Question:
Hello Everyone,
Well, here is a list of some of the products my Derm. had me tried on the past, but again no sucess.
Halobetasol Ointment- Legs, Arms, Back.
Desonide Cream- Face
Tazorec Gel- Body (at bed time)
Clobest- Scalp
Triam Cream- Affected areas of the body
Ultravate Ointment- legs, arms, back
Dovonex Cream- Body
Dovonex Solution- Scalp
I also started using DHS Tar Shampoo and Dovonex products now.
I can't take it anymore, is driving me crazy. Everytime I think is getting better, I'm wrong, there's always new spots on my body.
I heard few people saying they tried PILLS. What kind of Pills?? and do I have to ask my Derm. to prescribe them??
Hi Ed,,,there are pills, injections, ,,,,,tones of stuff. But, they all have side affects.
Go here,,,,,,,read all about them. Ten read the forums and you'll find someone that has tried them. Ask questions. At least you'll know wht your doc is talking about.
Ed, one thing I did not say to you............ALWAYS stay one step ahead of your derm when it comes to your treatments. Always ask for what you think you might need/want. The worst they can say is no. Keep yourself informed on what is out there. I was the same as you, I dont think I could even list all the stuff i've been on. Its sooooo much. Just about everything you mentioned, I've used. It sounds to me like your spinning in circles like I did. It is time to get serious. Call a new derm, they probably cant see you for months. Make the appointment, and call every Tuesday to see if there are cancellations. chances are you will get in a lot sooner. I had the best luck in the city, an hour each way. The more I find I know, the MUCH better off I am when I go in there once a month. cyclosporine will squash it good!!!!!! Blood pressure is an issue for some, not for me, no kidney problems either. I was on it for 10 months, good luck, keep reading here, there is a lot in experience. Jen
Hi Ed,
I don't think that we've met, so let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the Board! :cool: Nice to meet you. I'm sorry to hear that you're going through such a rough time. :(
You mentioned:Everytime I think is getting better, I'm wrong, there's always new spots on my body. Certain medications, especially beta blockers which are sometimes prescribed for high blood pressure are known triggers for psoriasis. Here's a link to a previous discussion: . Prednisone can also sometimes make psoriasis get worse.
Also, more then a few people have posted here that either their psoriasis or their child's psoriasis was either triggered by or gets worse when they have some sort of infection. (That infection is usually strep throat, but just about any infection can trigger psoriasis.) Many of those same people have also reported that a psoriasis outbreak is often the only sign that they have an infection, because they are asymptomatic for the infection. (I.E., They don't have sore throat or a fever in the case of strep throat.) To add insult to injury, they also report that the psoriasis won't respond to treatment until the underlying infection is taken care of. Since strep is a likely culprit you might want to consider getting tested for strep. (Insist on a culture, because the so-called "quick test" is often unreliable. Here's the links to some previous discussions about psoriasis and infections:
;
;
.
And, here's a link to the NPF's discussion of psoriasis triggers: .
You asked:I heard few people saying they tried PILLS. What kind of Pills?? and do I have to ask my Derm. to prescribe them?? All of the pills that are used to treat psoriasis require a doctors prescription and all of them require frequent bloodwork and other tests because all of them have some pretty serious potential side effects.
Jenna mentioned cyclosporine. Cyclosporine has a fascinating history. It's given to transplant recipients to prevent rejection of transplanted organs. Someone noticed that the psoriasis of psoriasis sufferers who were also transplant recipients started to clear when they were put on cyclosporine for the transplant. That led to some additional research and clinical trials and the rest as they say is history. Psoriasis patients can only take cyclosporine for a maxim of one year. That's to prevent some of the potential side effects that are associated with cyclosporine. As Jenna mentioned, blood pressure and kidney problems are some of cyclosporine's potential side effects. Here's a link to some additional information: http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/...s/san1393.shtml.
