Hello from soosieb99

[Kat]

Hi Kat
Thanks for that.  Can I ask you a question please, apologies in advance if it sounds dim.  But if acitretin works do you stay on it or is there a limited period of time that you can use these drugs?

S  

Hi Kat
Thanks for that.  Can I ask you a question please, apologies in advance if it sounds dim.  But if acitretin works do you stay on it or is there a limited period of time that you can use these drugs?

S  

I think each case would be different.  For me, I was taking a 25mg tablet per day.  Once it started working (I was also on light therapy), I asked the doc If I could try to reduce it and he said yes.  So I went to 3 x per week.  That worked well for me.  Then my prescription ran out (or more accurately I didn't refill it immediately) so I went a couple of weeks without but was a bit afraid I would start to have problems so went back to the 3 x per week.  At my last appointment, the dermatologist asked if I would like to try to go off of it so I did.  I also stopped the light therapy (although he did want to keep it going but it was the beginning of the year, new deductible and me paying each visit until my deductible was met was a bit daunting.)   So, I have been off Acitretin since around the middle of January.  I do have a topical the dermatologist prescribed.  I also have some problems with behind my ears and along the scalp line but so far that is it and it is relatively minor.  I'm hoping getting some sun this summer will help.  I'm keeping a very close watch as I do not want to go back to as bad as it was before.

Kelly is also on Acitretin and her doctor did reduce her dose.  Here is a part from that post:
"I was started on a dose of 25mg a day, dropped down to 20mg a day and now I alternate on 10mg one day/20mg every other day."

So it does sound like it's common to perhaps reduce the dosage if you are staying clear.  Hope that helps!

[soosieb99]

Hi Caroline. Thanks for that. Just trying to be prepared for tomorrow. If all else fails will just have to ask the dermo!

[soosieb99]

Thank you! ??
It is soooo nice to have you all to talk to about this stuff. Fell so much more positive than I have been for years and less scared of it. Of course I am currently having a nice little flare up just in time for tomorrow! ? hey ho such is life with PPP!

Will let you know how it goes. But thank you all for your help.

S

[Kat]

Thank you! ??
It is soooo nice to have you all to talk to about this stuff. Fell so much more positive than I have been for years and less scared of it. Of course I am currently having a nice little flare up just in time for tomorrow! ? hey ho such is life with PPP!

Will let you know how it goes. But thank you all for your help.

S

Looking forward to your update after you see your doctor

[KyPrincess]

Hi Soosie. Welcome to the forum.

[soosieb99]

Hi all
Hope you are all ok.

Sorry for not being on here for a while. Been a little hectic! Had some good news, my daughter gave birth to my beautiful grand daughter (hence the hectic) 1 week early. All ok

So in update. I have seen dermatologist who prescribed me 10 mg per day of Acitretin. 5 weeks in and not much improvement. No side effects to speak of either apart from a little dryness of skin and eyes. so that at least is a positive. Am now awaiting the follow up appointment but am not holding out much hope because of the delay last time and I am fast running out of tablets!

However, I have now developed terrible tennis elbow and what seems to be onset of arthritis in some of my toes, my left main toe joint, fingers and neck. So now have another appointment with gp to sort that out as the pain has been awful for the past few days. It doesn't help that it is my left arm and I am left handed, not to mention gear changing in the car! Had physio, had pain killers, done exercises so not much left really.

Any thoughts anyone???

SoosieB

[Fred]

Hi all
Hope you are all ok.

Sorry for not being on here for a while.  Been a little hectic!  Had some good news, my daughter gave birth to my beautiful grand daughter (hence the hectic) 1 week early.  All ok        

So in update.  I have seen dermatologist who prescribed me 10 mg per day of Acitretin.  5 weeks in and not much improvement.     No side effects to speak of either apart from a little dryness of skin and eyes. so that at least is a positive.  Am now awaiting the follow up appointment but am not holding out much hope because of the delay last time and I am fast running out of tablets!

However, I have now developed terrible tennis elbow and what seems to be onset of arthritis in some of my toes, my left main toe joint, fingers and neck.  So now have another appointment with gp to sort that out as the pain has been awful for the past few days.  It doesn't help that it is my left arm and I am left handed, not to mention gear changing in the car! Had physio, had pain killers, done exercises so not much left really.

Any thoughts anyone???

SoosieB

I'm not sure but I think Acitretin takes a while to get going.

Re the pain in your elbow, toes, fingers, and neck. I would ask them to check you out for Psoriatic Arthritis.

Also it may be worth asking about Biological Treatments For Psoriasis

[soosieb99]

Thanks Fred. You start to think you are going mad! One step at a time for me. When I booked the appointment the nurse said she thought that's what it was. So will see next Thursday.

Best regards

SB

[Fred]

Thanks Fred.  You start to think you are going mad!     One step at a time for me.  When I booked the appointment the nurse said she thought that's what it was.  So will see next Thursday.

Best regards

SB

Good luck, but if it is Psoriatic Arthritis it's not the end of the world. Although I've had some very bad times with it, it can be managed.  

[jiml]

hi SB thanks for the update and congatulations on becoming a grandmother , I hope granddaughter is fit and well, that will fill your life now, we find ours great fun and they  keep us  young
Re your acetretin its not one I've tried but we have a few on here that have used it with great success and I'm not sure what dose tends to be effective I'm sure someone who has experience of it will let you know soon

Shame about the joint pain though let's hope it's not Psoriatic arthritis, but as Fred says best to be checked out for it
Good luck and thanks for the update, look forward to hearing when the acetretin is working
Jim