went down from 400mg to 200mg plaquenil... slowing progression ? thanks

[gurs]

If you feel ok on the 400mg, would take that. Plaquenil takes along time to kick in usually..up to at least 1 year for most. Now, if your having side effects etc, would cut down to 200mg.  Glad you found a new doc. I would keep searching for the best doc for you. It took me years to find mine..but well worth it. Its confusing as well because they all tend to say something different? ha ha. You will know when you really find the right one though..they really seem to know what might be going on and I go by their bedside manner the most.

Gursie

[valene2009]

i took 400mg for oever 2 years and now for 1 month have been on 200mg.... i also heard some people just take 200mg ..i cant get into the new doc tho til end of jan... not sure if i should go back up to 400mg  as i also started wellbutrin today?

[valene2009]

spoke with nurse at my rheumy.. they just said most of her patients are on 200mg .. she said because of my weight to stay at 200mg. i asked if the doc was planning on takingme off completely and she said the notes had indicated that but it depended upon my symptoms..

i guess for now i will stay at 200 until i see the new doc end of jan
thanks for listening.

[jazzlover]

just don't run out!!

If you're small then that may be the best advice! (200)

[valene2009]

thanks.ive got plenty... i weigh 115..  i dont think im that small.. i cant wait til i get into the new doc... 2nd opinion... ahhhh

[irish]

valene, Just wanted to mention that plaquenil is considered a "mild" drug by some and it is not as strong as the big gun meds. However, it is considered to have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. About a month after I upped my dose to 400 mgm my fatigue became much less, my brain fog improved considerably and my energy level is much better.

I have heard other talk of this, but I have to say that I was very surprised to have it happen so soon. I think that every day is just a little bit better. I have even been out walking around our place trying to get in shape for my stress test. A few weeks ago I would not have been able to walk. I spent the past 3-4 months pretty much down and around the house from the fatigue. Good luck. Irish

Mind you, I was put on the 200 mgm 1 year ago.

[gurs]

When I started it, I actually noticed feeling better after a few days..amazing how different we all are.

Gursie

[Winnie]

I started on 400 in August 2011.  He took me to 200 in May of 2012 due to loose bowels.  Not really sure if that was the reason or not, but my stomach issues resolved back to constipation.  Have not seen any drastic changes in symptoms since the reduction, although I am working again and about 8 pm, I turn into a pumpkin.  Tired....I weigh 110. Overall, I am functioning much better than I was during the summer of 2011.

Winnie 

[Styx]

It's good to get the Plaquenil dosing right because the risk of ocular complications increases significantly if you overdose (though the overall odds of complications are still very low). I think all of the patients that developed retinopathy in the recorded literature were overdosing.

I don't know the correct body weight dosages for Plaquenil off hand, though.

Styx