Plaquenil & Eye Problems

[Eve]

SMP, if you see this I hope it's going well and helping with the symptoms. Had 2 weeks go great with it, not much relief but no nasty side effects.

Got a bit worried Friday night as my vision went all blurry and couldn't focus properly unless squinting and was seeing two of lights (LEDs on TV and the moon outside) and vision wasn't right most of yesterday either so kept off them and taken one this morning to see what happens. Wondered if maybe my eyes being even drier than in this weather hasn't helped, opticians have said they've been swollen before so maybe something to do with that.

Have you (or anyone else on it) had anything vision related happen with them? It seems to have settled down now thank goodness. Hoping just a blip if anything as so much better than the evil sulfasalazine I was on before. Would be gutted if these caused problems too, just want to get settled on some meds and get some relief.

[Sqad]

Yes........you ocular symptoms could well be a side effect of your Plaquenil medication.

[Eve]

Ahhh crap! Thanks Sqad. Mind you, better maybe it be that than something else to worry about if it will stop if the tablets are or it's just something that will calm down even on the tablets. Took one earlier and might keep on one a day intially before going back to two, see what happens and got tomorrow off so will see if I can get hold of my rhumatology nurse to see what she can advise.

[SMP]

Hi Jenna. Have just noticed this last week that pain has subsided and don't feel so tired. Funny you should mention eye problems. I have had two incidences of what is apparently a "visual migraine". The first one was 2 days after starting the tablets and the second about a week ago. I was walking along when my peripheral vision went weird in my right eye. It was like looking through a kaleidescope, very bright, sharp colours travelling down then going back to the top and down again. This lasted about 5 mins. Went to Optician who put drops in my eyes, gave me a thorough check and said it was a visual migraine. Never had anything like this before. Am seeing optician again in June so will mention second one but I can't see two days of tablets would cause first one. Got a consultation Wednesday about my lip biopsy. I too have found this hot weather plays havoc with my mouth and eyes.

[Eve]

Weird isn't it the eye things! It felt really strange on Friday night, so glad my rhumo had mentioned possible eye problems else I'd have been a lot more freaked out!

Glad you're feeling better. Got a bit for mine to kick in I think. Still really tired (about to head to bed) and achey, the heat isn't helping though. Been sat here sipping juice through a straw almost constantly this evening as my mouth and lips keeps drying out worse than normal, off to put some more eyedrops in before bed after I post this. I find the heat makes my feet swell up more too and sends my restless legs crazy and knees been painful and swollen.

I get a lot of headaches and migraines (although, touch wood, not the latter for a while) but never had weird lights and stuff with it, my vision goes a bit funny when it's coming on though. Had a headache most of today but figured it was from my eyes being funny and straining more to try and see coupled with the heat and tiredness.

Right, I'm off to codeine up, stick a fan on and get some sleep. Hope all goes well Wednesday!

[Eve]

Just an update. After the problems of last week I went back on one a day and fine until yesterday when the blurring came back again. Felt really disorientated all day and went to the Red Eye optician service and she had a good look at my eyes and said no physical cause she could see and most likely the drugs. She faxed my GP surgery and spoke to a GP earlier who said it's almost certainly the drugs and to stop them immediately (not had any since Wednesday anyway) and is faxing my rhumatologist.

The saga lingers on...arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!