Some questions about plaquenil

[gii]

Hi, I've a few questions about Plaquenil. First, i suspect that some of my tiredness might be a side effect of Plaquenil, because it does mention it as a possible side effect in the brochure, did it ever happened to anyone here? Do you people feel that Plaquenil actually helps you?
Second, is it important to take it in the same hour every day?
Third, is it important to take it with or after meals if I don't feel any problems with my stomach when i don't?

Thanks

[irish]

I have to admit that I have never noticed any fatigue from the plaquenil. I know that it helps as when I take antibiotics I have learned to stop taking my plaguenil as I get agitated. After about a week I start to get all these symptoms picking at me. They start out slow and mild and continue to get worse and improve when I restart my plaquenil.

I have problems with infections and sometimes I will have to be on antibiotics from 3-4 weeks so that is why I learned to stop the plaquenil. That is a long time to be uneasy and agitated.

It is best to take it about the same time of day. You can choose the time and an hour or 2 off schedule  cause a big issue. The thing is you want to make sure to take it close to the same time every day as you  want to maintain a blood level of the medication.

Also, it is best to take it with food. The literature often says no food but the docs and nurses will tell you to take with food as it helps prevent stomach issues and nausea. I was on the plaquenil about 5-6 years and my gastric reflux got so bad and I started to notice that when I took my plaquenil my stomach was just killing me. I was off the plaquenil about 10 months and just restarted it with my doctors permission. Hopefully I can keep the stomach settled down. The drug can be hard on peoples stomach.

I generally take crackers of some kind with it. Don't know if it is good to take with a big meal. There  are times I will do that though. Plaquenil is a funny drug. It takes time to kick in and it sort of slides into action and we aren't always so aware of it until we stop it. Many people swear that it isn't doing any good and will stop the med only to discover about a month later that they are starting to really get miserable. Good luck. Irish