Health Boards
Sun-01-09-2024, 13:45 PM
Welcome!
I understand your hesitancy as most side effects listed with drugs are a bit daunting. I think you just have to weigh your symptoms vs "possible" side effects. Drug companies have to list possible bad things to protect themselves from lawsuits.... Otherwise I don't know anyone who would take the ones that say "may cause death"
Of course they also list them because although perhaps most people don't have issues with the medicine, they must have had a few that did so that's the scary part. There are also other treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, it's good to find out (here is a great place for that by the way!) what others are using and discuss those options with your provider. But most of the oral meds have the same warnings. And most of the biologics have the same warnings. But remember, the problem with arthritis is that it can get worse so early treatment can help slow down the process.
I had good results with Acitretin, an oral med. I also had no side effects. However, the more I read up on it the less I wanted to use it. I just felt like I was taking something bad even though it helped my symptoms. It helped but I stopped taking it. So, I get it.
Fred, the 30 days free is something usually offered here more as an incentive and a bit of a savings thing. Also 30 days can sometimes let you know how your system tolerates the new medication. It can be an incentive to try something (who doesn't like free stuff) and due to the price of most drugs a month's savings can sometimes be a nice little bit of money you get to keep. Similar to that are the free samples doctor's give out. Saves me a trip to the drug store and a few dollars here and there. I only get samples of drugs I'm currently taking, it's not like the doctor's are going oh here give this one a try
It's usually only something they are prescribing for you anyway.
I understand your hesitancy as most side effects listed with drugs are a bit daunting. I think you just have to weigh your symptoms vs "possible" side effects. Drug companies have to list possible bad things to protect themselves from lawsuits.... Otherwise I don't know anyone who would take the ones that say "may cause death"
Of course they also list them because although perhaps most people don't have issues with the medicine, they must have had a few that did so that's the scary part. There are also other treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, it's good to find out (here is a great place for that by the way!) what others are using and discuss those options with your provider. But most of the oral meds have the same warnings. And most of the biologics have the same warnings. But remember, the problem with arthritis is that it can get worse so early treatment can help slow down the process. I had good results with Acitretin, an oral med. I also had no side effects. However, the more I read up on it the less I wanted to use it. I just felt like I was taking something bad even though it helped my symptoms. It helped but I stopped taking it. So, I get it.
Fred, the 30 days free is something usually offered here more as an incentive and a bit of a savings thing. Also 30 days can sometimes let you know how your system tolerates the new medication. It can be an incentive to try something (who doesn't like free stuff) and due to the price of most drugs a month's savings can sometimes be a nice little bit of money you get to keep. Similar to that are the free samples doctor's give out. Saves me a trip to the drug store and a few dollars here and there. I only get samples of drugs I'm currently taking, it's not like the doctor's are going oh here give this one a try
It's usually only something they are prescribing for you anyway.