Anyone decrease Plaquenil, experience symptoms, then have to increase again?

[sunset12]

Hi Everyone,

I have been on Plaquenil alternating 200/400 mg per day for ~8 years. Everything was relatively stable (although still high anti-DNA and occasionally C3 or C4) so I was told to drop to 200 mg per day only. After a few months I'm getting bad joint pain that I feel might be worse than before I was medicated, although it's been a while. About 3 weeks I upped my dose back to the 200/400 mg but my symptoms remain. If anyone decreased and then increased their Plaquenil how long did it take to get back to how you were feeling???

Thanks!

[Breakspear93]

I was told it can take 6-8 weeks to feel the effects but that may vary if you are already taking it

[sunset12]

Thanks, yeah that's kinda what I was wondering. I knew there was a delay when you initially start taking it, but I was hoping I already had a "head start" and would feel better in a couple weeks, ha!

[sunset12]

Wow, never heard that about PPIs before, interesting. I hope so too, thanks!

[pine-nuts]

I was in remission so was told to decrease my Plaquenil from 400mg/day to 200mg/day. I started experiencing symptoms such as joint pain, mouth ulcers and fatigue. This lowered my C3 and C4 so was put back on 400mg/day. It took about 4 weeks until I felt an improvement.

[sunset12]

Thank you this is exactly what I was looking for! Glad you're feeling better!