Taclonex Topical

[Kat]

About 3 weeks ago, I flared back up with psoriasis. I spent the first week in denial... thinking okay it's just a flare up and will settle back down. This past year or so I had a few "mini flares" that settled down but I knew this one was much worse than those. I think it kept getting worse by the minute. My ears and neck have always been my problem areas and this was no exception. Both ears were pretty bad and I was fairly miserable with it, I even have it in the outer corner of both eyes this time. I finally got in to the dermatologist this past Wednesday. They are looking at starting me on Stelara (which I will start a post about once it happens) so they took blood, sent me for a chest exray and checking with insurance (U.S. here, it's all about the insurance!) The derm also said I needed to get to primary doc to see if I had an ear infection as both ears had been hurting and felt "stopped up" (I managed to get into primary doc that day, both ear canals were swollen shut and with the psoriasis down in my ears he is sending me to ear specialist, but did give me ear drops which are helping with some of that.) Anyway, the dermatologist gave me Taclonex to use for now while I'm waiting on test results etc. I thought I'd write about it, pros and cons.

So the pharmacy had to order the Taclonex and I didn't get it until yesterday. I got 2 bottle of 60 g each. My cost was $40 after insurance. The directions were to apply once per day at bedtime. I found that a bit odd as putting this all on my scalp with nothing covering it sounded like a disaster for my pillow case at night. But I do like to follow direction so figured I'd try it and if too messy then I'd be using it in the daytime.

The consistency was very "oily" which actually turned out well as it wasn't very runny at all. I had many raw spots and it didn't burn which was an added bonus. I did put it on lightly with it being the first time and also with going to bed shortly after. I had to be careful not to get it inside my ears as I have the ear drops (also containing a steroid) but I was still able to coat my ears fairly well without worrying about it dripping into my ear canal. Application was fairly easy, I did have to get my daughter to help with the back of my head. Once it was applied, I did get that "itchfest" feeling of wanting to scratch. I heroically ( ) resisted the urge! After about half an hour, things settled down. By settled down, I mean about the same as when applying coconut oil, it was soothed a bit.

Woke up this morning and I can actually tell a small difference! The skin where the Taclonex was applied is still a bit soft and the scales were "moist" so came off easily. Of course I still itched, but I think it's a bit less itchy than it has been in the mornings. This is after one use so only time will tell how much it is helping (or not) I'll keep this post updated but my hope is that I at least get some marginal relief from this while waiting. I can use this until "clear" or up to 8 weeks. With the holidays, that's about how long the derm expects before I could start Stelara.

[D Foster]

Stelara should be really good Kat, it has saved my life. I use Enstillar for the odd patch that starts including around my ears and on the hair line which I find good. Our NHS is getting worse but I guess that it's better than having to deal with insurance all the time.

[Kat]

Stelara should be really good Kat, it has saved my life. I use Enstillar for the odd patch that starts including around my ears and on the hair line which I find good. Our NHS is getting worse but I guess that it's better than having to deal with insurance all the time.

Thanks Dave! Yes, insurance is annoying. The main problem being that everyone is treated according to their insurance (well unless they have cash!) What person A may get for nothing, person B has to pay an arm and a leg for so it's crazy!

[Fred]

Thank you for sharing Kat, I've never used it myself but I remember getting very bad scalp psoriasis many years ago and it's a horrible thing to live with and almost as bad as the face for knocking your confidence.

Just a thought, could you wrap you head in cling film overnight whilst using it? I used to do that with some horrible tar stuff (cant remember it's name) and I just washed it out in the morning with luke warm water.

Pleased to hear you are going onto Stelara. I'm sure it won't be long before you will be able to stop using the Talconex.

Good luck.

[Kat]

Thanks Fred!

I thought about that but it specifically said not to cover. It's not as bad as I thought it would be, the oil is rather "thick" so it's not runny. I waited about 40 mintues before going to bed and by then most of it was absorbed it seemed and although I could still feel it a little when touching scalp, I didn't notice any stains on my pillow case this morning. Definitely a bit better today!! I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow after I have my second application tonight.

[Fred]

Thanks Fred!

I thought about that but it specifically said not to cover.  It's not as bad as I thought it would be, the oil is rather "thick" so it's not runny.  I waited about 40 mintues before going to bed and by then most of it was absorbed it seemed and although I could still feel it a little when touching scalp, I didn't notice any stains on my pillow case this morning.  Definitely a bit better today!!  I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow after I have my second application tonight.

I have read that some treatments should never be used in that way, so best to follow what they say.

[Kat]

Thanks Fred!

I thought about that but it specifically said not to cover.  It's not as bad as I thought it would be, the oil is rather "thick" so it's not runny.  I waited about 40 mintues before going to bed and by then most of it was absorbed it seemed and although I could still feel it a little when touching scalp, I didn't notice any stains on my pillow case this morning.  Definitely a bit better today!!  I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow after I have my second application tonight.

I have read that some treatments should never be used in that way, so best to follow what they say.

I will! I'm not a huge fan of steroid ointments but when you get miserable enough you take relief where you can find it I guess.

[Fred]

 I'm not a huge fan of steroid ointments but when you get miserable enough you take relief where you can find it I guess.  

Yep.

[jiml]

Good to read that the talconex is giving some relief already, and will hopefully ease your scalp while waiting for Stelara to arrive

It's interesting to hear how you are using it and nice to know it isn't staining the bedding ....

[Kat]

So did second treatment last night.

Today there is a remarkable improvement.  No, it's definitely not cleared but less scaling and skin is more dark pinkish and less red and irritated.  Most importantly, although still itching it's a lot easier to deal with now!  I may even have periods of 15 minutes or so that I don't think about it!!  I know that doesn't seem like much but since it had got to the point where I was miserable 24 hours a day it's a big improvement!!!   Hoping the pictures show it better than I can explain, most of the itchiness is still in the hairline area, but I think it's harder to get the treatment down to the skin:

Dec 21, prior to treatment:




Dec 23, morning after 2nd treatment: