Fumaderm side effects - my worst case senario

[jiml]

Hi guys

 I thought I'd give you a quick update on how I'm going on fumaderm.

Im currently still on fumaderm initial with my positively glacial build up of tablets. I'm 10 or so weeks into it and I'm taking 2 in the morning, 1 at lunch and 2 in the evening.

I noticed that each time I increase a dose I have a few days of flushing then it settles, I've never had any stomach issues so far. 

Now I don't know if this is normal but the psoriasis on my legs has gone from an angry red to virtually regular skin colour! The change in my skin is incredible, you'd be hard pressed to notice that I ever had anything on my legs and the psoriasis on my elbows has also all but gone!

Im tempted to tell my derm to keep me on the initial tablets to see if it keeps improving.

It isn't all sunshine and roses though. I still have a fair amount on my sides and shoulders which itch like crazy and seems stubborn to move, but I'm hopeful that as I keep increasing the dose it will kick in.

Has anyone else had a dramatic clearance on just the initial tablets?

That's great news that you are clearing on that slow build up. So I see what you mean about staying on a low dose ...you are on the equivalent of one and a quarter full strength tablets a day, I would continue at your low dose and you may actually get clearance on the low dose ...if not keep building slowly and see how 2 full strength tablets work for you ...
I'm pleased it's working and wish you good luck which ever way you go
Jim

[jiml]

William Mateychuck here uses a maintenance dose of one full strength tablet every three days

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[Caroline]

That's great, Obi !!!
Such a low dose, yes it is possible, some people are so lucky they only need a low dose. Indeed increasing the dose leads to a few days of flushing.

I totally agree with Jim. Stay on this dose and see what will happen.
That approach is what my doc followed. I kept on increasing until a change started, then I did not have to increase anymore but went into the plateau-phase. After everything gone, you then can perhaps even reduce.

[OneBigItch]

Hi guys, I went to see my derm this week for my check up.

My skin is 99% clear on 6 initial tablets a day so my derm has decided to keep me on that dose for the next 3 months.

Lets hope it continues!

[jiml]

Hi guys, I went to see my derm this week for my check up.

My skin is 99% clear on 6 initial tablets a day so my derm has decided to keep me on that dose for the next 3 months.

Lets hope it continues!

That's great news I'm sure it will continue to work ...you are lucky that it worked whilst on the initial dose


I have been clear for five years on Fumaderm and William Mateychuck has been clear for 10 years on a low maintenance dose ...so there's no reason for it to suddenly stop working

Here's to a flake free summer for you

[OneBigItch]

Thanks jiml, 

Yes I'm hoping that it will continue to be clear on this low dose, although having 14 boxes of fumaderm initial tablets in my cupcupboard is starting to make it look like a pharmacy!

[Caroline]

Great news Obi !!!

There is a big chance that you will be clear for a very long time.

[OneBigItch]

Hi guys, thought I'd give you all an update.

I've been on 6 fumaderm tablets a day for several months and had total clearance. I went to my derm a few week ago where she checked my bloods and asked about my clearance.

I managed to see my lymphocyte count on the screen and could see that 6 months ago it was about 1.7 and has slowly decreased to 1.1 now. She wasn't concerned about the number so I didn't ask any questions about it.

As my skin was still great so she said we should try to drop down to 4 initial tablets a day to see what the minimum is we can get away with before it starts to come back.

I've been on 4 a day for a few weeks now and although my skin is clear, I've noticed my head is itching in the same place I used to get psoriasis. I've also discovered a single red psoriasis spot on my calf. I'll keep going on 4 a day and see how it goes and hope my bloods stay in the safe zone.

I still love this medication tho, it's a wonder drug compared to Acitretin which was a poison for me.

[jiml]

Great to hear your news onebigitch....I'm so glad it's still working for you and 1.1 for your lymphocytes is great I usually hover around that myself and am rarely ill....

You say you were on 6 tablets a day...was that the initial tablets or the blue full strength

If it was the full strength ..you should begin to reduce slowly to see how low you can go before the psoriasis flares again ...with the reduction in tablets your lymphocyte will recover ....but your levels are good ..

But if the psoriasis is coming back I wiould be inclined to ring the dermatologist and tell them you want to increase the dose again ...don't let it get bad again

[Bill]

Great  result, One Big Itch. It is sensible of your Dermatologist to try and reduce the dosage. Six a day might be good for your psoriasis, but if it knocks down your lymphocytes too far you will not be able to continue taking the drug. Have you tried topical treatments for your scalp? They have worked well for me in conjunction with dimethyl fumarate.