Plaquenil, anxiety and depression,

[Deb 27]

Has plaquenil ever given you mental health issues or made them worse? What did you do? I am afraid if I call my Dr. they will put me on methotrexate and I don't want to go on that. Honestly, I have the worst luck with meds. I just don't tolerate them well. The celexa I was on made my brain fog and memory worse. I tried Effexor and couldn't sleep, even with klonipin.  They then gave me Brintilex and it gave me diarrhea. The Maxi Tears Omega 3 capsules help me but not quite enough. I am tired of being depressed and my PCP said it takes 3 months to get in with a psych here. I feel like my meds are battling each other. The plaquenil gives me very vivid dreams. I wake up and my pillow is on the floor along with my covers.  I can't catch a break with this and need to feel better. For starters I think I am going to lower my plaquenil dose to 200/day instead of 400.
Life has been tough for me the past few years with work and I think I've finally crashed with all the moves for jobs and job insecurity. Think I'll go look up some counselors. Thanks for listening. Sorry for the long vent. This seems to be the only place where people understand.

[Carebear]

Hi Deb,

Yes, Plaquenil causes me serious anxiety.  So I have tried different dosage with no success.  Honestly, the doctors don't get it, but that doesn't matter to me.  Other drugs I have tried have also impacted my nervous system in ways that were unusual.

Are you taking your Plaquenil at night?  I was advised to take it in the morning because it can cause wild dreams for some people.

I already use methotrexate for RA, which for me has offered positive results with no side effects, thankfully.

I have benefited from counselling myself and would do it again if (when) it becomes necessary. I'm sorry you are having such a tough time, Deb.   Keep posting.  We get it, and we are here for you.

[Deb 27]

Thanks for your reply Carebear. I had a really rough morning yesterday. I skipped my dose of plaquenil last night and feel a LOT better. I am going to try 200 mg at lunch to see how that works. I've had so much brain fog, lack of concentration and dizziness lately as well. I think I have a follow up apt in another month. Half the time, we have to figure it out for ourselves anyway. Retirement in a year is looking more and more like a reality for me.

[irish]

I am sorry that you are suffering so much, but I will add that sometimes one has to just keep trying until you find the right antidepressant. They are made to replace chemicals in the brain and the right combination usually does show up. I know because I have been through this so much. I tried everything and always went back to the Zoloft which just seems to be the right combination for my body and brain.

Also, it is scary to have trouble with meds and I do have that trouble also. We just have to suck it up sometimes and try things because that is the only way we give our body a chance. If you can get the emotional things worked out and treated then it is usually easier to be more acceptable to new drug treatments. It may be that you will have to stop the Plaquenil. It may be that taking it in the morning will work better. Taking half dose may also work for you. Some people split the dose and take half in the morning and the other half later in the day. It also needs to be taken with food to help cut down on the side effects for some people. Good luck with all of this. Irish

[susanep]

I couldn't take the 400 so I take just one pill at night of 200. It is very hard sometimes trying to know how to take what without feeling worse.

Lately my intestines haven't felt good from all the meds. Just a literal hurting across lower area where intestines would be.

Hope you find a way for it all to work for you.

susanep

[drylady]

 Yes it increased depression and I was getting majorly confused on it. I was on it for about 5 years. The confusion and feeling " detached" caused me to discuss it with my therapist who looked up side effects of all my meds. She thought it was the plaquenil and it was.

[Sleepy In Seattle]

I had the vivid dreams and restless sleep for a couple of months when I started the Plaquenil, but that went away after a while and now I take it with no side effects - I think that usually (but certainly not always), your body will adjust to it and many/most of the negative side effects will go away with time. I definitely benefit from the Plaquenil, so it was worth it to me to just stick with it and get through that rough initial period.

Some people do find that getting used to it at a half dose works best, then later they can increase the dose. And taking it at breakfast or lunch can reduce the dreams.

Then again, some people really have trouble with it no matter what...it's not common (most people adjust and can take it without problems), but it happens. But it seems like MOST people have side effects in the first couple of months that then fade away until they're not noticeable.

I also have ended up needing to take methotrexate, but at a pretty low dose...I am very careful about my diet and getting rest, exercise, etc. At first I was on a bigger dose and did have some minor side effects like hair loss, but my body adjusted and now I take it without any real problems...and it DOES help a lot with brain fog, fatigue, and joint pain. It ended up being not nearly as scary as I thought it would be. I wish I didn't need it, but it's a good option if the plaquenil isn't enough by itself. The methotrexate is another one where the first month or so can be kinda rough, but then your body adjusts and it's not bad.

I am always trying to get my doses lower and lower, and periodically I try going off of things (with my doctor's knowledge and monitoring). My goal is always to take the least stuff possible and still stay relatively healthy. It's a constant balancing act!

Everybody's different, though.