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Plaquenil & skin rash - HELP Expand / Collapse
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Andreea
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 12:57 PM


 

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Hello everybody!
I am new to this board and I just love it. I have been recently (approx. 6 months) diagnosed with RA. My Rheumy started me on Plaquenil (slowly increasing my dose from 200 mg to 400 mg). For the first 5 months or so, everyhting was too good to be true. After taking full dose, my stiffness pain was gone. Recently I started having itchy rashes on my arms, neck and face. Initially I didn't realize they were related to Plaquenil. My Rheumy told me that, yes, they are related. Of course at this point I started readind and researching. But I can't seem to find a solution, if there is any...
They get very bad after sun exposure, like a very bad sunburn, with puffy skin, very red, and very itchy. I am getting very worried because the drug worked like a wonder on my RA and I don't want to switch to other drugs which seem to be so much more toxic, with so many scary side effects.
Has anyone experienced what I am experiencing? What have you done? Is there hope that this skin problem will go away with time (i.e., my body will get "used" to the drug and stop reacting this way)? Or am I stuck with this for as long as I continue the treatment? Also, I noticed and almost all DMARDs drugs have "skin rash" listed under their side effects!!!!
Please help! Any advise will be very appreciated!
Thanks a lot!
Andreea
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Judy_smile37
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:16 PM


 

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I would talk with the rheumy. Some drugs you have to come off of if you are allergic. I guess others you can stay on. If rheumy says you can stay on it then I would see a dermatologist to get a treatment for this side effect.

Judy

Start 1989, DX RA 1994 On Rituxan, plaquenil, mobic, minocycline- In remission.
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tryingtostaystressfree
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:52 PM


 

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A friend of mine was on Plaquenil and developed the rash also. She tried every cream there is for the itching and nothing worked for her. She was told the only way to get rid of the itching and the rash was to go off Plaquenil. Hope it gets better for you.
Steph
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twister597
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:53 PM


 

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I was on Plaquenil for about a year when I was first dx'd. I got an itchy rash shortly after I started it. My doctor told me to keep taking the plaquenil and gave me a shot of depo-medrol and a medrol dose pack. After I finished the dose pack the rash was gone and I never had anymore problems of that type.

Make sure your rheumy understands how your rash is reacting when you've been exposed to sunlight, and that it's itching and puffy. Hopefully it's just something that will go away as your body adjusts to the increase in your medication. Good luck and keep us posted...
Carolyn

You do not learn anything the second time a mule kicks you!!!
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Jewell83
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:54 PM


 

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Andreea, you may be able to get by taking a daily antihistimine to control/counteract the itching...Allegra or Benedryl are both good choices...If that is not enough to control your itching you could stay on a low dose of steriods to stop the allergic reaction...Of course your doctor will know which is best for you...I have suffered from chronic allergies most of my life and a few years ago it started to make me itch everyday... My doctor had me take Allegra 180 every day...I did that for about three years...I now only take it occasionally as needed...All the anti-inflammoatory medicines I have been on for Arthritis have helped my allergies and asthma to improve...
Good luck,
Jewell
Post #4113229
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LadyeMac
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 2:00 PM


 

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If you have a history of psoriasis, eczema or other dermatitis, plaquenil is known to make those problems worse or reappear.

If that's the case, seeing a dermatologist might help. For psoriasis, a topical steroid can help. I use clobex (clobetasol) lotion to control my psoriasis.

------------------------------------------------------------------
DX: Psoriatic Arthritis
PsA Meds: Remicade, MTX, Celebrex, Prednisone , Folic Acid

"Well behaved women rarely make history."
--Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

"When we go down into ourselves, we find that we possess exactly what we desire."
--Simone Weil
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Andreea
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:12 PM


 

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Thank you, ladies, so much for your replies. Please keep them coming!
Carolyn, you are giving me a lot of hope: so IT IS possible that my body can get used to this. I so much want to stay on Plaquenil. It worked wonders for me. I am waiting for my Rheumy to call me back with a dermatologist recommendation. She mentioned a particular one experienced with RA patients.
I'll also do some research on DEPO-MEDROL. I have no idea what it is. '
If anyone else had similar experiences, please do let me know. I want to have as much info as possible when I see the dermatologist.
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Monica10
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:58 PM


 

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I've been on Plaquenil for over a year. I haven't ever had any rash problems but I was also told to stay out of the sun. I'm pretty sensitive so I wear long sleeves, etc.

