Any difference with Brand Plaquenil or Generic - Lupus Message Board

rosie13 · 08-17-2009, 03:47 PM

Hi Everyone,

I hope that everyone is hanging in there. Back in April i started to take the (Brand )Plaquenil because I am allergic to Sulfa. I had read that it was better to take the Brand if you were allergic to Sulfa. And thank goodness , I have done well with it so far. I was started on a small dose , 1\2 tablet a day , but now the Rheumie wants me to take 400 mg a day. I have cutaneous lupus. The brand has become quite expensive for me and I want to try taking the generic , but i am scared I will have an allergic reactions. Has anyone had any issues concerning the brand versus / generic ? Thank you.

Rosie13

Angel MJ · 08-18-2009, 01:23 PM

hi again rosie13!
personally i have had reactions to generics ... i had reaction to the brand ones too ... but we are all individual. i would put that exact question to your doc

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosie13

The brand has become quite expensive for me and I want to try taking the generic , but i am scared I will have an allergic reactions. Has anyone had any issues concerning the brand versus / generic ? Thank you.

watoozie · 08-20-2009, 07:28 PM

I have been on the generic for 4 1/2 years, 400mg a day and I've had no problems. In fact I wouldn't want to be without it!! I sure don't want to feel like I did before the generic Plaquenil. I make sure I take 200mg with breakfast and 200mg with supper.

Angie10 · 08-21-2009, 02:19 PM

Hi Rosie,

I was on the generic for less than a year and had to switch to the name brand because of intense itching and rashes. I did not realize the generic had Sulfa in it and I am allergic to Sulfa. No wonder!

Also, after over two years of being on the name brand I had to get off it for the same allergic reaction. Ironically, in April I was hospitalized and they didn't have the name brand available so I went without it for 2 days. When I tried to take the name brand again I started getting the same intense itching and rashes. I am no longer on plaquenil and am now on injectable methotrexate.

I know the name-brand is expensive, but if it works, you might try to stay on it. It isn't a chemo agent like the methotrexate and other DMARDS, so it is more preferrable. Good luck and keep us posted!

Gypsylady · 09-06-2009, 06:29 AM

Many drugs contain Sulfa.....as I have researched this fact I came up with a list of certain drugs that trigger lupus & other "suspect" drugs....these were found on webMD
Drugs that cause drug-induced lupus erythematosus are as follows:
• Acebutolol
• Amiodarone
• Bupropion
• Captopril
• Carbamazepine
• Chlorpromazine
• Diltiazem
• Docetaxel
• Ethosuximide
• Gemfibrozil
• Glyburide
• Gold salt
• Griseofulvin
• Hydantoins
• Hydralazine
• Hydroxychloroquine (this is one that I am currently on)??? gonna print this article for my DOC!!!!
• Interferons
• Interleukins
• Isoniazid
• Leuprolide acetate
• Lithium
• Lovastatin
• Mephenytoin
• Methyldopa
• Minocycline
• Nitrofurantoin
• Olanzapine
• Ophthalmic timolol
• Oral contraceptives
• Penicillamine
• Phenytoin
• Practolol
• Procainamide
• Propylthiouracil
• Quinidine
• Reserpine
• Rifampin
• Sertraline2
• Simvastatin
• Sulfasalazine
• Tetracycline
• Ticlopidine
• Tiotropium bromide inhaler
• Trimethadione
• Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)3
• Valproate
• Voriconazole
Drugs that cause flares of SLE are as follows:
• Cimetidine
• Hydralazine
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Mesantoin
• P -Aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
• Penicillin(I have taken this drug for repeat throat & ear infections)
• Phenylbutazone
• Sulfonamides(This drug I was on for repeat kidney infections)
• Terbinafine

Several broad drug categories have been linked to drug-induced lupus erythematosus, including the following:
• Antiarrhythmics - Procainamide and quinidine
• Antibiotics - Minocycline and isoniazid
• Antifungals - Griseofulvin and voriconazole
• Anticonvulsants - Valproate, ethosuximide, carbamazepine, and hydantoins
• Hormonal therapy - Leuprolide acetate
• Antihypertensives - Hydralazine, methyldopa, and captopril
• Anti-inflammatories - Penicillamine and sulfasalazine(another SULFA drug)
• Antipsychotics - Chlorpromazine
• Cholesterol-lowering agents - Lovastatin, simvastatin, and gemfibrozil
• Biologics - Interleukins (eg, interleukin 2), interferons (eg, alfa, beta, gamma), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors (eg, TNF-alpha)
• Inhalers - Tiotropium bromide inhaler
• Other drug categories - Ophthalmic timolol

Other causes may induce drug-induced lupus erythematosus in certain individuals for no apparent reason, such as sensitivity to the following:
• Insecticide compounds
• Certain metallic compounds
• Eosin (a fluorescent acid dye found in some lipsticks)(Not sure bout this one.....LOL....might just have to stop using lipstick!!!)