Plaquenil is an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drug of the first group, which is almost always prescribed as part of the complex treatment of lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. Given the complexity of the treatment of these diseases, in many cases Plaquenil must be taken for a long time, often – for two to three years.
Such continuous intake, even under a doctor’s supervision, causes various fears and even phobias in patients. This article explains in detail what bothers patients forced to drink Plaquenil for a long time, and how to deal with these fears.
Is it Possible to Become Addicted to Plaquenil?
The drug does not cause physical dependence. Some patients experience a certain psychological dependence on Plaquenil – they are afraid to stop its intake, since they think that if they do, the pain will immediately come back.
Such fears are in vain. As a rule, the doctor does not advise to cancel Plaquenil unless he is sure that the patient’s condition has significantly improved. But even if the pain syndrome resumes, then it is always possible to start taking the medication again.
High Treatment Costs
Plaquenil is not considered to be an expensive drug, but for low-income patients the monthly purchase of it can be burdensome. There is a dilemma: without Plaquenil, the pain comes back, and the purchase of Plaquenil makes the financial situation difficult
Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this problem: the purchase of generics. So, in Canada pharmacies that sell generic plaquenil online can offer it about 10-12 times cheaper – in terms of the cost per pill. And if one buys a year’s supply at a time, the price of one pill is reduced by about 40-45%.
Can immune suppression lead to a complete failure of the immune system?
No, it is absolutely impossible. Plaquenil is an immunosuppressant with very weak activity, so it does not cause any sustained immune system disorders.
What if the medication causes bothersome tinnitus?
Firstly, it is a very rare complication, which occurs with prolonged use of Plaquenil with a probability of about 1:1000.
And secondly, one should not confuse tinnitus, which appeared as a result of taking Plaquenil and can be eliminated by simple discontinuation of the drug, with tinnitus of uncertain etiology, which really is a serious problem.
Can Plaquenil Harm an Embryo During Pregnancy?
Modern medicine has accumulated vast experience in pregnancy support for women who are forced to take Plaquenil for a long time. If all the doctor’s recommendations are followed, there is no risk for the child.
But independent discontinuation of the medicine creates such risks due to the loss of control over autoimmune processes in the body of the future mother.
Can Plaquenil Cause Blindness?
Plaquenil may actually cause visual dysfunction, but if the drug is discontinued in time, all of the problems that have occurred quickly resolve.
That is why patients who take Plaquenil for a long time are prescribed regular monitoring by an ophthalmologist, and if one follows this advice, there is no serious reason for anxiety.
