acitretin

[Paddy007]

Hi Guys/Girls
                 Just got back from a visit to the derm,not sure how i feel, i think my p is not that bad as its been alot worse the derm wants to
                 start me on acitretin. After reading the many side affects im not to sure how i feel about it, alot of people seem to have hait loss
                 as a side affect which would really get me down making my p worse surely??

                 Think i need to have a long hard think about it...any advice will me much welcomed thanks!!!!

[arizona]

Hi Paddy
Most of the oral treatments come with a scary list of side effects, but then so does most things we'd just pop for a headache etc.
However i did find i suffered almost all of them on this, in fact with breathlessness and the rest of the things i ended up in hospital for a couple of days so its not one i'd personally recommend.
The skin peeling on the hands and feet were one of the worst i had to contend with, had to wear soft cotton gloves just so i could continue to work 
That apparently is supposed to settle down in a few weeks but i got taken off it before then.

Did you get offered an alternative? Usually they give you a choice of two to go read up about. I found ciclosporin to be the best one for me, nearly 3 yrs clear.

I do wonder if acitretin is one of the cheaper ones they can prescribe...........

Try the search box, top right and you'll get a load of stuff to read

Good luck and perhaps also ask the derm about what else is available to you?

[Paddy007]

Hi arizona,

               Thanks for reply, to me my p is not that bad to the derm its servere, yes im a little red but its been a lot lot worse,

               My hands and feet are sore anyway but i just put that down to where i work not helping me much, i have searched
               the drug on here and thats what put me of. The dry lips,nose and eyes wouldnt help at work either, i work in the steel
               works so its full of dust and other chemicals in the air.
               Did you find any good moisturiser for your hands?? i also wear cotton gloves at work.
               
               The derm suggested i go into hospital for a bit, but its not really a option for me would affect work and also wouldnt get paid,
               thats all that was offered, the derm wouldnt give me light treatment as it may burn my skin, i had bath PUVA about 10 years ago
               which cleared me for a few weeks thats all.

               Iv decided after much thought (and advice by me mum) not to take the tablets, iv used creams for 15 years and dont want to start
               relying on tablets now.

[arizona]

Dont rule out all oral treatments though, some are brilliant and may well help you should you feel you want to go down that road in the future

Though with your work i think you are probably very wise to avoid that one

You may laugh at this one, Udder Cream big pot from your local agricultural supplies/equestrian store is great  and no thats not a wind up
Also emulsifying ointment (ask the pharmacist at your chemist) comes in a good size pot, cheap own brand.  The ointment is better than the cream for sticking under gloves

And for gloves, the cotton gloves i often found got too loose for handling stuff at work
These are much much better, come in dark colours as well and cheap so who cares if they get soaked in moisturiser
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[Paddy007]

Udder Cream....thats a new one lol i will look into that...thanks for the help iv just bought some of the cotton gloves.

[tomjoyce]

Paddy,

I took Acitretin for over a year and like most people i had a good few side effects. It was very very effective though and i was reluctant to stop taking them as i was completely clear for the first time in a decade or so.

My lips were very dry, but as long as i kept remembering to apply vaseline from one of those dinky tins every few hours it was not really a problem. Ingrown toenails and fingernails were an issue for me, and could affect physical work - i am not sure how to avoid that.

I did not suffer any hair loss at all, the rate of growth slowed massively and it gradually became more and more curly, but i did not lose any at all.
It affects everyone differently and you may not suffer from hair loss.

Regarding light treatment I have very pale skin and am freckly but that has not stopped me from having two bouts of quite successful light treatment - i just started on very low doses and it took a while to build up to the point where it had an effect. It should be an option for you i would have thought. It was difficult to manage with work though as you have to go so often...

Hope this helps you decide and good luck.

Tom

[PompeyWHS]

I had been taking Ace for three months and it did nothing on 25mg, the derm then put me on 50mg and thats when it worked. Unfortunately it also kicked in with very dry lips and, an night, my eyes. After three weeks I had blisters on my feet that pealed and also found it very easy to get blisters on my hands. It felt like the top few layers were sliding over the bottom layers. This made me worry, so I talked to the derm again and was told to stop the treatment until it settled down. Now this is where it gets interesting... I stopped on the 22/12 and since then the P has gone by 80-90%. I did have an issue with my hands but they are fine now. Oh, no hair loss ether.
Give it a try and see if it suits you, it DOES work!

You will need regular blood tests - 1 a week for 4 weeks - 1 a month for 3 months - 1 every 3 months for ever...

One more thing, the instructions for Ace state it should only be taken for 3 months... Go figure???

[Balakid]

Hi I have been taking for 1half weeks so not to long yet but I also work in construction I /e offshore I have took a trip off just in case  I get side affects but touch wood I don't . I have started light treatment with this in conjunction with ace and all I can say is that I have noticed a difference already in that it is a lot flatter but this could be just hopefully thinking and i have also given up drinking and started going to the gym so all I am trying to say is give a go and if you do get side affects jack them in and they will stop by what I have read on here

[valentina1966]

Hi Paddy

The hairloss from Acitretin got so bad that I stopped the tablets on christmas day, I can however say hand on heart that it did leave me clear,  for the first time in my life I did not one patch of psoriasis , if it had'nt  caused hairloss I would still be on it. My advice to anyone is give it a try as hairloss doesnt happen with everyone. Im on Hydroxycarbamide now.  good luck

[Paddy007]

I Would like to thank everyone for they advice ...iv still not started on them yet but il let you no how i go thanks again!!