URGENT Advice Needed Re: Plaquenil Eye Problems

[Guest guest]

I would get someone to take you to the Emergency Room. They are good at

diagnosing things. Don't drive. Call the police to take you if you have to.

You can always get a cab to take you home and sometimes the hospital will pay

for your cab ride home.

Sincerely,

Anjillah@...

PS: Bring your medicines with you too.

[Guest guest]

I would get someone to take you to the Emergency Room. They are good at

diagnosing things. Don't drive. Call the police to take you if you have to.

You can always get a cab to take you home and sometimes the hospital will pay

for your cab ride home.

Sincerely,

Anjillah@...

PS: Bring your medicines with you too.

[Guest guest]

Good Luck and let me know what happens tomorrow.

Anjillah@...

[Guest guest]

Good Luck and let me know what happens tomorrow.

Anjillah@...

[Guest guest]

,

I'm very sorry you are going through this with your eyes. I can understand

how upsetting it would be.

I have read that Plaquenil can cause symptoms like yours. For example, here

is some information from the Lupus Alliance of America:

ANTIMALARIALS & VISION

Eye complications are still the most feared toxicity.

They are generally very rare, but an ophthalmologist should monitor every

patient who is taking these medications on a regular basis (every 6 -12

months). Antimalarials can cause:

Inability to focus. Generally, this side effect is experienced early, within

the first two weeks after the medication has been started. It is caused by

dysfunction of the muscles that move the eyes. Very rarely, patients might

experience double vision due to nerve dysfunction. These symptoms can go

away without changing the dose of the medication.

http://www.milupus.org/pdf/Antimalarials%20handout.pdf

Try not to worry, but do see your physician today. Please let us know what

he says.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] URGENT Advice Needed Re: Plaquenil Eye Problems

> Hi all.

>

> I haven't posted much lately, and I am struggling to even type this

> message out right now. Today, with NO PRIOR WARNING, I noticed

> that I was becoming increasingly dizzy. It wasn't like the normal type of

> dizzyness I am used to, it was more like my eyes weren't able to work

> the way they should. It's as though I can no longer focus both my eyes

> to look at anything. As the day went on, this became increasingly

> worse. I cannot drive, I cannot walk without hanging onto someone or

> the wall....or I bump into things because my depth perception is totally

> off. I have never worn glasses, and prior to this have always had

> perfect vision. I cannot even focus my own eyes on myself in the

> mirror to see if my eyes are tracking or not. I asked my son to tell me

> what my eyes are doing when I try and focus on a certain object, and

> he said that one eye goes one way the other eye goes the other way.

> THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ME!

>

> I am freaking out and cannot even get ahold of my doc until 9am

> tomorrow. I am terrified because I have lost my ability to function on

> my own. Has anyone else had this happen? It will be atleast 12-14

> hours before I see my doc, and who knows if he can even diagnose

> me. I need to hear from anyone who's had anything similar happen

> while on Plaquenil. I've read online all there is for adverse reactions

> for

> the drug, but info about the eye problems are so vague.

>

> HELP!!!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I'm very sorry you are going through this with your eyes. I can understand

how upsetting it would be.

I have read that Plaquenil can cause symptoms like yours. For example, here

is some information from the Lupus Alliance of America:

ANTIMALARIALS & VISION

Eye complications are still the most feared toxicity.

They are generally very rare, but an ophthalmologist should monitor every

patient who is taking these medications on a regular basis (every 6 -12

months). Antimalarials can cause:

Inability to focus. Generally, this side effect is experienced early, within

the first two weeks after the medication has been started. It is caused by

dysfunction of the muscles that move the eyes. Very rarely, patients might

experience double vision due to nerve dysfunction. These symptoms can go

away without changing the dose of the medication.

http://www.milupus.org/pdf/Antimalarials%20handout.pdf

Try not to worry, but do see your physician today. Please let us know what

he says.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] URGENT Advice Needed Re: Plaquenil Eye Problems

> Hi all.

>

> I haven't posted much lately, and I am struggling to even type this

> message out right now. Today, with NO PRIOR WARNING, I noticed

> that I was becoming increasingly dizzy. It wasn't like the normal type of

> dizzyness I am used to, it was more like my eyes weren't able to work

> the way they should. It's as though I can no longer focus both my eyes

> to look at anything. As the day went on, this became increasingly

> worse. I cannot drive, I cannot walk without hanging onto someone or

> the wall....or I bump into things because my depth perception is totally

> off. I have never worn glasses, and prior to this have always had

> perfect vision. I cannot even focus my own eyes on myself in the

> mirror to see if my eyes are tracking or not. I asked my son to tell me

> what my eyes are doing when I try and focus on a certain object, and

> he said that one eye goes one way the other eye goes the other way.

> THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ME!

