Health Boards
Thu-05-10-2017, 18:45 PM
Ok so brief background, I've suffered with guttate (mainly on my back, legs and arms) for around 5 years and have been on various creams and had UVB twice. UVB has worked for me in the past however it just isn't feasible to take time off work 3 times a week to get the treatment. Also, I found that my P comes back within the matter of months once I've finished.
So after speaking with my derm and reading a few posts on here I decided to give Acitretin a go. I started the treatment on 1 August but was only on 10mg to start and was working my way up to 35mg daily (so 10mg for 2 weeks, 25 mg 2 weeks then 35mg). I have now been on 35mg daily for 5 weeks and whilst the side effects have been minimal I have noticed little to no change in my P. On my 6 week check-up with my dorm he said to give it another 12 weeks to see if there is any change.
I understand that Acitretin is a bit of a slow burner but apart from one patch on my leg I really haven't seen any difference, in fact, this week I think I am noticing a few new patches spring up. So I'm wandering at what point do I call it quits and say this isnt working for my P because surely I would have seen some results by now?
If anyone has an experience of Acitretin taking this long (2 months) to show any signs of working it would be appreciated.
Also, if I do move off Acitretin what's the logical next step? MTX is not an option for me to be fair, I'm 25 and the idea of not being able to drink just doesn't fit. I'm open to the idea of injections however, I don't think my P is severe enough to be able to get them through the NHS.
So after speaking with my derm and reading a few posts on here I decided to give Acitretin a go. I started the treatment on 1 August but was only on 10mg to start and was working my way up to 35mg daily (so 10mg for 2 weeks, 25 mg 2 weeks then 35mg). I have now been on 35mg daily for 5 weeks and whilst the side effects have been minimal I have noticed little to no change in my P. On my 6 week check-up with my dorm he said to give it another 12 weeks to see if there is any change.
I understand that Acitretin is a bit of a slow burner but apart from one patch on my leg I really haven't seen any difference, in fact, this week I think I am noticing a few new patches spring up. So I'm wandering at what point do I call it quits and say this isnt working for my P because surely I would have seen some results by now?
If anyone has an experience of Acitretin taking this long (2 months) to show any signs of working it would be appreciated.
Also, if I do move off Acitretin what's the logical next step? MTX is not an option for me to be fair, I'm 25 and the idea of not being able to drink just doesn't fit. I'm open to the idea of injections however, I don't think my P is severe enough to be able to get them through the NHS.