Plaquenil for Sarcoidosis [posted 8/14/98]
Question: Do you know if plaquenil will help sarcoidosis lesions - granulomas?

Answer: Not a drug we usually use for sarcoid.

Plaquenil
Question: What are the side effects of plaquenil?

Answer: Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) was initially designed as an anti-malarial drug. Subsequently, this drug (and others of its class) were found to have effectiveness in treating Lupus and other auto-immune disorders. Since treatment in auto-immune disorders tends to be longer term, side effects are seen with long term treatment that are rarely seen if treating malaria. Generally this class of drugs is very safe. However, side effects are: Intravenous- suppressed cardiac functioning, hypotension, cardiac arrest-oral : nausea, headaches, urticaria (hives), visual changes, itching - in high doses, damage to the ear and eye (consequently eye exams are required with long term usage).

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