Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hi there. I recently was diagnosed with RA and another autoimmune disease. I am 27. I was prescribed plaquenil and celebrex. I am kind of afraid to take the plaquenil. Has anyone else taken this drug? I was told it can cause a lot of bad side effects that may be just as bad as the ones I'm having now. I'm just wondering if it is worth taking or not.

Hi Kendra - I have been on plaquenil for almost a year and haven't had any side effects. Make sure you get eye exams every six months, though, as it can cause macular degeneration (very rare from what I understand). I also have weekly Humira injections, take a small dose of prednisone and methotrexate. My dr said the plaquenil works better with the other drugs. I'm feeling much better than I was a year ago - it takes a while for these to kick in, so don't give up. Take care of yourself....

I have been diagnosed in May 08. I started with Celebrex and Meth. I could not take either of those. Humira injections were the next med. That alone did not stop the pain. Rheumy added plaquenil. I have taken 200mg twice a day for 10 days. After the 7th day, I began feeling good. I have been good for about 5 days. I hope this is the right combination for me. I have not had any side effects, but would definitely be interested in everyone's experience with this drug. I have read all the side effects, including losing hair. It is working on me and I hope it does for you.