My Journey to halt/end my psoriasis

[KatT]

I resumed MTX after about a year or two break but it did nothing for my psoriatic arthritis.  So I was put on leflunomide which was not doing anything for psoriatic arthritis either.  Then I was given biologics.

Regardless of the treatment, blood tests are required on a regular basis.

In 2018, I was about to switch biologics to go on Cosentyx and ended up in the ER.  Diagnosis:  lupus flare.  For that, I was given azathioprine which is in the same category as MTX, leflunomide, etc.

Had another big lupus flare this year and found out my liver was affected because of the azathioprine. This was found through blood tests done at the ER and CT scan.  So the azathioprine was stopped due to liver damage and the fact that it didn't prevent a severe flare..

It's a shame because the azathioprine was effective for my psoriasis also and I was completely clear of plaques from 2018 till March 2021. In other words during that period, I basically had two treatments for psoriasis (azathioprine and a biologic)

Now for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis I take Simponi (TNF biologic) and for lupus I take hydroxychloroquine.

The liver healed and I would love to take azathioprine or MTX again as I know I would be clear of psoriasis however I would rather prevent a lupus flare than psoriasis therefore giving up hydroxychloroquine might not be an option.


Hope this helps