Health Boards
Sat-16-03-2013, 13:54 PM
Hey Anthony,
Welcome to the Club!! Nice to see another new name on the boards. As Fred so kindly mentioned I am presently taking Methotrexate for Psoriatic Arthritis. For many years I fought the recommendation from my Dermatologist and GP to take this drug for my skin and only when I had a serious flare (couldn't use my hands or wrists due to inflammation and pain) of PsA and after trying EVERY other conceivable anti-inflammatory and pain killer combination I decided that it was time to bend a little.
I have to admit that the turn around has been impressive, for my joints at least.... I had full function in my hands and wrists again within 2 weeks of starting MtX, but I have had no clearance of my Pso (actually my skin has gotten worse) since starting it.
I'm a Microbiologist with a fair bit of Immunology training behind me and I have used this to read my way through hundreds of research papers on Mtx and Psoriasis/Psoriatic arthritis before starting the drug, I wanted to fully educate myself on what I was getting into and docs are not great at giving info... (This is why I am still on minimum dosage after almost a year I don't see the need to up the drug level without it being a necessity) but I know how hard it is to read research articles if you're not scientifically minded.
My advice, try everything else out there for your psoriasis before starting MTX or ANY OTHER biological drug... Honestly, I did and wouldn't be on it if it weren't for my PsA. Just don't expect a cure all.... I used to believe that there would be a cure by the time I was an adult but still no such luck.
Krissie
Welcome to the Club!! Nice to see another new name on the boards. As Fred so kindly mentioned I am presently taking Methotrexate for Psoriatic Arthritis. For many years I fought the recommendation from my Dermatologist and GP to take this drug for my skin and only when I had a serious flare (couldn't use my hands or wrists due to inflammation and pain) of PsA and after trying EVERY other conceivable anti-inflammatory and pain killer combination I decided that it was time to bend a little.
I have to admit that the turn around has been impressive, for my joints at least.... I had full function in my hands and wrists again within 2 weeks of starting MtX, but I have had no clearance of my Pso (actually my skin has gotten worse) since starting it.
I'm a Microbiologist with a fair bit of Immunology training behind me and I have used this to read my way through hundreds of research papers on Mtx and Psoriasis/Psoriatic arthritis before starting the drug, I wanted to fully educate myself on what I was getting into and docs are not great at giving info... (This is why I am still on minimum dosage after almost a year I don't see the need to up the drug level without it being a necessity) but I know how hard it is to read research articles if you're not scientifically minded.
My advice, try everything else out there for your psoriasis before starting MTX or ANY OTHER biological drug... Honestly, I did and wouldn't be on it if it weren't for my PsA. Just don't expect a cure all.... I used to believe that there would be a cure by the time I was an adult but still no such luck.
Krissie