Biological or JAK? Need advice

Posted Wed 10 Feb 2021 13.04 by Michelle

Hi, first time in here so apologies for long content but wanted to give some background. I am sorry if you are but would be good to hear from others going through this as I feel rather alone dealing with it. After emergency surgery two years ago I started getting pain in my hips, fingers ect so went to doctor who said I likely had arthritis probably triggered due to all the trauma my body had been through. I was sent off to the specialist who confirmed it was PSA. I started on hydroquxoquine, was allergic, the sulfsalazine, didn’t work, so then mtx this did work after a few months, only then a week later the doctor called and told me I had to stop it as affecting my liver. So after a year was back to square one. It took a few more months and they agreed to try me on biologic injections, was due to start on my birthday which also turned out to be the beginning of lockdown,so between us we held off starting it until we knew more about Covid-19. Months went by and slowly my PsA got worse, I was nervous about the injections during a pandemic so they agreed to pop me on mtx again for the short term. Sadly not quick enough it has now spread to my jaw, neck and spine. So I struggle to do anything, it does not help I live alone. I have an appointment with my specialist next week and I have heard that the JAK inhibitors are taken in tablet form and may be better than the injections, does anyone know if this is the case or been on them? Any advice would be great. Thanks for your time Michelle

Posted Sun 21 Feb 2021 17.49 by Sizzy
Psoriasis 40 years, most treatments tried over this time, currently on biologics (stelara) as nothing else work.

Sorry to hear your struggles Michelle. I personally have not heard of JAK inhibitor but an currently on Stelara and was on Humira for 5 years previous to that. My psoriasis tends to be worse than the psa but biologics have worked well for me. Good luck x

Posted Fri 15 Oct 2021 10.08 by edinburgh78

Hi, Have a look at the US: there are loads of people on JAK inhibitors and they have recently had to put a new health warning about some heart / coronary type issues. My rheumy here in Aus wanted me to start them but you cant have them if you have had shingles. So I started Tremfya which is wonderful for my peripheral joints but seems to be messing with my back. Biologics can make a massive difference to your quality of life but there are drawbacks like reduced immunity and the need for liver checks etc. Ive found a few US based sites to be really helpful: there is the Spondylosis association of australia which is good and has annual or bi-annial conferences you can attend online, then there is inspire which is specific to each disease. good luck deciding what you will do.

Posted Fri 15 Oct 2021 10.18 by Sizzy
Psoriasis 40 years, most treatments tried over this time, currently on biologics (stelara) as nothing else work.

Hi Edinburgh78, I was on Humira for 5 years and at about year 3 I had to see a cardiologist as I was getting batches of severe ectopic episodes (felt like a missed/skipped/fluttering heart beat every 3 beats), lasting weeks 24/7. My dermatologist department got into a bit of a tiss as a contradiction of Humira is heart block. A few visits to a consultant cardiologist over a 2 year period confirmed no heart block and no concern. I'm on Stelara now, which according to my consultant dermatologist, has far fewer contradictions. Re liver issues, I have non alcoholic fatty liver, apparently very common in Psoriatic disease sufferers. M

To take part, sign in or register with us