Plaquenil is a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug ("DMARD"). DMARDs are the first-line treatment for rheumatoid disease specifically because they have the least intrusive side effects. Some people respond really well to DMARDs and don't have to move on to the more serious drugs. I took Plaquenil for 10 months. I didn't experience a single side effect. Keeping in contact with your Rheumatologist and your Primary Care physician can help squash a problem with side effects if one does pop up. Unfortunately, with this disease, there is no medication we can take that doesn't come with a list of serious side effects. I know it's scary!

Have you been on anything else? Methotrexate? Steroids? While most meds list a slew of side effects, they tend to be very rare. Remember, some people can't even take aspirin - so take the side effects with a grain of salt. Also, if you don't treat the RA now, you can very easily become debilitated and unable to function normally. Not to mention the probability of having joint replacements.

I have been on Plaquenil for 20 years. I was diagnosed early, and the Plaquenil worked for years with NO side effects. Honey, if you have this disease, there is not one medication that is effective without an extensive side effects list. You have to weigh the pros and cons, and decide which gives you the best quality of life. Good luck.

Every drug out there has side effects. Even aspirin has its list of them. As long as you are tested while taking the drugs it's a pretty safe bet that any adverse effect will be caught early and delt with. Most people have no bad reactions. Try it for a month and see how you do. Your Dr. should test you that month. It's really important to get your RA under control because letting it get the upper hand can really be bad. Warrior on

been on Plaquenil for ten years with no problems, I get my eyes checked every year and they do extra tests because of the drug.