>

> I am freaking out and cannot even get ahold of my doc until 9am

> tomorrow. I am terrified because I have lost my ability to function on

> my own. Has anyone else had this happen? It will be atleast 12-14

> hours before I see my doc, and who knows if he can even diagnose

> me. I need to hear from anyone who's had anything similar happen

> while on Plaquenil. I've read online all there is for adverse reactions

> for

> the drug, but info about the eye problems are so vague.

>

> HELP!!!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree , don't wait, go to emergency.

Hugs

June

----- Original Message -----

From: ANJILLAH@...

I would get someone to take you to the Emergency Room. They are good at

diagnosing things. Don't drive. Call the police to take you if you have to.

You can always get a cab to take you home and sometimes the hospital will pay

for your cab ride home.

Sincerely,

Anjillah@...

PS: Bring your medicines with you too.

[Guest guest]

I agree , don't wait, go to emergency.

Hugs

June

----- Original Message -----

From: ANJILLAH@...

I would get someone to take you to the Emergency Room. They are good at

diagnosing things. Don't drive. Call the police to take you if you have to.

You can always get a cab to take you home and sometimes the hospital will pay

for your cab ride home.

Sincerely,

Anjillah@...

PS: Bring your medicines with you too.

[Guest guest]

,

THIS IS GO TO THE ER IMMEDIATE SITUATION. My mother experienced sudden

onset of dizziness just as you described it. she was having a series of

strokes!!!! Please do not delay and seek immediate medical attention.

Also strokes do not necessarily attack the old either. I have seen 19 and

24 yo supposedly young and healthy people have major strokes. (I use to be a

paramedic)

Some people have small strokes/mini strokes or commonly called TIAs. These

are warnings usually preceeding a major and possibly killer stroke!

Keep us informed how it goes....I wish you the best of luck.

Toni in Texas

In a message dated 10/26/2005 11:12:31 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

writes:

Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 04:11:01 -0000

From: " ltlmisscrankypants " <ltlmisscrankypants@...>

Subject: URGENT Advice Needed Re: Plaquenil Eye Problems

Hi all.

I haven't posted much lately, and I am struggling to even type this

message out right now. Today, with NO PRIOR WARNING, I noticed

that I was becoming increasingly dizzy. It wasn't like the normal type of

dizzyness I am used to, it was more like my eyes weren't able to work

the way they should. It's as though I can no longer focus both my eyes

to look at anything. As the day went on, this became increasingly

worse. I cannot drive, I cannot walk without hanging onto someone or

the wall....or I bump into things because my depth perception is totally

off. I have never worn glasses, and prior to this have always had

perfect vision. I cannot even focus my own eyes on myself in the

mirror to see if my eyes are tracking or not. I asked my son to tell me

what my eyes are doing when I try and focus on a certain object, and

he said that one eye goes one way the other eye goes the other way.

THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ME!

I am freaking out and cannot even get ahold of my doc until 9am

tomorrow. I am terrified because I have lost my ability to function on

my own. Has anyone else had this happen? It will be atleast 12-14

hours before I see my doc, and who knows if he can even diagnose

me. I need to hear from anyone who's had anything similar happen

while on Plaquenil. I've read online all there is for adverse reactions for

the drug, but info about the eye problems are so vague.

HELP!!!

[Guest guest]

Yes, but not as bad. It ended up being a combination of pseudotumor

cerebri (high cerebrospinal pressure pressing on my optic nerve) and

lupus. If you are really concerned, go to an ER. They will

probably need to do a spinal tap to check the pressure, and will

check your eyes. I think Plaquenil would be more gradual, but I

don't know. My understanding is that if you do end up with deposits

from plaquenil, stopping the medication resolves the problem, so

they'd probably switch your meds.

Good luck.

>

> Hi all.

>

> I haven't posted much lately, and I am struggling to even type

this

> message out right now. Today, with NO PRIOR WARNING, I noticed

> that I was becoming increasingly dizzy. It wasn't like the normal

type of

> dizzyness I am used to, it was more like my eyes weren't able to

work

> the way they should. It's as though I can no longer focus both my

eyes

> to look at anything. As the day went on, this became increasingly

> worse. I cannot drive, I cannot walk without hanging onto someone

or

> the wall....or I bump into things because my depth perception is

totally

> off. I have never worn glasses, and prior to this have always had

> perfect vision. I cannot even focus my own eyes on myself in the

> mirror to see if my eyes are tracking or not. I asked my son to

tell me

> what my eyes are doing when I try and focus on a certain object,

and

> he said that one eye goes one way the other eye goes the other

way.

> THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ME!

>

> I am freaking out and cannot even get ahold of my doc until 9am

> tomorrow. I am terrified because I have lost my ability to

function on

> my own. Has anyone else had this happen? It will be atleast 12-

14

> hours before I see my doc, and who knows if he can even diagnose

> me. I need to hear from anyone who's had anything similar happen

> while on Plaquenil. I've read online all there is for adverse

reactions for

> the drug, but info about the eye problems are so vague.

>

> HELP!!!

>

>

>