Should I start Cosentyx?

[EugeneHockey]

Got approved for Cosentyx through my insurance and they have a program where it sounds like I won't have to pay anything... almost unbelievable in the corporate ruled ruthless capitalist USA. I'm sure the time will come when I need to pay for some lawyers second vacation home... but really, anyone have any advice? Tried the creams and salt baths, messed around with the diet but nothing seems to help much. Had some luck with laying out in the sun a lot during the Summer but where I live it rains half the year. What should I do friends?

[jiml]

Go for it if they say you can have it ....it should be life changing for you  ..I read lots of good reports and many members here use it

Good luck 

Cosentyx (secukinumab)

[KatT]

It should work for your psoriasis.  I currently take it and I am clear ....all the treatments I tried worked for the psoriasis 

If it doesn't....there are other treatments!

I don't pay anything either 

[EugeneHockey]

Thanks for the info, have you read anything on the P getting worse after stopping the Drug. Or does the flare-back usually just come back somewhat how it was before? I also know everyone is different and P has it's natural ups and downs. I was just wondering if anyone had thoughts about what happens after you stop taking a biologic?

[KatT]

I stopped for about 6 months but was also on immunosuppressants so I didn't flare up.

Still taking them with the Cosentyx.

Have you been on any type of treatment before?  Usually the dermatologists don't start with biological treatments right away....

[EugeneHockey]

No I haven't, I've tried steroid creams and have bought a small handheld UVB wand. Nothing so far has really helped, I'm seeming to develop more symptoms no matter what I do. What's the normal progression of treatment?

[Caroline]

Eugene,

The normal (old fashioned) sequence is:
All kinds of creams first
Salt baths
UVB light treatment
— If you have serious Psoriasis then none of above will finally hold

Pills, which are a set of nasty pills, MTX, ciclosporine, Acetretin, DMF(but not in the states, which is a pity, it is the only decent pill)

Biologicals. Humira, Taltz, Stelara, cosentyx (and more)

Cosentyx is an IL-17 inhibitor. IL-17 is mostly connected to Psoriatic Arthritis, but as Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis are very much connected, in quite some cases it appears to work also for Psoriasis. That is depending on how your immune system is constructed (talk to the constructor about that).
It might work, it might not. If not you probably need an IL-23 inhibitor which is more connected to Psoriasis, stelara is such an IL-23 inhibitor.

Seen from the results of the biologicals from the past years, it is a good way to go to moderate your Psoriasis down.

If nothing works, some of us manage with a very serious diet.

My 2 cts...

Caroline

[Fred]

I would say go for it. It's a great treatment, if you put "Cosentyx" in the Search facility you will find a lot of threads about it.

When you said "I was just wondering if anyone had thoughts about what happens after you stop taking a biologic?" It will come back, you need to keep taking a bio as you do with any other treatment. So it may be worth you checking about payment as your health care system is complicated and I have heard of people getting it free and then they have to pay.

As for the normal protocol, like Caroline said it will be stuff that don't work, stuff that works but you can't keep using it, stuff that can work but will probably make you feel awful, stuff that will work but will probably stop working.

But it's usually Oral and then Bio's. See these threads.

Oral Treatments For Psoriasis

Biological Treatments For Psoriasis

But remember not everyone can get all treatments and we are all different, so what works for one may not work for you.

It's all about trying till you find something that not only works, but something you are happy or comfortable taking. But you will always need something.

Good luck.

[EugeneHockey]

Well, they are sending me Cosentyx. I figure I'll give it a go, along with a major change to my diet and lifestyle hopefully my P, thus my life, will improve. Wish me well friends. I might start a new thread about my journey with Cosentyx.

[Caroline]

Well, they are sending me Cosentyx. I figure I'll give it a go, along with a major change to my diet and lifestyle hopefully my P, thus my life, will improve. Wish me well friends. I might start a new thread about my journey with Cosentyx.

Many many good lucks to you Eugene !