Methotrexate or Fumaderm?

[ccarr06]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site after suffering from psoriasis since my teenage years. It is only in the last two years, however, that it turned from a few spots on my fingers when stressed to coverage over all of my body with guttate, scalp and inverse psoriasis after what I was told was a bacterial sinus infection (I now believe that it could have been strep throat).

I did topical treatments, like dovobet, before UVB treatment. I did 27 sessions and while I wasn't compltely cleared, it was almost. This lasted two months before it started to come back.

After a visit with my dermatologist yesterday, I was told that perhaps it was time to start oral treatments. I was given information on Methotrexate and Fumaderm, and told to consider my options. I'm back in 6 weeks so I have to decide by then.

Has anyone had experience with both of these treatments? Any advice would be helpful. I was leaning towards Methotrexate, but my worry is that as I work in a Creche with 2 year olds, who constantly have colds. Furmaderm seems to have a lot of nasty side affects, which makes me wary.

Thanks in advance

[Fred]

Hello and welcome to Psoriasis Club.

If you have a choice of Methotrexate or Fumaderm, I would go for Fumaderm. Fumaderm has far less side effects than Methotrexate. As I'm sure you will soon find out from other members who are happy with Fumaderm.

Myself I've only ever tried Methotrexate, and would never ever go back on it again. Some say it's good but more say it's not.

These threads may help in your choice:

Methotrexate

Fumaderm

Also as a member you can use the search facility to find more that may help.

I'm sure you will get other answers and I lay my money on it being Fumaderm.

But please always remember what works for some may not work for others. Your dermatologist is following the correct protocol and will work with you to find something that works, but at the end of the day it's your body they are playing with and you have to make the final decision.

Regards.

Fred.

[jiml]

Hi ccar and a big to the forum I hope you enjoy your time with us and you have found a great site for support and advice.. This is just a small but friendly group of psoriasis sufferers exchanging information and personal experiences.

You ask opinions on treatments you have been offered.
My opinion is and I have used both treatments
Methotrexate is more toxic in my opinion and although it cleared my psoriasis I hated taking it so much I had to give up.... It made me feel nauseous and generally unwell
On methotrexate you need monitoring for the same things as Fumaderm

fumaderm if you are offered that do give it a try I am on it at the moment and can't heap enough praise on it it is far less toxic than methotrexate. It is not a quick fix but it is safe to be on long term ( it's been used in Germany for 30 years) but if you can get over the initial side effects and it starts working the dose can be reduced. In my case I'm on 3 tablets a day with virtually no side effects. Although when I started I did get abdominal cramps and hot flushes... But as time passed the side effects got less they were never bad but annoying.and as long as you are monitored for liver kidney and lymphocyte levels there is no danger .
My choice would be Fumaderm as it is a natural product DMF and will be less harmful to your organs than methotrexate

[Caroline]

Hi Ccar,

Welcome to the forum.

I will first apologize to you, I am Dutch and that means that I have a quite direct way to express my opinion.

So, that having said now the following.
Fumaderm is based on the substance dimethylfumarate, Fumarates are substances that are normal in our bodies, we all have them in the chemical reactions in our cells and cannot live without them.

Methotrexate is based on... Poison. It is basically a chemo-drug that is used in attacking cancer, and it is known to ruin your immune system.

To my opinion above says enough, don't even think of methotrexate if you have the choice of going for fumaderm. It is a rather innocent drug, of course you need to use it under regular checking up of your blood values just to be sure, and you have a 70-75% chance of succes.

I have used MTX myself, those were the worst weeks of my life.

Enjoy yourself on the forum, it is packed with information, opinions and nice people,
Caroline

[Bill]

<Furmaderm seems to have a lot of nasty side affects, which makes me wary.>

Really? What might they be? Not a pleasant drug to take I agree, but very safe if you are properly monitored. By contrast, MTX can kill you even when the therapeutic guidelines are followed. I have been on DMF for nearly two years and the main nasty side effects I have had are a clear skin and a great reduction of arthritis. Very nasty indeed!

Cheers,

Bill

[Caroline]

O. Bill. !
You are almost more direct than I am ....

[Fred]

O. Bill. !
You are almost more direct than I am ....

Not possible

[ccarr06]

Fred, Caroline and Jiml. Seeing your replies are now making me lean towards fumaderm. Bill, my dermatologist seemed to be pushing Methotrexate a bit more during our conversation, she pointed out the side effects of Fumaderm and it didn't sound pleasant, hence why I made the thread the when I got home so that I could get advice from people who are actually on the treatment. Excuse my ignorance.

Would anyone have any advice on how to help the side effects? (I work with kids, so tummy cramps and other stomach problems will be difficult to deal with in an environment where I can't just leave the room to use the bathroom due to adult:child ratios) Any advice would be appreciated.

[Kat]

Hi ccarr and welcome!

[jiml]

Fred, Caroline and Jiml. Seeing your replies are now making me lean towards fumaderm. Bill, my dermatologist seemed to be pushing Methotrexate a bit more during our conversation, she pointed out the side effects of Fumaderm and it didn't sound pleasant, hence why I made the thread the when I got home so that I could get advice from people who are actually on the treatment. Excuse my ignorance.

Would anyone have any advice on how to help the side effects? (I work with kids, so tummy cramps and other stomach problems will be difficult to deal with in an environment where I can't just leave the room to use the bathroom due to adult:child ratios) Any advice would be appreciated.

Dermatologists unfortunately are governed by protocols and they are obliged to offer the cheapest option first and that seems to be the methotrexate.
Resist for all,your worth it's worth the fight to get the fumaderm....
I have never had to rush from the room for the toilet it hasn't had that effect on me
The abdominal cramps for me were not enough to be called painfull and they always occurred within an hour of taking the tablets and were never to bad the occasional feeling you want to bend over but the cramp soon passed and I learnt to take plenty of fluid with the tablets and always with a meal. The flushes will occur at odd times I don't know what starts them but they are not unpleasant but in a class full of kids you may get some odd looks as in my case my face turned bright red ..... But it passes after a short while .... In my case it would not have given me enough trouble to want to leave the room...
I think it's worth the side effects, and yes some get them worse than others but the same can be said for methotrexate.... The difference is Fumaderm is not going to damage your body. It may reduce your white blood count and could affect your kidneys and liver as can methotrexate
With Fumaderm if bloods come back low they reduce your dose and monitor you.
For the last three years,I have been on it my kidney and liver functions are spot on my lymphocyte levels reduced to a lower than normal level so we reduced the dose of tablets my lymphocytes are back up where they should be ...... As for side effects I don't have any....... Wel the odd little flush but nothing like the side effects I had on methotrexate
Hope that is of interest to you