I am probably going blind from using chloroquine.

[Joe S.]

I have to chime in now that I see this. I took one dose and went blind for six hours. The length of time it took my body to eliminated it. I use alternative therapy of supplements now. It made me check all drugs and supplements for side effects, counter indications and drug interactions.

The Rhuemy's comment was, "Wouldn't you rather be blind and with out pain?" I found another Rhuemy.

[lighthouse33]

Lighthouse, I am too tired tonight to look at your links, but I was just wondering if it would help if a person increased their fluid intake. Maybe the toxicity would be less apt to develop. Just a thought. Irish

I believe Irish, that you may be on to something because one of the articles I posted, says that one of the high risks for plaquenil toxicity is:

concomitant renal or liver disease (because the drug is cleared by both routes)

So, it makes since the more water you drink, the quicker the drug can clear your system.

[irish]

Joe, I have to add that the remark about blindness from your doctor is one of the dumbest I have heard in a while.

I will add though that the treatment for autoimmune eye disease is hard on a person. The only treatment is IV solumedrol 1000 mgm once a month for up to 20 months. In did 5 months and was starting to have tremors and feel like my depression was going to get out of control.

My immunologist felt bad that I quit as he doesn't want me to lose my hearing. Well I have no hearing one ear and about 50-60% in the other and it is getting harder to keep up with conversations. However, I told my doc that I would rather lose my hearing than my sanity. At least being deaf there are lots of options now with all the electronics. The older a person is I think they become a little less invasive in their qwest for treatment.

Hey Joe, Are you and Jan enjoying the wonderful Minnesota sweet corn. I don't like being diabetic when corn season is here. It makes my blood sugar go up. Are you going to take on a story line of any trips or your trip to the state fair this year. Every one needs to go to the Minnesota state fair at least once. I have not been for many years and do miss it. Take care. Irish

[SunshineDaydream]

I got plaquenil toxicity in 2009 after less than 5 years of use and before the dosage guidelines changed. Under current guidelines, my prior dose was too high. Bummer.

The retina damage was discovered during routine monitoring. I did not notice any symptoms that would have otherwise caused me to go to the ophthalmologist.  I stopped using plaquenil immediately and was monitored for damage progression for a year. While the damage shows up in pictures and the dot test, I don't notice it in my daily life except maybe trouble driving at night. That may be due to age though, as this all happened when I was 40 and eyes start to deteriorate in that way around that time anyway.

The condition rarely occurs, but it does happen which is unfortunate. The geezer John's Hopkins trained opth to whom I was referred for monitoring after diagnosis and an interstate move had never seen the condition during his 25+ years of practice. My current opth showed my textbook bullseye pictures to other doctors in her office as they had not seen it before, either.

Best of luck to you, OP. Hopefully your damage does not progress.