The Methotrexate Experiment Continues...

[meow]

Since I had to stop the MTX while the bronchitis/sinus and throat infection was being treated with antibiotics, I thought, OK, why not stop the MTX for a while and see if it really is making a difference? I am losing hair, and have small, non-itchy bumps on my skin.  Maybe I should go to a full dose of Plaquenil instead? I only take the one 200mg dose because of itchy hive-y skin issues.
So, I started the full dose of Plaquenil and have skipped 2 weeks of MTX.  The last dose of it was Feb 7, and the extra Plaquenil started on the 14th...

Oh man.
The hip pain came back in a week, as I mentioned in another thread, and the meloxicam barely manages it. The hair loss seemed to be less, which is nice. The little bumps are going away....but I woke up today with aching hands for the first time in months, and right now I can feel the itchy-burny just- under- the- skin misery that I had when I started the Plaquenil.

So I am stopping the extra Plaquenil immediately, and going back to the MTX.  Experiment over.

[aussie mum]

At least now you know that the MTX was helping you.
Hope you feel better soon

[meow]

When I went to the restroom at lunch, I saw in the mirror that I have turned an attractive shade of crimson. Like a sunburn all over. It's the Plaquenil. I am itching, too.  I'm taking the MTX as soon as I get home, and skipping the Plaquenil for a day to get my levels back down.

[eye2dry]

I seem to tan quite nicely in the summer with either it being the Plaquenil or the MTX doing it.

I don't purposely lay out in it, I just do some gardening with SPF 15 or 30 on. I think I read somewhere that one of these drugs "alters skin pigmentation".

eye2dry

[meow]

Feeling normal again, the "crimson itch" is gone.

I don't tan unless I am at sea level, like at the beach. At 3500 feet, I blotch and freckle WITH sunscreen and burn without it. So I wear it every day, even in the winter on my forearms, chest and face.

However, my legs still tan evenly, so I like to sit on the patio with my legs sticking out in the sun, and the rest of me in shade. I can get a little color, a little vit D, and enjoy the warmth. It's almost time to do that!!!

[Iris]

plaquenil did me like that too.. It helped my joint pain but I couldn't stand the nonstop itching.. 

I'm glad you are feeling better.. 

[meow]

 Thank you, I feel much better now. As *normal* as I ever do, anyway. The half-dose is all I can tolerate, and even after a year, my tolerance has apparantly not increased even a little!

[Iris]

I took a half dose and did fine until I tried raising it to the full dose..  I broke out in a bright red rash and nearly scratched all my skin off.. They had me stop it until the rash was completely gone then start it again..

It only took 1 pill and I started breaking out.. He said I might be able to take the name brand plaquenil but after having a reaction like that twice if I did have a reaction the third time it could be severe so he didn't advise it..

[meow]

Yikes. Well, I won't be doing that again! I better make sure and tell my rheumy what happened, too. Thanks!