@A MyLupusTeam Member, I had the opposite experience. I had the most terrible pains in my hands, like the joints were actually on fire. My rheumy said that Plaquenil could take as long as six months to show any effect, but within a week, the fire was put out. I took it for nine months, and then began to get GI symptoms so bad that by June, I could not eat even jello. I went for 20 days without eating before I found a GI specialist who put me on budesonide {Endocort}, a steroid for the gut. I am just now getting my innards to behave. The moral of this long and wandering story is that Plaquenil can be salvation for some, and a disaster for others. Ppl seem to have very individualized responses to that drug. I doubt that it is causing your pain because you said you have had it before, and pain in the hands and feet are a prominent issue for many of us with lupus. I would call the doctor who put you on it, and just make them aware of you symptoms. He/she may simply need to tinker with the dosage, or give you something else. Good luck on getting your pain under control, and I hope you have a restful day today. Gentle hugs.

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A MyLupus...

Plaquenil is used to prevent and minimize flares. It takes several months to reach full therapeutic levels in the blood. Plaquenil does not treat symptoms in the way over the counter pain killers do. It is for long term control.

Plaquenil does NOT cause macular degeneration but it CAN cause other vision problems. When used for along period of time, plaquenil MAY build up on the retina, the part of the eye that receives light. Get your eyes checked and have a field of vision test twice a year. If the plaquenil is beginning to build up, the opthamologist will see it long before you notice any change in your vision. Those at highest risk are patients over 60 who have been on this medication for more than 10 years.

If your insurance does not pay for a second check up per year, have your rheumatologist and your opthamolgist write letters that this is MEDICALLY NECESSARY and appeal.

Remember that plaquenil can cause macular degeneration, and that affects your central vision. hope you get a good thumbs up, but don't forget you need to be rechecked in six months or year. My doctor recommends six months but my insurance only pays for once a year.

TracyHH
Im not sure if ur looking for. Response or more of a validation that your feeling wat ur feeling. As for myself hand pain is very nprmal thing for me, swillenfingers purple blue swollen? Bit i hbe always had this even befr mu diagnosed. My fingers get so cold they actially turn blue nd grey

I would tell your doctor so they can look at it an see if it could be related to the medication or if lupus related or even something else going on