Methotrexate (which you'll often see abbreviated as MTX) is another pill that can be taken for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PA). MTX is actually a form a chemotherapy that in lower doses is used to treat psoriasis and/or PA. MTX has been available for a very long time. MTX has some pretty potential side effects associated with it. It can cause liver failure. You can't drink alcohol while on MTX. You'll have to undergo frequent bloodwork to check your liver function. Most dermatologist require a liver biopsy after you've been on MTX for a certain amount of time. MTX can cause birth defects. That's true for both the father and the mother. Here's a link to some additional information: http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/...s/met1257.shtml. At least one person who posts here developed kidney disease while taking MTX. We'll never know for sure if MTX caused her kidney disease, but kidney disease is another listed potential side effect for MTX. Another poster developed MTX related liver disease and the last we heard from her needed a liver transplant. I'm not telling you these things to scare you. I just think that it's important that you know all of the potential risks so that you can make an informed decision about your treatment options. The good news is that a lot of people who post here use MTX. Most of them report little or no side effects. Nausea and fatigue seem to be the most common MTX-related complaints.
Soriatane (www.soriatane.com) is another pill that is used to treat psoriasis. Soriatane was developed specifically as a treatment for psoriasis and it's approved as a treatment for all forms of psoriasis. Soriatane can cause birth defects. A woman can't get pregnant for a minimum of three years after she stops using Soriatane. (I'm not sure if there is a similar warning in the case of a man.) Men and woman who've been on Soriatane cannot donate blood because of the risk of birth defects in woman who may receive a transfusion with blood from a donor who on on Sotiatane. You can't drink alcohol while on Soriatane. Click here for some additional information about Soriatane. There are a number of people who post here who use Soriatane to treat their psoriasis. Soriatane can be a particularly effective treatment in the case of some of the more severe forms of psoriasis -- i.e., pustular psoriasis () and erythrodermic psoriasis (). Soriatane's potential side effects range from annoying to serious. The risk of Soriatane's potential side effects seems to increase as people increase their dose of Soriatane, but they can occur at any time.
Some of the new treatments for psoriasis are part of a new class of drugs called biologics. These drugs include Enbrel (www.enbrel.com), Remicade (www.remicade.com) and Humira (www.humira.com). All of these drugs have only recently become available. All of them can be very expensive. All of them have potential side effects associated with them. They seem to be safe but their long term impact is not yet known because they're so new. Enbrel and Humira are given by self-injection at home. (It's kind of like tacking an insulin shot.) Remcade is given by infusion (which can last several hours) at a doctors office. A lot of people who post here use these medications. They don't work for everyone, but most people report that they are please with the results that they are seeing. The good news is that most people also report little or no side effects. Here's a link to the NPF's discussion of the biologic treatments: .
UVB light treatments are probably the safest treatment that is available in the war against psoriasis. Light treatments can be a pain because you have to for treatment three times a week for several months at the very beginning. You also might run into insurance issues. (The NPF has an insurance advocacy service that goes to bat for people with insurance problems.) Light treatment don't work for everyone (some people have also been burned by them) but they can be a safe and effective weapon in the war against psoriasis. Home units are aslo available and are often covered by insurance. Not everyone responds well to light treatments, so most doctors and insurance companies generally require that psoriasis patients undergo their initial light treatment at a doctors office. Some people who post here have been able to waive that requirement.
It's important that you keep your psoriasis moist, so in the words of my dermatologist "moisturize, moisturize, moisturzie". Which moisturizer that you use is a matter of personal preference and trail and error. I find that it helps to rotate brands and to use only those moisturizers that are labled "fragrance free", "non-irritating" and/or "for sensitive skin".
I also find that that the kind of soap and laundry products that I use make all the difference in the world. Anti-bacterial and deoderant soaps, for example, tend to irritate my psoriasis and make it drier and itchier then it already is. I've had similar problems with the dyes and fragrances in detergent and dryer sheets, etc. I haven't had any laundry related problems since I switched to "free and clear" laundry products. And, here's a link to some previous discussions about psoriasis and soap: .
I'm sorry that this turned into such a novel. You're probably suffering from information overload. :rolleyes: I hope that it helps on some small way. Good luck. Keep us posted and please don't be a stranger.
