| What is Plaquenil?
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Plaquenil is prescribed for the prevention and treatment of certain forms of malaria.
Plaquenil is also used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and for
lupus erythematosus. |
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| Are there any side effects associated with Plaquenil?
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Plaquenil side effects (for an acute malarial attack) may include abdominal
cramps, diarrhea, dizziness, heart problems, lack or loss of appetite,
mild headache, nausea, and vomiting. If the side effects continue or are
bothersome, check with your doctor. Plaquenil side effects of treatment
for lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis may include abdominal
cramps, abnormal eye pigmentation, acne, anemia, bleaching of hair, blind
spots, blisters in mouth and eyes, blood disorders, blurred vision,
convulsions, decreased vision, diarrhea, difficulty focusing the eyes,
diminished reflexes, dizziness, emotional changes, excessive coloring of
the skin, eye muscle paralysis, "foggy vision," halos around
lights, headache, hearing loss, heart problems, hives, involuntary eyeball
movement, irritability, itching, light flashes and streaks, light
intolerance, liver problems or failure, loss of hair, loss or lack of
appetite, muscle paralysis, muscle weakness and wasting, nausea,
nervousness, nightmares, psoriasis (dry, scaly, red skin patches), reading
difficulties, ringing in the ears, skin eruptions, skin inflammation and scaling, skin rash, vertigo, vomiting, weariness,
and weight loss. |
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| How is Plaquenil taken?
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Follow the directions for taking Plaquenil provided by your doctor. Take Plaquenil exactly as prescribed for the full course of therapy. If you have been prescribed Plaquenil for rheumatoid arthritis, it will take several weeks for beneficial effects to appear. Take each dose with a meal or a glass of milk.
If you miss a dose and you take 1 dose every 7 days, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to your regular schedule. If you take 1 dose a day and you miss your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the one you
missed and go back to your regular schedule. If you take more than one dose a day, take it as soon as you remember if it is within an hour or so of the missed time. If you do not remember until later on, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule.
Do not take
two doses at once. |
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| Are there any effects of taking Plaquenil with other medications?
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Some medicines may interact with Plaquenil. Inform your doctor of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking.
It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Plaquenil with
any medication that may cause liver damage, aurothioglucose, cimetidine,
or digoxin. |
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| How should I store Plaquenil?
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Store Plaquenil at room temperature in a tightly closed container, away from heat and light. |
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Return to health network. |
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