Lupus Support - A long night...

Author

A long night...

Stephanie Townsend

2004-10-03, 10:16 pm

Warning: I am about to complain.

I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could be. Threw up
so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels in my face
and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just recently
began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach couldn't take it
a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all night
feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps. Grrrr... I
just want to be well for a change.

Steph

2004-10-03, 10:16 pm

Stephanie Townsend wrote:

> Warning: I am about to complain.
>
> I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could be. Threw up
> so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels in my face
> and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just recently
> began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach couldn't take it
> a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all night
> feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps. Grrrr... I
> just want to be well for a change.
>
> Steph

Hi Steph, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with that.
I was wondering what dose you're on.
I just found this web page that starts lower (and possibly cuts back to 3 times
a week) and wondered if you'd tried that?
I think "long half life means it stays in the system longer, hence why they can
cut back to 3 times a week.

http://www.lupus.org.uk/article.php?i=164
Dose
The normal dose of Plaquenil is 1 tablet a day (200mg/day). Some doctors
recommend 2 a day (400mg/day) but I find that 1 a day suits most people – the
dose can always be increased for a flare. One of the attractions of this
medication is its long ‘half-life’ – it stays in the system for days & weeks.
Thus many patients find they can gradually lower the dose – for example to 3
tablets a week – Monday, Wednesday & Friday.[]

Many hugs
J

Janet R

2004-10-03, 10:16 pm

Hi Steph....
I was very sick when I started on my plaquenil again...so I did some
Looksy/Findsy on my own. I was taking the plaq. at the same time at
my glucophage. BAD COMBO. If you are taking the plaq with any Rx,
possibly that is the problem. If you are taking it alone, then talk
to your doc.

Janet R

"Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cde1f$416073be$42a7edc6$20849@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
| Warning: I am about to complain.
|
| I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could be.
Threw up
| so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels in my
face
| and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just
recently
| began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach couldn't
take it
| a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all
night
| feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps.
Grrrr... I
| just want to be well for a change.
|
| Steph
|
|

Stephanie Townsend

2004-10-03, 10:16 pm

Hmmm... I started out at 400mg/day. I wonder if it is too much for my body?
Something to ask the Rheumy. Think I will call him tomorrow. I know it is
bad, but I didn't take it today -- I was afraid I would keep getting sick.
Maybe he'll let me go down to once a day. Thanks :-)

Steph

> Hi Steph, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with that.
> I was wondering what dose you're on.
> I just found this web page that starts lower (and possibly cuts back to 3
> times
> a week) and wondered if you'd tried that?
> I think "long half life means it stays in the system longer, hence why
> they can
> cut back to 3 times a week.
>
> http://www.lupus.org.uk/article.php?i=164
> Dose
> The normal dose of Plaquenil is 1 tablet a day (200mg/day). Some doctors
> recommend 2 a day (400mg/day) but I find that 1 a day suits most people -
> the
> dose can always be increased for a flare. One of the attractions of this
> medication is its long 'half-life' - it stays in the system for days &
> weeks.
> Thus many patients find they can gradually lower the dose - for example to
> 3
> tablets a week - Monday, Wednesday & Friday.[]
>
> Many hugs
> J
>

Stephanie Townsend

2004-10-03, 10:16 pm

I'm on an antibiotic right now with the Plaquenil and I was wondering if
that caused my stellar performance last night. I'm also taking Soma,
Tramadol, NSAID, folic acid, b-complex, calcium, multi-vitamin, BCP -- do
you know of anything there that is a problem? Well, I'll ask my rheumy - as
I told J, my doc is getting a call from me tomorrow. I look a little funny
right now - my face all red and splotchy from all the burst blood vessels.
Thank you for the input - it is as always helpful. Let's pray for a calmer
night tonight.

Steph

"Janet R" <ImDoubloony@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d618d.6473$Rf1.2078@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi Steph....
> I was very sick when I started on my plaquenil again...so I did some
> Looksy/Findsy on my own. I was taking the plaq. at the same time at
> my glucophage. BAD COMBO. If you are taking the plaq with any Rx,
> possibly that is the problem. If you are taking it alone, then talk
> to your doc.
>
> Janet R
>
> "Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:cde1f$416073be$42a7edc6$20849@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
> | Warning: I am about to complain.
> |
> | I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could be.
> Threw up
> | so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels in my
> face
> | and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just
> recently
> | began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach couldn't
> take it
> | a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all
> night
> | feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps.
> Grrrr... I
> | just want to be well for a change.
> |
> | Steph
> |
> |
>
>

Janet R

2004-10-04, 2:26 am

Call your pharmacist...if they are clueless then do what I did :
Trial and error. I began separating the time I took plaquenil from
other meds and that same day I got better! Our poor tummies can only
take so much