Mike
Well, here is a list of some of the products my Derm. had me tried on the past, but again no sucess.
Halobetasol Ointment- Legs, Arms, Back.
Desonide Cream- Face
Tazorec Gel- Body (at bed time)
Clobest- Scalp
Triam Cream- Affected areas of the body
Ultravate Ointment- legs, arms, back
Dovonex Cream- Body
Dovonex Solution- Scalp
I also started using DHS Tar Shampoo and Dovonex products now.
I can't take it anymore, is driving me crazy. Everytime I think is getting better, I'm wrong, there's always new spots on my body.
I heard few people saying they tried PILLS. What kind of Pills?? and do I have to ask my Derm. to prescribe them??
Answers:
Hi Ed,,,there are pills, injections, ,,,,,tones of stuff. But, they all have side affects.
Go here,,,,,,,read all about them. Ten read the forums and you'll find someone that has tried them. Ask questions. At least you'll know wht your doc is talking about.
Answers:
Ed, one thing I did not say to you............ALWAYS stay one step ahead of your derm when it comes to your treatments. Always ask for what you think you might need/want. The worst they can say is no. Keep yourself informed on what is out there. I was the same as you, I dont think I could even list all the stuff i've been on. Its sooooo much. Just about everything you mentioned, I've used. It sounds to me like your spinning in circles like I did. It is time to get serious. Call a new derm, they probably cant see you for months. Make the appointment, and call every Tuesday to see if there are cancellations. chances are you will get in a lot sooner. I had the best luck in the city, an hour each way. The more I find I know, the MUCH better off I am when I go in there once a month. cyclosporine will squash it good!!!!!! Blood pressure is an issue for some, not for me, no kidney problems either. I was on it for 10 months, good luck, keep reading here, there is a lot in experience. Jen
Answers:
Hi Ed,
I don't think that we've met, so let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the Board! :cool: Nice to meet you. I'm sorry to hear that you're going through such a rough time. :(
You mentioned:Everytime I think is getting better, I'm wrong, there's always new spots on my body. Certain medications, especially beta blockers which are sometimes prescribed for high blood pressure are known triggers for psoriasis. Here's a link to a previous discussion: . Prednisone can also sometimes make psoriasis get worse.
Also, more then a few people have posted here that either their psoriasis or their child's psoriasis was either triggered by or gets worse when they have some sort of infection. (That infection is usually strep throat, but just about any infection can trigger psoriasis.) Many of those same people have also reported that a psoriasis outbreak is often the only sign that they have an infection, because they are asymptomatic for the infection. (I.E., They don't have sore throat or a fever in the case of strep throat.) To add insult to injury, they also report that the psoriasis won't respond to treatment until the underlying infection is taken care of. Since strep is a likely culprit you might want to consider getting tested for strep. (Insist on a culture, because the so-called "quick test" is often unreliable. Here's the links to some previous discussions about psoriasis and infections:
;
;
.
And, here's a link to the NPF's discussion of psoriasis triggers: .
You asked:I heard few people saying they tried PILLS. What kind of Pills?? and do I have to ask my Derm. to prescribe them?? All of the pills that are used to treat psoriasis require a doctors prescription and all of them require frequent bloodwork and other tests because all of them have some pretty serious potential side effects.
Jenna mentioned cyclosporine. Cyclosporine has a fascinating history. It's given to transplant recipients to prevent rejection of transplanted organs. Someone noticed that the psoriasis of psoriasis sufferers who were also transplant recipients started to clear when they were put on cyclosporine for the transplant. That led to some additional research and clinical trials and the rest as they say is history. Psoriasis patients can only take cyclosporine for a maxim of one year. That's to prevent some of the potential side effects that are associated with cyclosporine. As Jenna mentioned, blood pressure and kidney problems are some of cyclosporine's potential side effects. Here's a link to some additional information: http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/...s/san1393.shtml.
