Im getting sick/ does being on plaquenil make it easier to catch the flu/ colds?

[Jellyb]

Hi everyone,
I am coming down with something and I dont feel very good. I have not had a cold or the flu in years and years.

And I was wondereing if my being on he plaquenil has made my immune system less able to fight off every bug that comes my way.

The timing is just bad and I am  bummed because its Christmas Eve and I have 12 people coming over tomorrow and I dont feel very good:-(

[divingdancer]

oh no what a time to get a cold.  I have recently caught one which despite the lack of mucus made me feel really yuk!  I think I have been on Plaquenil for almost a year now and this was the first cold I got.

Can't get over being bunged up but not making the mucus to blow my nose with.

[Billydude]

No,  plaquenil is not an immune suppressent and shouldn't effect whether you get a cold or not.

[eyeamdry]

I'd agree.  But I'm no medical.....however, I've been on  Plaq and Methotrexate for 5 years and sdeem to get less colds/flu since I've been taking these.  However, since I've had SJS or the "man in the moon"...........lol.

[irish]

No, Plaquenil is not an immunsuppressant. It is an antiparasitic medication that has an anti-inflammatory affect. It was given originally to treat malaria and it was found out by accident that it helped people with RA and other autoimmune diseases feel better.

We also take it at a much lower dose than the one given to people being treated for malaria.

It should be known that people with autoimmune diseases are more prone to catch colds and viruses. Also, if you are having more infections than you used to you should have your doc do blood work to check your immune system---tests for the IgG levels, t-cells, b-cells, etc. People with autoimmune disease can very easily get immune disorders which make a person unable to fight off infections. Irish