
Good luck with your choice..
connect2u
connect2u
Thanks for all the information. This is very helpful.
oceans11
oceans11
I've been on Plaquenil for about 2 months & I'm not quite sure if I would tie it together but I've felt a minor sense of depression lately. Could just be from being laid off recently & now starting a new job. Who knows but I don't really feel any positive effects quite yet.

My doc put me on 100mg twice a day to offset the decrease in my MTX to only 7.5mg once a week, due to live enzymes coming back elevated! Now I my enzymes are fine no the lower MTX buuuuuut I don't believe the Plaq is replacing the benefits of the higher doses MTX.

Buuuuuut then again I admit I miss a dose or 2 a week so maybe it's just from being inconsistent.

IDK, it could be the Plaq it could be just coincidence.