Hi,
I just finished week 3 of my plaquenil. I have started slowly, doing only 100mg. 3 days ago I upped it to 150. Today I felt dizzy on and off all day and tonight when I went to change my clothes I have a rash on my upper abdomen and chest area, blotchy purple bumps. I wouldn't say its itchy though in general my skin has been a bit itchy since I started plaquenil.
I NEVER get rashes (never say never) so it has to be related to something. I was out in the sun with my dog for 15 minutes earlier and I have read that it will make you sun sensitive but I would expect a reaction where the sun hit, like my arms etc.
Has this happened to any of you? And if so did your doctor have you stop taking it? I feel a little bummed because it was helping my IC/PBS right from the start which I'm sure is related to my SJS.
I will call my doctors office tomorrow but am wondering if this has happened to you and if you were told it was allergic.
Thanks
Cindi
BTW, I just noticed its on my back too.
In my first few weeks of taking plaquenil I did have increased photosensitivity, but it went away. I did get about 30-40 tiny bumps at the back of my mouth/tongue/throat that was very painful. Luckily I had a steroid mouthwash that I used and within a few days it cleared up.
What was disappointing was the response I got from my rheumy's office. I called and explained the bumps and they told me to call a lupus-specializing dermatologist's office that I had been to a few weeks earlier before I started plaquenil. But, of course, by the time I got called back by the rheumy's at 1500 on a Friday, the dermatologist's office was already closed. So I told myself I would keep an eye on it and go to the ER if it got any worse.
I would call your dr's office. But from what I've read about some of the other members experiences with plaquenil side effects, their rheumies deny that the medicine has anything to do with it. I would also recommend picking up some steroid/cortisol cream at the pharmacy and putting it on the affected areas a few times a day.
Good luck.
So I left a message at my doctors office with his clinical assistants and they called me back to get the scoop and said they would talk to the doctor and get back to me. So here I am 8 hours later, no answers and still have the rash. I didn't take the plaquenil today.
It is on my shins too and when I started it I thought I remembered him saying something about some people get a rash on their shins.
So the question is, assuming the rash is indeed caused by the medicine is a rash always indicative of allergy or can it just be a side effect? I am thinking a rash is allergy but if any of you know differently let me know. If thats the case then I will probably have to stop it altogether.
btw I never get rashes and that is why I think its medicine allergy. The only rash I've had in the last 20 years was 1) from a sulpha drug and 2) from a certain type of bandaid adhesive.
I'm going to follow this post and hope you keep us updated. I just started Plaquenil two days ago (at half the prescribed dose at first) and have been worried about possible side effects.
I hope you've gotten a response from your doctor and are feeling better by now.
Deb
Have you tried calling your pharmacist? I'm very fortunate to have a good old-fashioned real pharmacy where I live and the gentleman who owns it has been extremely helpful whenever I have any questions about medications. While they won't tell you to stop a medication generally, they will often be able to tell you if the problem you're having is a known side effect of the drug, or possibly an interaction between that drug and one you're already taking. It's something to do for the hours and days waiting for the call from the doctor at least :P
Hope you feel better.
Left another message this morning so hopefully they will get back to me soon not that it really matters I suppose but it would be nice to know his thoughts.
Rayven you reminded me that I have prescription info that came with the plaquenil and it does say an allergic reaction could include rash, itchiness and dizziness. My dizziness is gone today but the rash is most definitely not.
I guess I should start taking some claritin which will help it go away but I'm so sensitive to meds that even claritin makes me drowsy :) Plus I am kinda waiting to hear if he wants me to take something else.
Also, my head has been kinda itchy since I started taking it and when I would go to gently scrach at my scalp it would have that sunburned feeling. That has gone now that its been a couple days since my last dose.
Its kinda ironic because I was just telling my hubby that I thought the stomach issues were finally settling down that it caused in the beginning. And then that night, the rash.
Deb- According to my insert from the pharmacy an allergic reaction is pretty rare with this drug so odds are good you will be just fine taking it as many, many others take it with no issues.
Finally heard back from my rheumy's office. They told me to stop the plaquenil that a rash was the sign of an allergic reaction. They said they see all kinds of reactions to it including rash and even insomnia which I had read about once or twice. They said if its not gone in a couple days to call but hopefully now that I started taking claritin it will fade pretty quick though I think they can hang around awhile.
I also had called the pharmacist, she said rash is always the sign of an allergic reaction in connection with meds and to stop taking it also.