Psoriatic Arthritis Medication: Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
DMARDs are another class of drugs that may be recommend for
psoriatic arthritis treatment. They relieve painful, swollen, stiff joints. However, unlike
NSAIDs or corticosteroids, DMARDs may also slow joint damage. They take a few weeks or months to have an effect, and may produce significant improvements for many patients. Exactly how they work is still unknown.
Side effects vary with each medicine. DMARDs may increase the risk of infections, hair loss, and kidney or liver damage. A patient who has been prescribed one of these medications should be monitored by his or her doctor. By monitoring the progress of the medication, the doctor can weigh the risk of toxicities against the drug's potential benefits.
Methotrexate
This medication can be taken by mouth or by injection. Although it usually takes three to six weeks to begin working, it appears to be very effective, resulting in rapid improvement of symptoms. In general, it produces more favorable long-term responses compared with other DMARDs such as sulfasalazine, gold sodium thiomalate, and
hydroxychloroquine.
Side effects can include: abdominal discomfort, chest pain, chills, nausea, mouth sores, painful urination, sore throat, and unusual tiredness or weakness.
Doctor monitoring is important, particularly if you have an abnormal blood count, liver or lung disease, alcoholism, immune-system deficiency, or an active infection. Methotrexate must not be taken during pregnancy because it may cause birth defects in humans.
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