Nell

2004-10-04, 4:07 am

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 04:04:02 GMT, "Janet R" <ImDoubloony@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Call your pharmacist...if they are clueless then do what I did :
>Trial and error. I began separating the time I took plaquenil from
>other meds and that same day I got better! Our poor tummies can only
>take so much

>
>I cannot take any other meds within 4 hours of my plaq. It means I
>have a timer program on my computer called Kirby Alarm that reminds
>when to take what! It helps on the days that lupus fog is thick!
>
>Janet R
>
>"Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:b941c$4160a2b3$4069d04d$14682@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
>| I'm on an antibiotic right now with the Plaquenil and I was
>wondering if
>| that caused my stellar performance last night. I'm also taking Soma,
>| Tramadol, NSAID, folic acid, b-complex, calcium, multi-vitamin,
>BCP -- do
>| you know of anything there that is a problem? Well, I'll ask my
>rheumy - as
>| I told J, my doc is getting a call from me tomorrow. I look a little
>funny
>| right now - my face all red and splotchy from all the burst blood
>vessels.
>| Thank you for the input - it is as always helpful. Let's pray for a
>calmer
>| night tonight.
>|
>| Steph
>|
>| "Janet R" <ImDoubloony@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>| news:d618d.6473$Rf1.2078@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...
>| > Hi Steph....
>| > I was very sick when I started on my plaquenil again...so I did
>some
>| > Looksy/Findsy on my own. I was taking the plaq. at the same time
>at
>| > my glucophage. BAD COMBO. If you are taking the plaq with any
>Rx,
>| > possibly that is the problem. If you are taking it alone, then
>talk
>| > to your doc.
>| >
>| > Janet R
>| >
>| > "Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>| > news:cde1f$416073be$42a7edc6$20849@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
>| > | Warning: I am about to complain.
>| > |
>| > | I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could
>be.
>| > Threw up
>| > | so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels
>in my
>| > face
>| > | and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just
>| > recently
>| > | began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach
>couldn't
>| > take it
>| > | a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all
>| > night
>| > | feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps.
>| > Grrrr... I
>| > | just want to be well for a change.
>| > |
>| > | Steph
>| > |
>| > |
>| >
>| >
>|
>|
>

Plaquenil doesn't bother me or at least I thought but reading these
posts gives me pause. I have a bad habit of tossing my meds back
together (get it over with) and they might be interacting. I get the
trots about 2 hours after I've taken Plaquenil, synthroid, Celexa,
phenobarb, Inmuran, prednisone, Zyrtec, glucosamine chondroitin, and
spironolact/hctz 25/25. Also get drowsy. Probably no surprise there.

Nell

Anyone who says "Easy as taking candy from a baby"
has never tried it.

2004-10-04, 7:07 am

Nell wrote:

> Plaquenil doesn't bother me or at least I thought but reading these
> posts gives me pause. I have a bad habit of tossing my meds back
> together (get it over with) and they might be interacting. I get the
> trots about 2 hours after I've taken Plaquenil, synthroid, Celexa,
> phenobarb, Inmuran, prednisone, Zyrtec, glucosamine chondroitin, and
> spironolact/hctz 25/25. Also get drowsy. Probably no surprise there.

Gosh Nell, Quite the list there.
Let's see...
Plaquenil, Imuran, Prednisone - for Lupus
Glucosamine Chondroitin - for joint pain
Celexa - for depression
Synthroid - for low thyroid
spironolact/hctz 25/25 - diuretic?
Phenobarbital - (seizures) and as a sedative to relieve anxiety.

Well, where I am (Canada), the drugstore gives us a printout for each
medication and it has instructions on when to (or not) take it. It can't
have every possible interaction on it. I get those the first time I get a
new prescription and save them in a folder, so I can recheck if I have
questions later. They also put red labels on the pill bottle for the ones
that make a person drowsy "do not drive" (warnings). Do any of your
bottles have those on them? I would think maybe the pheno?
The bottles also say to take once or twice or 3 times daily but they don't
tell us when to take them (usually), like before or after meals except
maybe antibiotics.

I don't think Synthroid would give the runs, unless your thyroid levels
were too low.
I always take that one before breakfast. (around 6 am, but sometimes I
forget and take it a bit later).

I don't know what to suggest unless you have printouts for each medication.

