Goodby Fumaderm, hello Skilarence

[Bill]

Bland food. Milk/dairy. Beware of spicy food. I have read of taking aspirin before doses but I have not done this. Then there is dose reduction: 830mg doses are tough whereas 630mg doses give me little trouble. Remember also that it is tough going until your body gets used to the drug, usually a few months.

Can't think of anything else.

Cheers

[Caroline]

Hello Obi,

Eating enough while taking the drug is important. Also as a dessert take some slimy stuff like yoghurt. It sticks to the DMF and will spread it in your intestines, because that is the trick.
What you want is to spread the intake of the DMF over time, which is the problem of Skilarence as this releases in the intestines in one go.
Therefore smart eating is important.  
Oh, and by the way, they are no stomach cramps, but intestine cramps. The drug has a coating and will not fall apart in your stomach.

It also makes sense to read what Bill has written in his tread called Bill's pure dimethylfumarate thread
As he also takes DMF pure, he has done quite some experimenting.

This behaviour of DMF  is the reason that here in the Netherlands we have a slow release version of DMF, this slow release will spread the DMF in your intestines. It is the crucial mistake that has been made when developing Skilarence, they should have come with a slow release version. Because they didn’t it will mean that DMF will never reach a wide spread use, because their version has too many drawbacks.

Hope you can fix it with these suggestions.

Good luck!
Caroline

you were a bit faster than me Bill !!

[Bill]

I didn't write as much as you did, Caroline. Good slimy dessert comment. A nice piece of vanilla slice with my DMF tonight and it works quite well. Still get a bit of tummy upset and a flush, but nothing extreme. I am much enjoying your pictures by the way.

Cheers

[jiml]

I agree with what's been said by Bill and Caroline, do only take it with a meal and plenty of fluid   I always have a pint of something with my dinner to make sure I don't get cramps, this should ease the problem and as has been said it does get easier with time

But it is unforgiving in the early stages if you skip meals or only drink a little .
I have been in it as Fumaderm for 7 years and can't remember the last time I got a cramp ... Do still get occasional flushes but not severe

I hope you don't let it put you off because you could be lucky like me and get a long flake free period if you can stick it out  

[OneBigItch]

Hi guys, quick update for you.

I had an appointment with my derm on Thursday and told her that id had two weeks of crippling stomach cramps every night after just one tablet.

We decided to drop back down to the initial tablets and spread the load throughout the day, essentially taking 1x morning 1x afternoon  2x night, hoping that it will have the same effect without the side effects. I go back in 12 weeks to see how it's gone.

If you remember my previous posts about Fumaderm, I was able to get full clearance on just over the equivalent of one full strength tablet a day.

My psoriasis is getting slightly paler but I hope it starts working soon as my holiday is in 8 weeks and counting!

[Caroline]

Hi Obi,

Yes spreading the load is an option. Indeed hopefully you will finally be able to cope with it. This is exactly the reason that we have a slow release version over here in the Netherlands. That does the spreading automatically.
You could try to discuss that with your derm.
In the Netherlands we have the option of having medication tuned to the patient because of “medical need” which is prepared by a small pharmacist (just like in the old days, when the pharmacist did it all by himself). If you would be able to discuss this, then it is also very easy to order it from the Netherlands. As long as your insurance is willing to pay for it.
It would be a pity to have to stop, because it already works for you with one pill ..
You are by accident not lactose intolerant? There is lactose in the Skilarence pills.

Good luck ,

Caroline

[jiml]

Hi sorry it's giving you the cramps, but I can assure you it will get easier until you no longer get them, spreading the load is indeed a good option and might alleviate the problem at least I hope so

As for Carolines idea of discussing psorinovo with the dermatologist it wouldn't work as although a good idea for slow release there is no mechanism in the NHS to enable them to source them as it is not licenced over here

[Caroline]

Hi sorry it's giving you the cramps, but I can assure you it will get easier until you no longer get them, spreading the load is indeed a good option and might alleviate the problem   at least I hope so

As for Carolines idea of discussing psorinovo with the dermatologist it wouldn't work as although a good idea for slow release there is no mechanism in the NHS to enable them to source them as it is not licenced over here

It is always possible to discuss. Don’t give up before the doctor says no.
Are there no pharmacies in the UK who make their own medication? That kind of dedicated products are also not licensed. And that is the way you should see the medication, describe it as DMF - slow release, dedicated made for the patient by a pharmacy. That the location of the pharmacy is abroad is not relevant.

[OneBigItch]

Thanks for your feedback guys, it's appreciated. 

Given my experience with Skilarence so far i can confidently say it is (in my opinion) nowhere near as good as Fumaderm. This is in terms of side effects of course, the jury is still out regarding it's actual effectiveness.

[Caroline]

That is really amazing to hear Obi, I would have never expected that.
One might guess that it might have to do with the fill-up additions of the pill.