How big is the risk of developing MS while on biologics?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hey.
Waiting to finally meet a skin doctor in 3 months for my awful P, but I'm pretty sure I'm suffering from PA as well - tendon pain in shoulders and joint pain in a swollen thumb joint.
From what I've read there's basically two treatmenttreatments for this - biologics and methotrexate. I'm pretty sure my body won't tolerate the methotrexate, which leaves me with biologics.
Reading horror stories all over the Internet of people getting MS from these drugs frightens me but since I'm a programmer and has my own solo firm I dunno if I have much of a choice, assuming the methotrexate does not work for me. I know I'm jumping way ahead but I have to think of all possible outcomes. I live for my firm and friends, and I dunno if I could handle not being able to program anymore.
Thank you for reading and have a good one.
0 likes, 12 replies
mrsmop tomtensfarfar
Posted
Hi Tom, what country are you in?
Don't get ahead of yourself, wait until you see your Dermatologist before you start to worry.
tomtensfarfar mrsmop
Posted
Hey and thank you for replying. I'm swedish. Probably best to wait until I get diagnosed but I'm still interested in knowing how many percent get MS from those biologics. If there is any any info on this, that is.
mrsmop tomtensfarfar
Posted
I haven't looked into it but I would start by researching on Google Scholar.
I have a rare autoimmune skin disease & took Methotrexate for 20 months. It took about 3 months to have any effect. It actually worked very well but I eventually had to stop taking it because of severe joint pains. It also made my brain 'foggy'! I have read of people taking it for years with no adverse effect.
I have taken other drugs & am now taking Mycophenolate Mofetil [brand name CellCept] This can cause skin cancer! So far I have been lucky but all these drugs can cause cancer of one kind or another.
My Dermatologist mentioned Rituximab but I really don't want to go down that road if I can avoid it.
I get a lot of my information from Google Scholar
I also get information from https://www.dermnetnz.org/, it has a lot of info regarding the drugs used in Dermatology
mrsmop
Posted
lucynewas tomtensfarfar
Posted
I'll look it up. I've copied very well with mtx but need an extra drug - sulphasalazines to date. In the meantime discuss otezla with your GP. I've just started on it. Nausea side effects but less toxic.
tomtensfarfar mrsmop
Posted
Thanks for the tip. I'm well aware of the risks of developing cancer but I assume they will run tests while on those drugs. I can't live like this so it's a no-brainer for me. I'm more afraid of MS for some reason, could be my lack of knowledge though.
If I may ask, why don't you want to use Rituximab?
tomtensfarfar lucynewas
Posted
Cheers. I'll read up on that one.
lucynewas tomtensfarfar
Posted
mrsmop tomtensfarfar
Posted
The potential side effects of Rituximab are the worst I have read & I live alone, so if anything goes wrong, there is only me to deal with it.
tomtensfarfar lucynewas
Posted
tomtensfarfar mrsmop
Posted
I live alone as well and all these drugs seem to come with some major health risk, but I hope it goes well and that you'll find relief.
anita38635 tomtensfarfar
Posted
Hi Tom, I've had it since my late 20s and tbh I have got it under control for many years, you might get the occassionally flare up but see what the specialist says as I'm sure they are aware of possible side effects and will discuss with you. Good luck though.