Treatments for PsA can help reduce symptoms, joint and tendon damage, and the potential for disability.
But even with treatment, it is possible to still have joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Having symptoms despite doing everything necessary to manage PsA is a sign your treatment plan might not be working.
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That is because treating PsA is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
What works for someone else may not work for you.
Youre Experiencing Serious Side Effects
All medications causeside effects.
If you experience harsh side effects from a PsA treatment, reach out to your healthcare provider.
Do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without first talking to your healthcare provider.
They can best determine the cause of side effects and make needed adjustments to your treatment plan.
This is especially important if PsA starts to affect your daily functioning.
Switching out medicines can be beneficial in these instances.
They will then test you every three to six months to see if you have reached the goal.
How Long Does It Take for PsA Medications To Start Working?
The key to finding a PsA treatment that best works for you is patience.
How long it takes for you to see symptom improvement will depend on the drug.
For some PsA medicines, you may notice symptom relief in a few weeks.
You will want to ask your healthcare provider about alternatives, such as a biologic injection.
Or you may simply prefer treatments that require less frequent dosing.
Whatever your reasons are, your healthcare provider will want to work with you to keep you on track.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you struggle to take your medications properly or keep up with doses.
If you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, you might need to stop or switch treatment.
Dont stop any treatment until you have spoken with your healthcare provider.
Your healthcare provider can suggest safer alternatives to take during pregnancy, including biologics like Cimzia (certolizumab).
Youre Excessively Tired
Psoriatic arthritis causes fatigue, which can be severe at times.
The medications you take to treat PsA can reduce fatigue, pain, and other PsA symptoms.
Even so, you’re able to still experience fatigue that keeps you from carrying out day-to-day activities.
You may also struggle to sleep at night because of pain and otherPsA symptoms.
Whatever the case might be, your healthcare provider can help.
If your healthcare provider prescribes a new medication, give it up to three months.
Your healthcare provider will want to monitor you to see if a new medication is working correctly.
Be sure you keep all appointments and follow through on lab testing that your healthcare provider has requested.
Lastly, remember that the goal of PsA treatment is remission or very low disease activity.
After all, you want to continue to be functional, moving, and thriving.
Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Options
You have manytreatment optionsfor managing PsA.
You have many options, including DMARDs, biologics, and JAK inhibitors.
Never stop taking a medicine without your healthcare provider’s approval or advice.
A Word From Verywell
Psoriatic arthritis is a lifelong condition.
There is no cure for it, but it is manageable and treatable.
From medications to lifestyle therapies, there are plenty of tools that can make life with PsA easier.
But early diagnosis and treatment are vital to easing pain and slowing down joint damage.
Methotrexate, like the brand Trexall, works by blocking inflammation.
It is taken weekly, and most people start to see improvement within a few weeks of use.
If methotrexate doesnt work for you, your healthcare provider can increase the dosage.
Many medications prescribed for PsA can provide relief from symptoms within a few weeks.
It could be up to three months before you see improvement in some cases.
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