Conflicting advise from doctors

[Scottietottie]

Hi

I always thought of Plaquenil as a kind of 'holding' mechanism. I perceived prednisone and methotrexate to be aggressive treatments.

Just my perception. Maybe its because I can tolerate Plaquenil so well that I perceive it like that.

Take care - Scottie

[denisezesh]

Plaquenil  lowered my platelets...couldnt take it...Took rituxan 2 weeks apart every 6 months..for 3 treatments....Cured my lung disease...I also get IVIG for 4 years now...will get another Pet scan in November to see  if everything is still clear..My DR. Swartz pulmonary doc is at univ. of  Penn.   I think of him as a miracle worker....no more oxygen for me,,Sp please...dont be afraid & try it...every one is different...Good Luck..

[puccini914]

400mg is the standard maintainence dose of Plaquenil, I've been on it for 4 years now.  There really isn't anything aggressive about Plaquenil, it only works in the background.  I've been taking Methotrexate since last March and it is agrressisve and has made a big difference especially in the general fatigue area.  However, when I was exposed to strep at the same time I was in the middle of of a big flare there was little they could do other then bombard me with antibiotics.  I couldn't go off the MTX because my SJS would probably go out of control and who knows what it would do since I was already fighting a huge flare, so I was stuck battleing a systememic Strep infection for 7 weeks.  It's a tough situation no matter how you look at it.  This is the dangererous point of our illness, the complications that are mentioned only in brief on so many websites.  I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time.  I wish you the best of luck and hope you feel better soon.   Jenn