Starting Skilarence.

[MrGnomusy]

I've been lurking around on this forum for about 2 years and thought it'd now be a good time to come out of the closet. I thought about starting posting last Oktober when I went over from yearly UV-B light therapy to Metotrexat (due to the fact that I've hit the lifetime limit of UV exposure apparently) but I held off. I've had severe Gutate Psoriasis since 2002 when I was 19 until now (34). Light therapy was a life saver for me until the spring of 2016 when it was determined that I had to give it up. Got really depressed that summer and with a big flare up to boot. Got on Methotrexate in September and it worked (decently) until my liver values shot up over 3.2. What values they measure exactly I don't really know. But I had to give it up. Just as well cuz ever since I started I've been feeling weaker week by week. (20mg a week) with a 5mg folic acid tablet the day after. This spring I also started taking the biosimilar Benepali, but I feel it's done nothing for me.  
I've been checking in on this forum often and have been keeping tabs on what you guys have been talking about, and from what I've gathered (fumaric acid esters) seems to be really good for a lot of you. I really wanted to start with Fumaderm (I've heard good things about it), but my dermatologist said that since Skilarence is on the Swedish market and it's the same activ substance ie. The same thing It's not possible to get it imported anymore.
I've only seen discussions about Skilarence on here, and no accounts to my knowledge of any one here being on it, so I thought I'd share my upcoming experience with it with all of you. So if everything goes according to plan I'll start taking it next week. Cheers! 

[Fred]

Well done for coming out of the closet, now you have officially joined in you will find us a friendly bunch.  

Yes as far as I know you are our first member going on to Skilarence so it will be helpful to follow your experience. Please do keep this thread updated when you get chance as I'm sure your information could help our other readers, and who knows you may encourage another one to come out of the closet.

Regards.

Fred.

[jiml]

Great news Mrgnomusy thank you for coming out of the lurkers closet and posting this ( it’s fine lurking but better sharing ) I’m sure it will be a great help to many trying to decide what medication to take
As far as we know it will be better than Fumaderm as there aren’t the same useless addatives. It is more like psorinovo which is just DMF and causes less side effects

I hope you get on well with it and will be pleased to read your progress with it  

I’m on Fumaderm but will happily switch if given the opportunity

[Caroline]

Hello Mrgnomusy,

Welcome to psoriasisclub. Very nice of you to join us after just only reading, I think it is worth it.

Very nice that you are starting with DMF. Too bad you had to go through MTX, only a few of our members do good on MTX, for most members it either fails or the side effects are to heavy.

I am very curious on how you will be doing on Skilarence.
Remember to take it after or during a meal, preferably between main-course and dessert.

Also remember to build up slowly, that is better for having your body getting used to it and for your lymphocytes. Lympho's probably will go down, but will come up again. When going too low, EU-guidelines are 0.7 as a minimum, just stop increasing the dose and go on for a while on a slightly lower dose, your lymph's will go up again, after which you can increase again if necessary.
Prepare yourself to go on for a long time, don't give up quickly because there is no effect yet, DMF is a slow burner, but if it finally works it is excellent. So take your time measured in month to half a year at least.

Cheers,
Caroline

[Bill]

Good luck with the Skilarence. Dimethyl fumarate is the active ingredient and it seems to work whatever it is called. My stuff came in a hessian sack with Chinese characters and it works beautifully for me. The side effects can be tough in the short term and you need to be carefully monitored, early on especially, but if the drug is agreeable you can enjoy many years of clear skin with very little risk.

Cheers

[MrGnomusy]

Just an update. Started taking skilarence 30mg every night this Monday.
My stomach feels upset when I'm going to bed, growling and stuff, nothing serious tho. Keeps me from falling asleep for like an hour. But as I see it it's only a sign that the skilarence is doing its job. 
Cuz I personally think Psoriasis is a gut related disease that sets in when the gut bacteria flora is compromised. 
Allowing parasites and mold (I know, sounds disgusting) to proliferate and let bacteria and food particles into the bloodstream. 
Which then in terms stimulate and activate the immune system to kick in to get rid of these (blood stream invaders)and dump them through the skin. Which is regarded as the third kidney. Just a theory tho... 
And dimethylfumarate is used when shipping leather and other organic materials to prevent mold buildup, so that's how I see it working in the body. But enough rambling from me.
Let's just hope that the upset stomach thing will pass, as I suspect.

Feels nice to be able to vent this stuff with people that's in the same boat! ?

[Fred]

Feels nice to be able to vent this stuff with people that's in the same boat! ?

You vent as much as you like.

I'll leave the DMF gang to advise further but I think Caroline mentioned Yoghurt can help.

[jiml]

Are you taking your Skilarence with a meal and plenty of fluid ...you could try taking it early in the evening

With my Fumaderm I take it with my breakfast and lots of coffee ....the evening tablets I take with my meal and again lots of fluid .......the side effects should subside when your body gets used to the drug .....it should be easier the longer you are in it ....I barely notice the odd flush now......you stick with it ....if it work it can give long term relief, on Fumaderm I've been clear for 6 years now

[Caroline]

Just an update. Started taking skilarence 30mg every night this Monday.
My stomach feels upset when I'm going to bed, growling and stuff, nothing serious tho. Keeps me from falling asleep for like an hour. But as I see it it's only a sign that the skilarence is doing its job. 
Cuz I personally think Psoriasis is a gut related disease that sets in when the gut bacteria flora is compromised. 
Allowing parasites and mold (I know, sounds disgusting) to proliferate and let bacteria and food particles into the bloodstream. 
Which then in terms stimulate and activate the immune system to kick in to get rid of these (blood stream invaders)and dump them through the skin. Which is regarded as the third kidney. Just a theory tho... 
And dimethylfumarate is used when shipping leather and other organic materials to prevent mold buildup, so that's how I see it working in the body. But enough rambling from me.
Let's just hope that the upset stomach thing will pass, as I suspect.

Feels nice to be able to vent this stuff with people that's in the same boat! ?

Hi MrGnomusy,

Is it your stomach or is it your belly (also known as your intestines). Skilarence has a coating that lets it pass through your stomach and lets it release in your intestines, so I guess you should feel it there.
As Jim says, take them during a meal and you can round off with yoghurt, which has kind of a structure that enfolds the DMF and spreads it though your intestines.

Indeed there is reseach that suggests that bacteria are involved in Psoriasis. There is a strong relationship between an infection with streptococcus and staphylococcus and the triggering of Psoriasis.
Myself I doubt it is a gut related disease, but..... what you eat can have an impact on your Psoriasis, this is not true for everyone, but e.g. Alan solves his whole problem with a diet.

No, the invaders are not dumped through the skin, no bacteria can be found in the skin, it is really an increased growth of the skin cells because of the immune system having problems.

How DMF works is described in my Dimethylfumarate thread Dimethylfumarates and Psoriasis.
It is not really like you think, it is more complex. It also happens to be that DMF is an IL-17 and IL-23 moderator, and influences also a number of other interleukins. The active part, MMF, which DMF transfers into, is a body owned substance and is essential in the energy cycle of your cells.

If you want to know more about the possible connection to bacteria, you should read my Journal, which will become accessible after you have made some more posts  

Cheers,    
Caroline

[Bill]

Yes, it is fun to speculate about the mechanism of drug and disease, but I'll betcha your experience will not be as you would imagine it. In taking the drug it is important to have it with plenty of food and fluid as has been pointed out, but it is also a really good idea to keep yourself well hydrated. I am quite sure that my side effects are milder if I maintain a good fluid intake prior to dosing. I hope that some positive effects will kick in quickly for you.