Methotrexate (which you'll often see abbreviated as MTX) is another pill that can be taken for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PA). MTX is actually a form a chemotherapy that in lower doses is used to treat psoriasis and/or PA. MTX has been available for a very long time. MTX has some pretty potential side effects associated with it. It can cause liver failure. You can't drink alcohol while on MTX. You'll have to undergo frequent bloodwork to check your liver function. Most dermatologist require a liver biopsy after you've been on MTX for a certain amount of time. MTX can cause birth defects. That's true for both the father and the mother. Here's a link to some additional information: http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/...s/met1257.shtml. At least one person who posts here developed kidney disease while taking MTX. We'll never know for sure if MTX caused her kidney disease, but kidney disease is another listed potential side effect for MTX. Another poster developed MTX related liver disease and the last we heard from her needed a liver transplant. I'm not telling you these things to scare you. I just think that it's important that you know all of the potential risks so that you can make an informed decision about your treatment options. The good news is that a lot of people who post here use MTX. Most of them report little or no side effects. Nausea and fatigue seem to be the most common MTX-related complaints.
Soriatane (www.soriatane.com) is another pill that is used to treat psoriasis. Soriatane was developed specifically as a treatment for psoriasis and it's approved as a treatment for all forms of psoriasis. Soriatane can cause birth defects. A woman can't get pregnant for a minimum of three years after she stops using Soriatane. (I'm not sure if there is a similar warning in the case of a man.) Men and woman who've been on Soriatane cannot donate blood because of the risk of birth defects in woman who may receive a transfusion with blood from a donor who on on Sotiatane. You can't drink alcohol while on Soriatane. Click here for some additional information about Soriatane. There are a number of people who post here who use Soriatane to treat their psoriasis. Soriatane can be a particularly effective treatment in the case of some of the more severe forms of psoriasis -- i.e., pustular psoriasis () and erythrodermic psoriasis (). Soriatane's potential side effects range from annoying to serious. The risk of Soriatane's potential side effects seems to increase as people increase their dose of Soriatane, but they can occur at any time.
Some of the new treatments for psoriasis are part of a new class of drugs called biologics. These drugs include Enbrel (www.enbrel.com), Remicade (www.remicade.com) and Humira (www.humira.com). All of these drugs have only recently become available. All of them can be very expensive. All of them have potential side effects associated with them. They seem to be safe but their long term impact is not yet known because they're so new. Enbrel and Humira are given by self-injection at home. (It's kind of like tacking an insulin shot.) Remcade is given by infusion (which can last several hours) at a doctors office. A lot of people who post here use these medications. They don't work for everyone, but most people report that they are please with the results that they are seeing. The good news is that most people also report little or no side effects. Here's a link to the NPF's discussion of the biologic treatments: .
UVB light treatments are probably the safest treatment that is available in the war against psoriasis. Light treatments can be a pain because you have to for treatment three times a week for several months at the very beginning. You also might run into insurance issues. (The NPF has an insurance advocacy service that goes to bat for people with insurance problems.) Light treatment don't work for everyone (some people have also been burned by them) but they can be a safe and effective weapon in the war against psoriasis. Home units are aslo available and are often covered by insurance. Not everyone responds well to light treatments, so most doctors and insurance companies generally require that psoriasis patients undergo their initial light treatment at a doctors office. Some people who post here have been able to waive that requirement.
It's important that you keep your psoriasis moist, so in the words of my dermatologist "moisturize, moisturize, moisturzie". Which moisturizer that you use is a matter of personal preference and trail and error. I find that it helps to rotate brands and to use only those moisturizers that are labled "fragrance free", "non-irritating" and/or "for sensitive skin".
I also find that that the kind of soap and laundry products that I use make all the difference in the world. Anti-bacterial and deoderant soaps, for example, tend to irritate my psoriasis and make it drier and itchier then it already is. I've had similar problems with the dyes and fragrances in detergent and dryer sheets, etc. I haven't had any laundry related problems since I switched to "free and clear" laundry products. And, here's a link to some previous discussions about psoriasis and soap: .
I'm sorry that this turned into such a novel. You're probably suffering from information overload. :rolleyes: I hope that it helps on some small way. Good luck. Keep us posted and please don't be a stranger.
Mike
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