I don't think Plaquenil causes fatigue.  Certainly not often.  It might
cause drowsiness when first taking it - but I've never experienced that. It
becomes very difficult to separate symptoms from the disease and side
effects with a disease like lupus.  So it may be that someone started taking
Plaquenil and just happened to develop the symptom of fatigue shortly
thereafter.

That said - I didn't find the plaquenil to alter my fatigue level much.  It
helped in many other ways but only time and remission really dealt with the
fatigue and even now I have days where all I want to do is sleep or I feel
so bone-weary nothing gets done.  Fatigue is probably the only symptom of
Lupus that occurs in 100% of lupus patients at one time or another. Very
darn near anyway.

I wish I had an answer - much of my fatigue improved when I quit working.
But that's not an option for you and I know it goes against what you want to
do.

I think it's worthwhile to try the Plaquenil if your doctor is willing to do
so.  Especially since it seems you don't have a full diagnosis?  It's a
fairly mild drug.  Just make sure you get a baseline eye exam either before
you start taking it or very soon after and keep up with eye exams every 6
months.  It's a rare risk, but a risk nonetheless.  I've been on plaquenil -
i think since 2000.  I credit it with a major role in keeping me out of the
hospital and reducing my joint pain greatly.  Used to be almost every day
was a day 7 or 8 (pain level of 0-10).  Now most days are 2s.  a few 4-5s
scattered in there during hormonal times.

it will take several weeks or months for you to properly guage your response
to plaquenil assuming you  have no side effects that force you to stop
taking it.  The most common side effect is probably nausea - taken with a
small amount of food (I drink half an Ensure) is enough to prevent this in
most people.

Give it serious though - the chance that it might help is, IMO, more
valuable than the risk that it won't.

Past that - the mantra has been for me - listen to what your body is telling
you when you can.  We're fatigued in part because our bodies require more
rest to heal and avoid flares.  I know this isn't convenient or desirable in
your situation.  But I know of little else that helps.  Exercise can help
for folks who are fatigued but inactive.  Obviously you are not inactive.

good luck - I hope someone here has some more helpful answers. :(

KCat

Can not think of much of anything that removes the fatigue.  Perhaps more
exercise.  I say that with a grin as wide as the Cheshire Cat.  One must
rest when one is tired.  Fatigue is the number one commonality among
autoimmune diseases.  Could use the good ol' cold wash cloth on the face
routine.  I know that helps me sometimes.  Eat fruit also seems to help, but
the natural sugar hike is only temporary at best.  There may be some foods
you could try and steer clear from eatting. For example, forget what
chemical but in turkey there is a natural depressant and is why often people
just coach potato themselves out after a bit meal on Turkey Day.  There are
other foods that cause people to react that way so might want to do a search
on Google or something to see if there is a list somewhere.  Otherwise, as
far as i go, i just give in to the fatigue as I have learned best not to
fight it.  Sometimes those power naps can go a long, long way.
Always,
..? ???)) -:?:-
?.?? .????))
((??.?? ..?? cloud -:?:-
-:?:- ((??.??*

Hi Jacquie,
I don't take plaquinil, so I can't offer any personal experience in regards
to that. I think almost all of people with lupus suffer from fatique. It has
always been one of my biggest problems, even when I am not really sick. I
think it might be worth trying plaquinil, if your doctor thinks it might
work.My understanding is that it is not one of the drugs that has
potentially dangerous side effects. You can easily discontinue it if it
isn't helping.
BJ-Sk. Canada

HI   Have taken plaquenil for over 18 years and at my routine eye
exam on Tuesday the Opthomoligist told me to stop taking it for
awhile.  For the past three days fatigue is unbelievable.  Really
wonder if it is the worry of the upcoming eye surgery in 2 weeks
or trying to cope with lupus without plaquinil.  Haven't had a flare
for almost a year and been able to do most anything except go out
side during the day.   Just some thoughts     rutb

Fatigue is the most difficult for me to deal with.  I'm taking Provigil
twice a day... one in the morning and another at lunch.

Of course, trying to fix the sleep problem is the first approach but for

Hi Jacquie
I've been on plaquenil for two years and it has helped with the pain
and fatigue.  I still have these symptoms, but I have more days out of
bed than before.  One doc I went to suggested an anti-narcolepsy drug
which I didn't try because it is very expensive.  Other than that, I
haven't heard of anything that can help.  I simply try not to overdo
anything (yeh, right) or else I'm down for the count for days.  I'm on
disability now due to having antiphospholipid syndrome.  BTW, my name
is Jacquie also (spelled the same way which is unusual.  Take care.

I have been on Plaquenil and found it extremely helpful as well with my
fatigue.  However, simultaneously I also took a number of months of
work/grad school -- I was exhausted still for the first few months but
gradually it improved.  I couldn't get enough sleep for the first few months
and then I noticed I slowly started to sleep less.

Also, my pain medication Tramadol seems to give me a burst of energy the
first couple hours after I take it.  It has been helpful not only in
alleviating my pain, but also it's like a shot of caffeine.  I have heard
this medication affects others this way as well.  Just a thought!

Steph