Does plaquenil help fibromyalgia?

Are you tired of constantly feeling fatigued, achy, and all-around terrible? Do you feel like your body is fighting against itself, and winning? Are you currently googling every medication under the sun to find some relief for your fibromyalgia symptoms? Well look no further, because we’re about to dive into the world of Plaquenil!

What is Fibromyalgia?

First things first: let’s talk about what exactly fibromyalgia(1) is. According to the Mayo Clinic: “Fibromyalgia (fi·bro·my·al·gi·a) is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.” Sounds like a party right?

It affects approximately 4 million U.S. adults(2), most commonly women. Currently there isn’t a cure for it(3) but there are many treatments available that can help manage symptoms.

What Is Plaquenil?

Now onto our main topic at hand: Plaquenil(4). It’s an antimalarial drug that’s been on the market since 1955(5). It works by blocking certain processes in cells responsible for producing inflammation (specifically cytokines)(6).

Plaquenil has been used to treat numerous conditions such as lupus(7), rheumatoid arthritis(8) , Sjogren’s syndrome (9) , and even COVID-19 (10). So why not add fibromyalgia to its list of successful deployments?

The Research

There have been several studies conducted over the years regarding whether or not Plaquenil can help with fibromyalgia symptoms.

One study published in ‘The Journal of Rheumatology’ found that patients who took Plaquenil for 24 weeks saw a significant reduction in their pain and fatigue levels(11)! Another study showed that patients taking Plaquenil had improved sleep outcomes, which is crucial for those battling fibromyalgia(12).

However, it’s important to note that not all studies have shown positive results when it comes to treating fibromyalgia with Plaquenil–Which I guess means we’re back to square one.

The Negatives

Like any medication, there are potential negative side effects associated with taking this antimalarial drug. For example: headache (13) , diarrhea (14), dizziness (15), stomach cramps (16)and blurred vision(17). However, our good friend WebMD (18) notes that many people do not experience these symptoms and even if they do occur; the benefits of managing autoimmune disease often outweighs the negatives.

It’s also worth noting that while Plaquenil can be helpful for some people dealing with certain conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis), it’s not effective in treating others(such as osteoarthritis)(19). So just because it worked for your Aunt Mildred doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see success too.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, there isn’t a definitive answer(20) when it comes to whether or not taking Plaquenil will benefit those suffering from fibromyalgia. Keeping an open mind on all possible treatments might help towards finding what works best.

If you’re experiencing severe symptoms related to fibromyalgia such as depression or suicidal thoughts, please seek professional medical advice (21).

Cheers, here’s hoping something else out there provides us with relief one day!

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