Psoriatic arthritis treatment
Psoriatic arthritis treatment aims to relieve inflammation, slowing etiopathogenesis and improving condition of the patient. Some drugs used to treat psoriasis may be useful in patients with cutaneous articular involvement, but others are less effective. If the two conditions coexist, experts prefer to administer drugs useful for solving both problems. Thus the patient's compliance and chances of obtaining remission are higher.
Treatment plans are often quite complex and include, in various combinations the following:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are actually painkillers, and antipyretics which are very useful and very used in psoriatic arthritis.
They have multiple beneficial effects - reducing both pain and inflammation. These drugs can be bought without medical prescription, from the pharmacy directly and have an affordable price. Most common are aspirin and ibuprofen. Chronic use of these drugs is made strictly under medical supervision as they may have significant side effects, especially gastrointestinal and renal ones.
Concomitant administration of a gastric protector to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding, diffuse gastritis and peptic ulcers is highly recommended. The mechanism of their action is what gives them the benefits but is also responsible for unpleasant side effects.
These drugs inhibit an enzyme, COX and interfere with prostaglandin synthesis.
Experts recommend using:
- Ibuprofen in doses not exceeding 3.2 g / day in adults and 2.4 g / day in children. Ibuprofen should not be administered with aspirin because adverse effects may be added. Also, ibuprofen can increase the toxicity of other drugs.
Depending on the stage of the disease and the symptoms, your doctor can recommend other drugs.
Biological treatment includes new drugs that can be used to treat psoriatic arthritis. It seems that they are safer compared to many other systemic drugs and are very effective. Biological treatment includes agents directed against TNF alpha (one of the major cytokines involved in inflammation and immune response) against other cytokines.
Etanercept is approved to be used in adult patients, aged over 18 with chronic moderate to severe intensity of the disease. Can stop the development of the disease, improve symptoms and inhibit the structural destruction of the psoriatic arthritis. It should be administered with caution in patients with renal failure and chronic lung disease such as asthma.
Other treatments for psoriatic arthritis include painful joints physio-kinetotherapy and improving muscle tone.
Other recommendations of experts to improve the condition of the patient are :
1. Adopting a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, vitamin enrichment system (either through diet or by pharmaceutical supplements), maintaining optimal body weight;
2. Conduct daily physical exercise for toning the body;
3. Application of alternating hot and cold compresses. Cold compresses reduce pain and warm compresses stimulate muscle relaxation. Cold compresses can be applied in several occasions, even for 20 minutes. We recommend wrapping ice in cloth compresses, such as a towel. Equally useful are hot and cold showers;
4. Practicing relaxation techniques and exercises to reduce stress.
Although many patients are tempted to try alternative remedies to treat psoriatic arthritis, experts are reluctant in making such recommendations.
No alternative method has proved effective. In addition, some teas, vitamin supplements and therapeutic methods have proven to be dangerous for patients with such diseases. Any natural treatment must be presented to the doctor and he can decide if it is safe and if you can follow it.
