Plaquenil side effects

Can anyone share any side effects w/ Plaquenil. I am on 200mg and would like to know what to expect if any?  Has anyone lost or gained weight on this med?  Any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I lost a lot of weight when I started plaq. I had some nausia and overwhelming food aversions. I needed to lose weight though, and I felt so much better on the plaq (yes even with the nausia) that I refused to allow my doc to take me off of it.

I've been on 400mg of Plaquenil for over a year now and have never experienced any side effects-I just always make sure to take it with food. My weight has stayed the same unless intentionally dieting.

Thank you. I appreciate it. Anyone else has any input?

I have been on Plaquenil for 9 years with no side effects. However, I make sure to get my eyes examined yearly, including the "field vision test". This is extremely important as Plaquenil can (but it is rare) cause eye damage. The first few years on the Plaquenil, my eye exams were every 6 months, but now it is just once a year.

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Take care, Fran

Dx: Lupus, sjogren's, celiac, severe allergies.
Daily Meds: Plaquenil, Zyrtec. Aciphex, Nasacort, Prozac, Ambien CR, CellCept, Bactrim, Zantac.
Daily Supplements: Calcium, B-100 Complex, Daily Vitamins.
As Needed Meds: Epinephrine, Benadryl, Proventil, Xopenex, Tylenal, Vicodin, Prednisone.

FW THank you for the input. I was told by my physician to check my eyes every 6 months too.

I'm curious....
I have open angle glaucoma...mild nerve damage, but under control now.
Wouldn't it be dangerous for me to take plaquenil?

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Joy

No, I don't think it would be dangerous, as Plaquenil hasn't ever been associated with any kind of eye pressure side effects. Now would Plaquenil be indicated to use with other eye medications? No idea.

Best route? Ask your ophthalmologist!!

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Plaquenil and Your Eyes

Here is an eye test that is easy for all of us to do online, without going to the doctor right away. Scroll down after you go to this site until a graph shows up with a dot in the center. Look at the dot with one eye at a time, and if the lines change, then you might need to see the doctor. Instructions & more information is available on the page.

Check Your Eyes

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Lynnwood, Lupus & Sjogren's Moderator
DIAGNOSING-LUPUS & LUPUS-RESOURCES
"Life is far too important to be taken seriously" - Oscar Wilde

Thanks. That settles some worries.

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Joy

Loved the eye exam. Thanks for sharing.

I have been on it for about 5 months now and so far things are good. I have actually had some hair on my head growing back in!

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d 1/09 with colitis sigmoid colon with some diverticular disease as well, IBS, Colon resection Nov. 2010, now in remission
inflammator arthritis, ??Overlap or mctd, asthma, skin scleroderma, VSL#3 probiotic, Vit. D, nexium, pexeva (paxil), synthroid, cozar, advair, plaquenil
Blood test positive for Crohn's via prometheus ibd serology panel ASCA. Positive ANA speckled pattern

I noticed that I am getting a sore throat and saw some bumps on my tongue since I began the Plaquenil. I stopped taking it a couple of days ago because I felt like everytime I took my 2nd dose for the day, a couple of hours later, my throat and neck felt very heavy. I did not have this before I began Plaquenil so I panicked and stopped taking it. I think it is one of the possible side effects, but I will call my doctor and let him know I stopped it because of what I was feeling. Better be safe than sorry. I was also experiencing an increase of sinus headache. I am very sensitive to meds and this is the same exact thing I experienced when I took Savella. Anyone ever had the same experience?