Reducing Acitretin Medication - Thoughts?

[Kat]

 It would be interesting to see how people who had cleared up and stopped medicines fared over time though.

You are welcome to start a thread or even a poll if you wish.  

Umm... I'll pass.

After thinking on it and although I do think it would be interesting, it also is not beneficial. Once diagnosed with psoriasis, the threat of a flare is always there and just because someone might make it a long time (or not) doesn't affect the next person so although the numbers could prove interesting........ they are useless really.

[Wooley]

He also seemed a bit too keen to tell me / tested me in readiness to go on methotrexate which is something that I absolutely do not want to go on.....

Tell him you like a drink and you wouldn't want to take it.

At the end of the day it's your body and your decision. Yes jump through a few hoops to get what you want but you can always say no as there are other things to try.

Good point Fred - didn't look at it like that!!  Guess I didn't see past 'you would go on methotrexate when it comes back', coupled with already having all the tests in readiness for mtx 'when it comes back'!!

[Bill]

I can't add to the excellent advice here. All I can say is you have had an excellent and sustained result with acitretin. Well done.

[JohnB]

Hi Woolley
I really don't want to be the fly in the ointment but from my experience, once I had to stop Acitretin due to my liver complaining it took next to no time for my P to come back and continue to get worse with a vengance.
Eventually I was offered MTX. Like you I really really didn't want to go on it, but I have. Now I do like the odd gargle and it was a proper dampener giving up but the MTX does seem to be doing something and I have not had any side effects. Which is more than I could say for the Acitretin. My advice is don't dismiss it out of hand, it may just do the job. I just hope your your Ps keeps away for a long time. Nice shiney hands by the way   .

[Wooley]

I can't add to the excellent advice here. All I can say is you have had an excellent and sustained result with acitretin. Well done.

Thanks Bill....

[Wooley]

Hi Woolley
I really don't want to be the fly in the ointment but from my experience, once I had to stop Acitretin due to my liver complaining it took next to no time for my P to come back and continue to get worse with a vengance.
Eventually I was offered MTX. Like you I really really didn't want to go on it, but I have. Now I do like the odd gargle and it was a proper dampener giving up but the MTX does seem to be doing something and I have not had any side effects. Which is more than I could say for the Acitretin. My advice is don't dismiss it out of hand, it may just do the job. I just hope your your Ps keeps away for a long time. Nice shiney hands by the way   .

Hi John....

I do get what you are saying for sure - but I guess it is just weighing up, standard of life and giving up something that you enjoy doing versus controlling psoriasis..... I thought that MTX had a potentially adverse effect on your liver anyway so why go from Acitretin (which was causing Liver problems) to MTX which potentially is going to do the same..... I think that's the bit I don't get?  Not with you by the way just in general....  It was touched on earlier too - how would I know if I am taking too much, dosage wise, of Acitretin and a smaller dosage would still be able to control it with less side effects and reduce the potential of having liver problems and other side effects of the drug.  I guess I will cross that bridge when it comes up with regards to the next step should my psoriasis return......such a minefield though.  It will be interesting to see what the Derm's view is on reducing the medication.

Lol - thanks re shiney hands, I purposely gave them a good polish ready for the camera 

[JohnB]

Hi Woolley
I really don't want to be the fly in the ointment but from my experience, once I had to stop Acitretin due to my liver complaining it took next to no time for my P to come back and continue to get worse with a vengance.
Eventually I was offered MTX. Like you I really really didn't want to go on it, but I have. Now I do like the odd gargle and it was a proper dampener giving up but the MTX does seem to be doing something and I have not had any side effects. Which is more than I could say for the Acitretin. My advice is don't dismiss it out of hand, it may just do the job. I just hope your your Ps keeps away for a long time. Nice shiney hands by the way   .

Hi John....

I do get what you are saying for sure - but I guess it is just weighing up, standard of life and giving up something that you enjoy doing versus controlling psoriasis..... I thought that MTX had a potentially adverse effect on your liver anyway so why go from Acitretin (which was causing Liver problems) to MTX which potentially is going to do the same..... I think that's the bit I don't get?  Not with you by the way just in general....  It was touched on earlier too - how would I know if I am taking too much, dosage wise, of Acitretin and a smaller dosage would still be able to control it with less side effects and reduce the potential of having liver problems and other side effects of the drug.  I guess I will cross that bridge when it comes up with regards to the next step should my psoriasis return......such a minefield though.  It will be interesting to see what the Derm's view is on reducing the medication.

Lol - thanks re shiney hands, I purposely gave them a good polish ready for the camera 

No the liver bit had me a bit stumped as well. I did query the logic at the time but my Dermy assured me my liver had returned to 'normal' and they would be keeping a very close eye on things.

