Change of medication or stay with existing regime?

[Gilliancheche]

I have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis/axial and peripheral spondlyarthritis seems to vary. I've been taking COSENTYX 300 for about 3 years, plus MTX currently 15mg. This was working well at the beginning of the year. I started on Alendronic acid in Feb and had a big flare. Stopped Alendronic but have struggled ever since. I've had a steroid jab, and a course of steroids plus etoricoxib but can't seem to get back to where I was. My hip is giving me a lot of problems I'm not sure whether to ask for a guided injection in my hip. I'm worried if I complain too much they might stop COSENTYX and I may get even worse..I'm 67 if that makes any difference. The pain is stopping me from doing things I enjoy and turning me into a grumpy person. Any suggestions?

[Amnesiac3637]

Sounds to me you need to carry on complaining - nicely, of course!

If your drugs aren’t being effective now it probably would be worth having a review with your rheumatologist. Constant pain wears you down, does nothing for your physical health and even less for you mentally and that needs to be addressed. You may need to come off the Cosentyx or increase your MTX - the tweaks to your medication may be all you need - or a complete change if necessary. There are loads of really effective drugs out there which may suit you better but you need to have that conversation.

You don’t say why you stopped your Alendronic acid but in any even that wouldn’t cause a flare as it’s a bisphosphonate for strengthening bones and is not a biologic, as you probably know, so no doubt your team will have taken you off it for other reasons. If your hip is playing up that also needs investigating by an orthopaedic team as there are many causes of pain, most of which have a solution, but again you need to be referred to get any result.

Best of luck with unsubscribing to the grumpy person club and hope you get some relief very soon. 👍😀

[Oshgosh]

do any pain killers help ? X

[Newbie73]

Reach out to whoever is monitoring you. Are you in MTX tablets or injections? I have RA and I had my MTX tablets upped 3 times up to 20, as I was still in pain. Then they switched me to 20mgs injections that way they know how much of the dose you ar

They don’t know how much of the tablets you absorb, everyone’s different. Hopefully you will only need your medication tweaked to find that sweetspot again where you can manage and be largely pain free.

Hope you get some relief soon and get back to where you was pre flare

[barbieg]

The only thing I can add to the excellent replies you have had is something I learned from this fantastic forum some time ago. If you are still in pain you should communicate with your consultant. If you don’t, he or she thinks you are doing fine and believe me you are not being a nuisance. There are many other medications you can try. Sadly, you have to persevere and make yourself heard nowadays. It’s not easy I know because constant daily pain is exhausting, I’ve been there and had to fight hard and even change consultant but I am now on a Biologic after trying a Biosimilar that didn’t work. Methotrexate was a no no for me as the side effects were too much. You might just need your medication being tweaked a bit but until you tell your consultant how you are they can’t help you. You are worth it, that’s what I told myself 😂😂. Wishing you all the best and good luck.

[Gilliancheche]

Thanks for you comments, I've started back on etoricoxib again, after only a week off, plus paracetamol and feel a bit better today. The etoricoxib is supposed to be short term but every time I stop the pain returns. I will contact rheumatology on Monday see what happens 🤞

[smilelines]

hey, I’m on cosentyx with leflunimide and I am in the same club. I don’t think the cosentyx is working anymore and since I don’t like change I am dreading starting something new. So scary. It just never ends.

[Gilliancheche]

I'm worried what if they replace COSENTYX and it takes a few months and the new medication doesn't work? I was getting my life back and feel it might be slipping away 😥