Oxoralen/Methoxsalen

[Snowdernsons]

My Psoriasis did not begin to show until I turned 17 (1983). I was prescribed Oxoralen and it worked, my Psoriasis went dormant for almost a decade. I tried to get it prescribed again about 10 years ago and my Dr. said it causes cancer.

Is this true?

[Caroline]

Welcome on the forum Snowdernsons,

Myself I cannot answer your question, as just don't know the answer. I think that one of the other members of the forum will kick in as soon as they are awake..

Caroline

[jiml]

My Psoriasis did not begin to show until I turned 17 (1983). I was prescribed Oxoralen and it worked, my Psoriasis went dormant for almost a decade. I tried to get it prescribed again about 10 years ago and my Dr. said it causes cancer.

Is this true?

Hi and a big to the forum. It seems a shame they won't put you back on a treatment that has worked well for you in the past........ However Cancer is a known side effect

Re Methoxsalen
Patients with high blood pressure or a history of liver problems are at risk for inflammation and irreparable damage to both liver and skin. The eyes must be protected from UVA radiation. Side effects include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and in rare cases insomnia. Methoxsalen has also been classified as an IARC Group 1 carcinogen (known to cause cancer) but is only cancerous when combined with UVA radiation.

Source: wickipedia

I hope this helps ....... There are many great biological drugs available now and your dermatologist should be steering you towards one of those...... as no treatment is not really an option.
Thank you for finding us, you will find us a friendly bunch of psoriasis sufferers always happy to talk and discuss treatments and share experiences. But unfortunately it is a trial and error game for your dermatologist to match you up with something that works for you.. Which your insurance will agree to fund
His Job is getting easier as there are new drugs and innovations happening all the time and there is no better place to read what is happening with research than right here .
I look forward to reading of you finding a successful treatment without going back to Methoxsalen
Good luck
Jim

[Fred]

Hello Snowdernsons to Psoriasis Club.

Yes it is true, but only "supposedly" when used in conjunction with UVA radiation.

Methoxsalen (also called xanthotoxin, marketed under the trade names Oxsoralen, Deltasoralen, Meladinine) is on the list of of IARC Group 1 carcinogens so not looking good in my opinion.

It's time to move on, there are much better treatments available have a look at Prescribed Treatments For Psoriasis and get a picture of what is working for others, then discus your options with your doctor, and if your not doing so already go and see a dermatologist as they are much better suited to treating you than your GP.

Regards.

Fred.

[Snowdernsons]

Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it.

It seems that "side - effects" are unavoidable . . . . and liver damage is usually at the top of the list, therefore it is a discouraging situation no matter how you slice it.

[Fred]

Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it.

It seems that "side - effects" are unavoidable . . . . and liver damage is usually at the top of the list, therefore it is a discouraging situation no matter how you slice it.

Oops sorry I put a link in my last post wrong, I've put it right now.

Side effects are unavoidable, but that doesn't mean everyone will get them. And liver damage is high with some drugs such as Methotrexate, but not with something like the Bio treatments.

Don't be discouraged, there are lots of "better" alternatives that can help.