My feeling is if you are controlling your Ps on a low dose then the Dermy is likely to continue as is. If it aint broke, don't fix it. 

Anyways I have shares in Diageo and can't afford for you to stop your quest in reducing the Gin lake 

[Wooley]

Hi Woolley
I really don't want to be the fly in the ointment but from my experience, once I had to stop Acitretin due to my liver complaining it took next to no time for my P to come back and continue to get worse with a vengance.
Eventually I was offered MTX. Like you I really really didn't want to go on it, but I have. Now I do like the odd gargle and it was a proper dampener giving up but the MTX does seem to be doing something and I have not had any side effects. Which is more than I could say for the Acitretin. My advice is don't dismiss it out of hand, it may just do the job. I just hope your your Ps keeps away for a long time. Nice shiney hands by the way   .

Hi John....

I do get what you are saying for sure - but I guess it is just weighing up, standard of life and giving up something that you enjoy doing versus controlling psoriasis..... I thought that MTX had a potentially adverse effect on your liver anyway so why go from Acitretin (which was causing Liver problems) to MTX which potentially is going to do the same..... I think that's the bit I don't get?  Not with you by the way just in general....  It was touched on earlier too - how would I know if I am taking too much, dosage wise, of Acitretin and a smaller dosage would still be able to control it with less side effects and reduce the potential of having liver problems and other side effects of the drug.  I guess I will cross that bridge when it comes up with regards to the next step should my psoriasis return......such a minefield though.  It will be interesting to see what the Derm's view is on reducing the medication.

Lol - thanks re shiney hands, I purposely gave them a good polish ready for the camera 

No the liver bit had me a bit stumped as well. I did query the logic at the time but my Dermy assured me my liver had returned to 'normal' and they would be keeping a very close eye on things.

My feeling is if you are controlling your Ps on a low dose then the Dermy is likely to continue as is. If it aint broke, don't fix it. 

Anyways I have shares in Diageo and can't afford for you to stop your quest in reducing the Gin lake 

Well I am glad your liver is ok on MTX!  Yes hoping my Dermy will advice when I see him later in March......

Oh blimey John Diageo share prices would plummet if I gave up gin    I can't do that to people now can I???  Besides which I am hoping that they will fund my retirement ya know and you know you only get out what you put in 

[JohnB]

Hi Woolley
I really don't want to be the fly in the ointment but from my experience, once I had to stop Acitretin due to my liver complaining it took next to no time for my P to come back and continue to get worse with a vengance.
Eventually I was offered MTX. Like you I really really didn't want to go on it, but I have. Now I do like the odd gargle and it was a proper dampener giving up but the MTX does seem to be doing something and I have not had any side effects. Which is more than I could say for the Acitretin. My advice is don't dismiss it out of hand, it may just do the job. I just hope your your Ps keeps away for a long time. Nice shiney hands by the way   .

Hi John....

I do get what you are saying for sure - but I guess it is just weighing up, standard of life and giving up something that you enjoy doing versus controlling psoriasis..... I thought that MTX had a potentially adverse effect on your liver anyway so why go from Acitretin (which was causing Liver problems) to MTX which potentially is going to do the same..... I think that's the bit I don't get?  Not with you by the way just in general....  It was touched on earlier too - how would I know if I am taking too much, dosage wise, of Acitretin and a smaller dosage would still be able to control it with less side effects and reduce the potential of having liver problems and other side effects of the drug.  I guess I will cross that bridge when it comes up with regards to the next step should my psoriasis return......such a minefield though.  It will be interesting to see what the Derm's view is on reducing the medication.

Lol - thanks re shiney hands, I purposely gave them a good polish ready for the camera 

No the liver bit had me a bit stumped as well. I did query the logic at the time but my Dermy assured me my liver had returned to 'normal' and they would be keeping a very close eye on things.

My feeling is if you are controlling your Ps on a low dose then the Dermy is likely to continue as is. If it aint broke, don't fix it. 

Anyways I have shares in Diageo and can't afford for you to stop your quest in reducing the Gin lake 

Well I am glad your liver is ok on MTX!  Yes hoping my Dermy will advice when I see him later in March......

Oh blimey John Diageo share prices would plummet if I gave up gin    I can't do that to people now can I???  Besides which I am hoping that they will fund my retirement ya know and you know you only get out what you put in 

Well it's still early days on MTX. I have every confidence my liver will complain. I'm already waking in the night gagging from acid reflux and I have had that nicely under control for over 20 years.

Phew   I'll stick hold of my shares 

[D Foster]

Don't knock MTX it's not that bad and a lot of the stomach problems can be down to what you have had to eat with it. I had loads of problems with Acitrecen including my hair and two toe nails on my big toes all lost At least like the liver they do grow back.