My rheumatologist also told me to always wear UV protected sunglasses whenever I'm in the sun while I'm on it. You should be having regular eye exams with Plaquenil too since one of the side effects can cause problems with the eyes.

Depo Medrol, I believe, is a steroid.

Good luck,
Monica
Post #4113232
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Nancy5
Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 6:13 PM


 

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Wow, I have a rash on my arms and I am on Plaquenil. The rash is raised,white, scattered and very itchy. I have been putting hydrocortisone cream on it so I don't scratch myself raw. The sun does seem to make it worse. I also got a dirty looking sun tan from the summer. I still have the rash and its been cloudy in Oregon. I also would like to stay on Plaq. since it seems to make my joints much better. Do you continue to have some tender spots? I need to take some Advil in the morning but only once. Before the plaquenil Advil didn't help at all! I don't go back to Rhuemy until the end of Nov. Keep us posted if you get any info from the Rheumy or Dermatologist.
Nancy
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Andreea
Posted Sunday, October 28, 2007 4:23 PM


 

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Thank you all for your messages.
We went out in the sun yesterday and I applied sunscreen on my face and neck. Guess what? No more rash!
Is this the trick? Has this worked for you too? Or, again, this is too good to be true?
Post #4113234
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mariefnp
Posted Sunday, October 28, 2007 5:04 PM


 

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I am also on Plaquenil and initially got a diffuse body rash while on it. It disappeared after a couple of weeks, it was slightly itchy, but I thought as long as it wasn't hives, it wasn't a true allergic reaction, just a side effect. Incidentally I'm also on Zyrtec for allergies, so I think that helped to not have the rash so bad. My rheumy told me the Plaquenil can cause a rash, but that generally it goes away, and to be careful out in the sun. One day I went out without sunscreen and got a blistery type rash on my face; next time I remembered ALWAYS use the sunscreen, as there should be a sticker on your bottle of pills warning of sun sensitivity with Plaquenil. Hope you get to stay on it!!!
Hugs,
Marie
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midnitestich
Posted Sunday, October 28, 2007 11:42 PM


 

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I was on Plaquenil for about 2 months. I got a rash and it just kept spreading. I had to stop taking the med my doctor said I was allergic to it.
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Pip
Posted Monday, October 29, 2007 8:24 AM


 

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Plaquenil is an anti-malarial developed for treating a spirocette infection. It's one of the drugs cross-prescribed for RA.

I use Minocin (an antibiotic) to treat my PRA for it's low side effect profile. You can check it out in the PRD - probably the best (non Pharma sponsored resource for checking out side effects) It can have a side effect of 'skin rashes' but they go away eventually when you kill off enough of the microbes.

I'm assuming Plaq works in the same way as they mostly function the same way as medicines. I'm just saying it may not be an 'allergic reaction' instead it may be a 'Jarisch-Herxheimer" reaction. You can Wiki it for a fairly accurate definition of a 'herx'.

If you feel like having some 'fun' with your doc's - ask the Derm about Minocin for RA. Then go ask the rheumy.

:-)

Pip

Antibiotic Protocol - Minocin, Zithromax, Naproxen (occasionally), 1 mg. Folic Acid.

Supps are Milk Thistle, Black Cohosh, Bromelain, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, NAC, B12, Hawthorne, CoQ10, MSM, Tumeric, and weaning Melatonin!  PROBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS!!!

Occassionally Nystatin, Diflucan, GSE, Oil of Oregano still sitting on the counter!

Feel free to PM me about the Antibiotic Protocol~

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.               Hippocrates 

                         
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