I take 20mg Plaquenil 2x per day. My rheumy said I also need immunosuppressants. I tried Methotrexate and Imuran. I began to have terrible stomach pains, and felt so weak and sick I had no quality of life. I tried injecting the Methotrexate. Didn’t help. Guess I’ll have to try to improve my health through diet, exercise, sleep and stress control/avoidance. Hoping for the best.
Prednisone is an immunosuppressant You can also take something for your stomach for the sde effects which often will fade away with some time
Are your symptoms not controlled with Plaquenil? Once the Plaquenil kicked in (8 months) I’ve been relatively stable with no advancing of the lupus. No other immunosuppressants except prednisone the first 8 months.
I have just been recently diagnosed with Lupus; my Mother had full blown systemic and my grandmother had discoid Lupus, I have spent my early years undiagnosed and drug sensitive. I have broken out with hives in response to stress as a child and young adult. Drugs do not help me. I have been prescribed many anti-depressants, anti-biotics, steroids. I am waiting for my first appointment with a ruematologist, but as I am drug sensitive, and have had some serious reactions to even dental anesthesia w/epnephine in it. The sensitivity to the epinephrine went straight to my heart. I felt it immediately. I suffered from nerve pain in my jaw and cranium in the two weeks before I went back to dentist. I found out then that they used epiniphine in dental anesthesia to make the anesthesias last longer. So something new for me. I am 60 years old and have dealt with reactions my whole life. I'm done with the Pharmaceutical industry, but thats me, I know everyone has to find the correct treatment for self. My Mom and Grandmother lived to their late 80's with out drugs. Supportive community, family and love work best for me. Hope you find answers.
I’m working on finding a positive diagnosies , I have had months of swollen ankles, severe joint pains and muscle pain & tremors blue hands bruising knuckles chest pains exhausted rashes on face scalp and little round ring worm looking ones on body. …one of my 15 year old tattoos is eating away at itself (scabbing painfully) headaches now stiff neck and back. .and just diagnosed with an aneurysm in my neck. …swollen glands and noids. …well one thing that’s weird is as a child and adult I have been having a chronic case of uticaria (hives) no cause no rhyme or reason. .this all happened before I stated with most the other symptoms. …now that I read this last comment from Linda. .it just shows that there might be an underlying reason for the hives. .just one more thing to add to the list. .thanks Linda for the insight
Good Luck I wish you well. Julie
Have they tested you for anything else. I was diagnosed first with Crohn's in 2006 and about three yrs later I was told that I have Lupus and RA. Hope this helps.
HFCure: Oh, yes…I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis; IBS w constipation; I had surgery for a prolactinoma of my pituitary in the 1980’s, depression, high functioning autism (Aspergers), Celiac disease and degenerative osteoarthritis of my neck and spine. I’m a really healthy specimin… :-/
Of course, the Systemic Lupus kicks my butt the most. Wonder why so many Lupus sufferers have a “collection” of immune diseases/problems?