Is there any hope? Need to hear from you

If you are put on Methotrexate, you will be given regular blood tests to monitor how your body is tolerating the methotrexate. I would not regard it as a "risky" drug but some people cannot tolerate it.

Hi there, I have had psoriasis on my scalp for over 30 years and then on my elbows and legs when peri menopause hit. It nearly cleared in my legs after a few years but my scalp never cleared up. Sometimes it was extremely inflamed. I started Methotrexate for Psoriatic Arthritis and my scalp cleared completely within a couple of weeks. My legs too but they were taking a bit longer. Methotrexate didn't however agree with me and I couldn't tolerate it. I have switched to Salazopyrin and it is returning in small patches on my scalp. It's much better than it was so I'm happy with that. I would suggest you try Methotrexate because it could work out well for you, wishing you all the best!

OhNo_NotAgain? Thank you for your reply. May I ask do you have any experience with Methotrexate? If so, how did you feel on it, and what happened with your Psoriasis? If not, have you used anything that has cleared you up? Thanks

Lazydays, thank you for your reply. That sound like the Methotrexate was good for your scalp and legs then, two weeks seems really good news to see a big improvement. May I ask what you mean about not being able to tolerate it - Did you feel sick, or were you being sick? No energy? Or were your blood checks not good? How long were you on it for? I hope the Salazopyrin suits you better Thanks

Hi there, yes the Methotrexate caused me to have nausea for about 4 days after taking it and because I was taking it every Monday I only had a few days before the nausea would start again. It caused other digestive issues and some fatigue so I got in touch with my rheumatologist and described my symptoms and she said to stop immediately and try Salazopyrin. I will see how it goes! Hope things get better for you soon.

Acrazydoglady Thank you for your message and those links. I will re-read these as there is a lot of information to take in, but it all sounds really interesting, much appreciated. I'm so pleased you've found something that's worked for you with 97%!

Lazydays Thanks for your reply. I can imagine 4 days of having nausea, then taking more Methotrexate to have more nausea was tough. I've read some people saying if you can get past the first few weeks that it gets easier. If I go on Methotrexate and feel like that, it will be hard to go to work. I've had my chest XRay now and getting bloods done in 8 days, then just waiting. I'm going to look to change my diet / add healthy things in for the time being and have an open mind about the Methotrexate (if I'm suitable for it).

Yes that's the way to do it, have a open mind and go for it. My pharmacist said that they have lots of customers who have no issues and have been on it for years. Best wishes.

hi there, i have had a similar journey. I 'got' psoriasis (though it was a dorman genetic condition that I had always had apparently) in my early 30s. I'm now 58. I managed it with topicals and it would go into remission periodically. 7 years ago i suffered a personal trauma and my psoriasis was triggered int major activity. I started off at the GP with more topicals including Instillar, cold tar, 5050 petroleum gel, various steroid cream, moisturisers etc. These didnt work. so I was referred to the Churchill Hospital in Oxford - it took only 6 months in fairness - for light therapy. In the meantime i rented a UVB machine for over a £1000 for a few months, which didnt work. The list therapy when I got it did work to begin with. I started off at 14 seconds and built up to 7 minutes. I was travelling 2 hours 3 times a week for this therapy. In the end Id had 33 treatments and had to stop as I felt the light therapy was actually now making things worse. i felt burnt. I went back to the churchill consultant who was going to put me on Methotrexate, but i have a really unhelpful needle phobia. At 58 I'd never had a single blood test until Last october as the consultant couldnt put me on methatrexacte or anything that strong until my bloods had been done. I had to be sedated. I was having dental work done at Guys hospital in London at the time and needed to be sedated for that so with a bit of joined up thinking they kindly agreed to do the blood test at the same time. Bloods came back clear but with methotrexate you need to have weekly blood tests and I think it was decided that this wasnt practical so in december last year they prescribed another med - a tablet - which required less monitoring. Ive just tried to find in my notes what that tablet was but cant but basically that treatment did not agree with me at all. I had taken myself off to iceland for new year 2024/5 to go to the geothermal pools for my P which was great but i was very very self conscious in the changing rooms and in the pools as i looked like a crinkly aged rhynoserous. I felt everyone was starring. My Psoriasis is all over my body, thick, crusty bleeding and flaking...anyway i became really ill in iceland with horrendous fatigue. i was genuinely frightened. I got back to heathrow and didnt feel able to drive home - i was on my own - so checked into the sofitel at T5. They took one look at me and called an ambulance. To cut a long story short i was admitted to the severe psoriasis unit at Guys hospital in London for 3 weeks in January this year. I was treated continuously throughout the days with Betnovate - a steroid and 50:50 paraffin oil. It helped a bit but this treatment was just to calm things down whilst they did lots more blood tests (i've had to get over my needle phobia though I am still given valium), 14 in total whilst they tested me for everything under the sun before they could prescribe the next level treatment which is biomeds. I'd never heard of them but they are a creatively new and very expensive technology that doesnt just suppress the immune system it targets the development of white blood cells which are in fight or flight mode hence over reproducing. Psoriasis. Along the way there was a problem they found with my liver so I had to be referred to the liver department for them to give approval of my bloods with use of this new drug and then they found out i've got a para protein pre cancerous antibody in my blood so had to be referred to the Haematology department for them to approve the new drug.....and FINALLY, 2 weeks ago, all the boxes were ticked, it had been approved at the very highest level that I could have this drug. Its called RISANKIZUMAB. Google it. I had one jab two weeks ago and already my psoriasis is the lamest its been in 7 years. My partner said 'its like a christmas miracle'. Thats also how feel. I have the next jab in 2 weeks time and then after that every 4 weeks. The consultant - one of the 7 i've seen - said this drug will change your life. and ...so far it has. PS. whilst i've been going through all these tests and jumping through hoops I found great relief from ibuprofen gel topped with Vicks Vapour Rub. I think the pain killer and the menthol in the rub certainly worked for me in terms of getting to sleep at night and giving me general relief during the day. Not read this back so apols for any grammatical errors. Cathy x oh another PPS, get your GP to write a referral letter to the severe psoriasis unit at Guys. They WILL help you.

Apols for the typos but you get the gist. also the RISANKIZUMAB was given 2 weeks ago, next dose in 2 weeks and then the treatment will be one injection every 12 weeks, not 4 as i said above. Good luck on your journey. I really feel for you having been there myself.

Thank you ChatsterH for sharing your story, you really have been through it haven't you!! This drug sounds amazing, I've never heard of it. Thank you for letting me know about it. I hope it continues to improve your Psoriasis, and I'll definitely bear this in mind. I have a feeling because of the price they start working through the cheapest ones first, but it's good to know that we don't have to stick on one and there's other things to try. A little bit of hope. P is such a complex condition that has a big impact on our lives. Hoping we get there one day. Lots of luck