If so, you could read through the instructions, side effects (circle
diarrhea, if any of them have that) and "drowsiness" if any of those have
that listed. Then you'd know which are the worse for one or the other and
maybe split them before a meal and after a meal, so the drowsiness isn't as
severe? I suppose it depends what instructions your doctor gave you too?
Hope you figure it out
Hugs
J

2004-10-04, 11:09 am

Hi Steph,
I don't take plaquinil, so I have no suggestions in that regard. Gad, what a
night you had!! I do feel sorry for you. I think vomiting, or even just
feeling nauseous is the very worst. Time to talk to the doctor about this I
think.
BJ-Sk. Canada
"Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cde1f$416073be$42a7edc6$20849@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
> Warning: I am about to complain.
>
> I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could be. Threw up
> so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels in my face
> and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just recently
> began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach couldn't take
it
> a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all night
> feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps. Grrrr... I
> just want to be well for a change.
>
> Steph
>
>

2004-10-04, 11:09 am

Hi J,
I may be wrong, but I think someone could get the runs if the thyroid levels
were too high,. (causing hyper thyroid) rather than too low. (hypo) My gland
man has always said it is best to take the Synthroid seperately, and first
thing in the morning, as you do. Nell, I think downing all your meds at once
is not the best idea. J has a good plan for trying to isolate the culprit. A
pharmacy is a good source of info. They seem to know more about drug
interactions that a doctor.
BJ-Sk. Canada
"J" <eaves@example.net> wrote in message
news:4161170E.3EA142B2@execulink.com...
> Nell wrote:
>
>
> Gosh Nell, Quite the list there.
> Let's see...
> Plaquenil, Imuran, Prednisone - for Lupus
> Glucosamine Chondroitin - for joint pain
> Celexa - for depression
> Synthroid - for low thyroid
> spironolact/hctz 25/25 - diuretic?
> Phenobarbital - (seizures) and as a sedative to relieve anxiety.
>
> Well, where I am (Canada), the drugstore gives us a printout for each
> medication and it has instructions on when to (or not) take it. It can't
> have every possible interaction on it. I get those the first time I get a
> new prescription and save them in a folder, so I can recheck if I have
> questions later. They also put red labels on the pill bottle for the ones
> that make a person drowsy "do not drive" (warnings). Do any of your
> bottles have those on them? I would think maybe the pheno?
> The bottles also say to take once or twice or 3 times daily but they don't
> tell us when to take them (usually), like before or after meals except
> maybe antibiotics.
>
> I don't think Synthroid would give the runs, unless your thyroid levels
> were too low.
> I always take that one before breakfast. (around 6 am, but sometimes I
> forget and take it a bit later).
>
> I don't know what to suggest unless you have printouts for each
medication.
>
> If so, you could read through the instructions, side effects (circle
> diarrhea, if any of them have that) and "drowsiness" if any of those have
> that listed. Then you'd know which are the worse for one or the other and
> maybe split them before a meal and after a meal, so the drowsiness isn't
as
> severe? I suppose it depends what instructions your doctor gave you too?
> Hope you figure it out
> Hugs
> J
>
>

Janet R

2004-10-04, 11:09 am

My Rheumatologist and Internist both told me that plaquenil can cause
diarrhea. When it got to the point that I couldn't leave my house
because of that problem, they took me off the plaquenil and then I
slowly went back on without problems. When I added other drugs to the
plaquenil I got VERY ill...so much so that my husband, a physician,
left his office and took me to my doc.

In the end, I figured out what was wrong. Sometimes we are our own
best advocates!

Janet R

"Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b941c$4160a2b3$4069d04d$14682@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
| I'm on an antibiotic right now with the Plaquenil and I was
wondering if
| that caused my stellar performance last night. I'm also taking Soma,
| Tramadol, NSAID, folic acid, b-complex, calcium, multi-vitamin,
BCP -- do
| you know of anything there that is a problem? Well, I'll ask my
rheumy - as
| I told J, my doc is getting a call from me tomorrow. I look a little
funny
| right now - my face all red and splotchy from all the burst blood
vessels.
| Thank you for the input - it is as always helpful. Let's pray for a
calmer
| night tonight.
|
| Steph
|
| "Janet R" <ImDoubloony@hotmail.com> wrote in message
| news:d618d.6473$Rf1.2078@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...
| > Hi Steph....
| > I was very sick when I started on my plaquenil again...so I did
some
| > Looksy/Findsy on my own. I was taking the plaq. at the same time
at
| > my glucophage. BAD COMBO. If you are taking the plaq with any
Rx,
| > possibly that is the problem. If you are taking it alone, then
talk
| > to your doc.
| >
| > Janet R
| >
| > "Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
| > news:cde1f$416073be$42a7edc6$20849@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
| > | Warning: I am about to complain.
| > |
| > | I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could
be.
| > Threw up
| > | so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels
in my
| > face
| > | and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just
| > recently
| > | began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach
couldn't
| > take it
| > | a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all
| > night
| > | feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps.
| > Grrrr... I
| > | just want to be well for a change.
| > |
| > | Steph
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

lilacladi@webtv.net

2004-10-04, 7:11 pm

I do know that thyroid medication should be taken by itself with just
liquids. No other food or medication should be taken within one hour or
you lose the effectiveness of the med. I take mine the minute I get up
in the morning.

