Plaquenil anyone??

[Ephedra]

I was given Plaquenil.  And of course, I always research any medication before I take it.  I seen all of the visual warnings of it possibly causing irreversible eye damage.  I wasn't too concerned until I seen that someone had to sign a waiver acknowledging these side effects.  I didn't have to sign a waiver, nor was I warned of these possible side effects.

Not typically the concerned type but irreversible eye damage?  Anyone have any experiences with this medication or have to sign a waiver??  Any comments?  My vision is bad enough already!!  I am not sure if I should stop taking it or not.  Not sure what is going on with my vision without the medication.  But it's not good!  I know ya'll aren't physicians, but I'd appreciate any comments.        

[Ephedra]

Your fourtunate to have a LLMD that cares or knows when or where to send people!  I have to go at it with an open mind and just hopefully pick the right one.  But then I'm like, should I even mention Lyme or not?  Because I really don't know if they'll even have a clue.

[bdonahue7]

I don't know anything about those medications, but I do know my vision comes and goes frequently. Like Jackie said my LLMD is sending me to a opthamologist  who is LL. She is also sending me to a cardiologist who is LL. It's nice to know we have such qualified doctors in the Pacific Northwest where most people think lyme ticks don't exist.    

[Ephedra]

And of course the doctor is out of town.  What should I do in the mean time?  Any suggestions?

[Ephedra]

Thanks for unintentionally clearing that up for me Jackie!  I went to someone about my vision, thinking I was going to get an eye exam and I did but it was one that you read the letters of various sizes.  Not what I needed!!  

The diagnoses... astigmatism!  And I was given glasses that didn't help and sent on my way.  So I wasn't sure who I was suppose to go to.  I need my eyes physically examined.  Like physically looked into.  Whatever they call that, I am not sure.  From what I can see of my own eyes, they just don't look right.  There is a little yellowing of the whites and when looked at under certain lighting and angles, the pupil looses it's perfectly round shape.  Like something is begining to cloud over it a bit.  I am worried about cataracs.  But I am not really sure if something else may be involved.

I think I will try to see an ophthalomogist.  But in the mean time and given my current issues, I am not sure about this Plaquenil.  A part of me wants to quit taking it but then another part of me wants to get better.

My vision is a little worse now but given my Lyme, I wouldn't know if it was a herx or time to quit the drug.  Like I said, I have only been taking it for three days.    

[JackieCalifornia]

Do you see an ophthalomologist (an MD who specializes in eyes)?

If you are seeing an optician (not likely that you are, they are only supposed to fit you for glasses and are not MDs) or an optometrist (an eye specialist but not an MD), then I would definitely see an ophthalomologist.

Oddly enough, of all the MDs I saw when I had Lyme, the ophthalmologist was the doc (other than my Lyme doc) who took Lyme very very seriously.  It seems that ophthalmologists as a group are very up to date about Lyme.

I would definitely see an ophthalomogist for his/her views.

[Ephedra]

Thanks!  Yes I am taking it with Biaxin and was told a similar thing about the mechanism of action.  

However, I wasn't warned about possible irreversible eye damage.  I think if my vision wasn't so bad in the first place, I wouldn't be too concerned.  And before I even came across this possibility, it did seem like my vision was getting a little worse.  However, I wasn't sure if maybe it was just a phase or a flair.  But I have only been taking it for 3 days!  That doesn't really seem like enough time, I don't think to cause any issues.

Seems like I am always one in a million to get those odd side effects.      

[Ricobord]

I was on it for a while. It was paired with Biaxin. My doc explained that it made cells more alkaline which made the Biaxin more effective at penetrating cells to get at the Lyme or Bartonella inside.  He said it could make Biaxin up to 40% more effective.

He did warn me about the potential vision issue but that it was very rare. He said I'd need regular eye exams while on it, about every few months. I'll bet the doc who required the waiver just wanted to make sure s/he didn't get sued in the odd chance a patient did have a problem on it.  

A lot of people with arthritis take Plaquenil. It seems to reduce inflammation in connective tissue, an added bonus for Lyme patients with joint & muscle issues.