Suboxone or Plaquenil anyone?

Hi ~
Is or has anyone tried suboxone or plaquenil?  I just met with a rheumatologist that has been using both off label for some of his fibro patients with success.  Suboxone is a med normally given to those with addictions to opiates; therefore, wouldn't be used in conjunction with any other opiate.  Evidently, special training is needed to even prescribe it.  I'm at the end of my rope here, after getting off of the fentanyl patches - more pain than I've ever been in my life.  I won't be able to start this med for two weeks, due to his schedule, but it will need to work pretty quickly as my FMLA has almost run out.  Pretty scary time for me and really feel pushed into a corner.  The other med he mentioned, though does take quite a while to kick in the system, was plaquenil.  He said he's seen 70% relief of pain and fatigue in his patients.  This doc has been around a long time - probably 40 years, with emphasis on fibro. 

Trying to stay hopeful that these may help me or may be time to start the disability fight.

Hi OregonGal,

Sorry to hear about your pain. I suffer as well from Fibromyalgia but also have been diagnosed with Auto Immune Sjogren's syndrome. My rheumatologist prescribed Plaquenil for me day one but he told me that it was for the treatment of the Sjogren's more so than the fibro. I was prescribed Lyrica and Lexapro for the fibro. Plaquenil is an anti-malaria drug that they found for some reason helps with the autoimmune diseases. I have taken it for a while and did not have any problems with it until recently. I have always had a bit of IBS before surgery so afterward the Plaquenil seems to keep my pouch inflammed. I tried to get it with a coating but they don't make it anymore so I have stopped taking it. The only thing I'm taking for my fibro now is Cymbalta. I'm doing really well as long as I don't over do. I take Ultram(Tramadol) along with  Tylenol during pain flares. The only thing that my rheumatologist said was that I needed to get my eyes checked regularly to make sure the Plaquenil didn't build up in them. To be quite honest with you I don't feel much different since I stopped taking the plaquenil but I do believe that having surgery and losing 60 lbs has helped tremendously. Try to relax when you can and maybe you do need to prepare for the disability fight.

Thanks for the reply.  I was given a test many years ago for Sjogren's, which was positive.  This doc is thinking that I don't have Sjogren's, but sicca syndrome, since I don't have the joint pain associated with Sjogrens. (Just my hips, but I have arthritis in them - should say just one hip, since I just had one replaced).  Weird thing with me, is that prior to surgery, I had IBS, but the surgery seemed to have cured it - as I have had no probs that way in 5 years.  I was on Ultram for over a year, and then it stopped working.  Good for you, that losing some weight helped with your pain.  I've lost just over 170 lbs., and no help whatsever, with the fibro pain, if anything, worse the past 5 years, since surgery.  I don't blame the surgery - during that time I was in a minor car accident  that has left me in a chronic pain state.  Got a lawyer, but hearing that they'll use the fibro against me.  I was rear-ended by a guy who was drinking a protein drink (gotta love it!) - had his cup all the way tipped back and crunched into the back of me.  The surgery affected a specific nerve in my neck - I've had 2 cervical denervations where they laser the damaged nerve, relieves the pain until the nerve grows back in about 6-8 mos.  I'm heading in for my third denervation.  I should say, I have had to pay for all of these thousands of dollars for these denervations, as my own company said I didn't need them and that it was fibro.

Hopeful I can get some pain relief, as I desperately want to get back to work.

Curious to know - do you get pain relief from the Cymbalta?  I'm on that too - probably good antidepressant, but does nothing for my pain.  Tried Lyrica years ago - no help with pain and not as good as an antidepressant for me.  I know when I was taking the Cymbalta with the Ultram, the docs were a little concerned, because that combo could potentially cause serotonin syndrome.  No trouble with that, but unfortunely the Ultram stopped working.  Does lexapro help with fibro pain?  Over the years, I've tried many - prozac, paxil, celexa, and welbrutin, I think, for a short time.

I'm not sure that the Cymbalta helps or not. I mainly take it because I have suffered from Chronic low level depression just about all my life and it really helps with that. I also had some undiagnosed tremors that it seemed to help with as well. I just don't really feel like I can risk not taking it right now. My doc said that as long as I don't take a lot of the Ultram I shouldn't have any problems. I only take the Ultram for the occasional flares and pain that can't be helped with the Tylenol alone. The Lyrica worked for me but after the surgery it made me extremely loopy. Couldn't stand that. I think since I don't take the Ultram that much it continues to work for me. I have to tried all except for Prozac. My doctor at the time believed the drug to be over prescribed and saw it as a running joke so never gave it to me. It just takes a lot of work and perseverance on our parts to take care of ourselves. Drinking a protein drink huh?! Did you have these symptoms before the accident? Typical that an insurance company would bail out when it comes to giving you even a portion of the money that they are making.

Took Cymbalta for a while then I was driving down an express way one day and every time I blinked I had a new hole in my vision.  I was terrified and kept trying not to blink as I got off at the first exit.  I figured out it was peaking so took a knapp in a hospital parking lot for two hours and was better.  Never took that again - it scares me I though it may blur my vision not out holes of nothing in it.  It was not improving my pain either.

Of course, fibro for years, but never the burning, stabbing pain down one nerve in my neck, like someone stuck me with a hot poker is the best way I can describe it.  I just makes me so mad - I've had 'California Casualty ins. for 25 years and they've never heard boo from me.  What's crazy is that since I was the one hit, they wouldn't even be paying the medical bills - his ins. would! I may end up having to keep having this procedure done yearly or twice a year, forever, as the nerve would keep growing back.  My lawyer is going to sue them shortly, though, as we are nearing the two years, along with the guy's ins. co.  I am just going to have to accept however it all comes out, I guess.

It's amazing how much crap we go through with insurance companies. It kind of defeats the whole purpose of having insurance. You pay money and believe that you are "covered" but NOT! I'm glad to hear that you have some legal action going. I pray for the best.

Yep, pretty incredible what they can get away with, and to be able to just say "it's her fibro", though there's nothing in my record prior to the accident that makes mention of burning, stabbing, pain down my neck.  Interesting, too, how the companies join forces against the one who was injured, even if my company wouldn't have to pay out on it.  Thanks for your prayers...