Stephanie Townsend

2004-10-04, 10:08 pm

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond and give encouragement
and advice. I think I will start trying to separate out my meds - taking the
plaquenil separately from everything else. I haven't gotten a hold of my
Rheumy - will try again tomorrow. My vomiting has subsided and now I am
going out the other end -- but I would rather than any day. My hubbie teases
me about my "measles" as that is what my face looks like with all those
burst blood vessels -- and I have had a couple people be very tactful and
say, "What's with your face?!" But, I ate my first real meal in 48 hours
tonight... let us hope it stays in! Thank you again for all your kind words.

Stephanie

"Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cde1f$416073be$42a7edc6$20849@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
> Warning: I am about to complain.
>
> I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could be. Threw up
> so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels in my face
> and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just recently
> began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach couldn't take
> it a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all night
> feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps. Grrrr... I
> just want to be well for a change.
>
> Steph
>

2004-10-05, 7:07 am

Stephanie Townsend wrote:

> Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond and give encouragement
> and advice. I think I will start trying to separate out my meds - taking the
> plaquenil separately from everything else. I haven't gotten a hold of my
> Rheumy - will try again tomorrow. My vomiting has subsided and now I am
> going out the other end -- but I would rather than any day. My hubbie teases
> me about my "measles" as that is what my face looks like with all those
> burst blood vessels -- and I have had a couple people be very tactful and
> say, "What's with your face?!" But, I ate my first real meal in 48 hours
> tonight... let us hope it stays in! Thank you again for all your kind words.
>

Good to hear that you were able to eat a good meal.
Hope it stayed down and the burst blood vessels go away soon.
Special hugs to Steph,
J

Susie

2004-10-07, 2:18 am

Amen to that one!! I was on Plaquenil, for a short time. I'm new, and
was just diagnosed finally this year. I have a problem keeping weight
ON, so the diarrhea was totally not what I needed. So my new doc took
me off. I feel better. I'd rather not be on it. We all handle these
drugs differently I guess, and they work wonderfully for some, and not
so great for others. Susie

Janet R wrote:

> My Rheumatologist and Internist both told me that plaquenil can cause
> diarrhea. When it got to the point that I couldn't leave my house
> because of that problem, they took me off the plaquenil and then I
> slowly went back on without problems. When I added other drugs to the
> plaquenil I got VERY ill...so much so that my husband, a physician,
> left his office and took me to my doc.
>
> In the end, I figured out what was wrong. Sometimes we are our own
> best advocates!
>
> Janet R
>
> "Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:b941c$4160a2b3$4069d04d$14682@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
> | I'm on an antibiotic right now with the Plaquenil and I was
> wondering if
> | that caused my stellar performance last night. I'm also taking Soma,
> | Tramadol, NSAID, folic acid, b-complex, calcium, multi-vitamin,
> BCP -- do
> | you know of anything there that is a problem? Well, I'll ask my
> rheumy - as
> | I told J, my doc is getting a call from me tomorrow. I look a little
> funny
> | right now - my face all red and splotchy from all the burst blood
> vessels.
> | Thank you for the input - it is as always helpful. Let's pray for a
> calmer
> | night tonight.
> |
> | Steph
> |
> | "Janet R" <ImDoubloony@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> | news:d618d.6473$Rf1.2078@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...
> | > Hi Steph....
> | > I was very sick when I started on my plaquenil again...so I did
> some
> | > Looksy/Findsy on my own. I was taking the plaq. at the same time
> at
> | > my glucophage. BAD COMBO. If you are taking the plaq with any
> Rx,
> | > possibly that is the problem. If you are taking it alone, then
> talk
> | > to your doc.
> | >
> | > Janet R
> | >
> | > "Stephanie Townsend" <lerchy@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> | > news:cde1f$416073be$42a7edc6$20849@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
> | > | Warning: I am about to complain.
> | > |
> | > | I spent last night bowing to the porcelain gods, ill as could
> be.
> | > Threw up
> | > | so much and so strenuously that I burst multiple blood vessels
> in my
> | > face
> | > | and eye lids. Gross! This hasn't happened for awhile and I just
> | > recently
> | > | began Plaquenil again. They took me off it after my stomach
> couldn't
> | > take it
> | > | a couple years ago - looks like it still can't. So, I was up all
> | > night
> | > | feeling quite sorry for myself. Not that self-pity ever helps.
> | > Grrrr... I
> | > | just want to be well for a change.
> | > |
> | > | Steph
> | > |
> | > |
> | >
> | >
> |
> |
>
>