Medical treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

PRESCRIBING INFORMATION: “For full information read PI" and consult Physician before initiating any treatment.

Arthritis is a condition in which a patient suffers inflammation, pain, and stiffness on one or more joints. Psoriatic Arthritis is a form of common arthritis that mainly affects people having psoriasis. Psoriasis is a condition in which red patches of skin with silvery scales are developed over healthy skin; patients having psoriatic arthritis may have psoriasis first in the past.
The major symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis include stiffness in joints, swelling, inflammation, and joint pain.
The medications and treatment methods of psoriatic arthritis are only to control the damage to joints and its symptoms. There is no guaranteed cure for this disease till date. In the lack of proper psoriatic arthritis treatment, the patients may suffer from disabilities.

Some of the medical treatment of psoriatic arthritis: 

The main purpose of using psoriatic Arthritis medication is to control the symptoms of this disease and enhance the mobility of joints. Some medication is discussed below:

Apremilast: Apremilast is sold under the brand name Otezla. This drug belongs to phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor class drug that is used for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis. This drug is also very effective in the treatment of patients suffering from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis waiting for systemic therapy.

It is available in tablet form of different concentrations such as 10mg, 20mg, and 30 MG. Apremilast 30 mg is taken orally daily with or without food. The dosage of apremilast tablets should be according to doctor's prescription. The tablet should be taken as a whole without breaking or munching it.

 The most common side effects of Otezla 30 mg are headache, nausea, and diarrhea, depression, and weight loss. In some cases, a patient may develop serial hypersensitivity due to apremilast. In such cases of hypersensitivity discontinue the drug immediately. 

Etanercept: This drug belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker class that works by inhibiting the Alpha-TNF of tumor cells. Along with the treatment of psoriatic Arthritis this drug is also used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

It is available in single-use vials of 25mg and 50mg which is injected intravenously. 
The common side effects of this drug are vomiting, stomach pain, headache, mild nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, redness at the injection site, and weight changes. Etanercept is not recommended in combination with live vaccines cyclophosphamide Anakinra and abatacept.

Adalimumab: This is used for the treatment of active Arthritis which was by reducing the signs and symptoms and inhibiting the progression of structural damage. It is available in a single-use vial containing 40mg/0.8ml. The vial should be thrown away after the single-use. Also known as Humira pen.

Some common adverse reactions of this medication are Rash, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, and injection site reaction.

Some common precautions while using this drug are heart failure, hepatitis B virus reactivation, cytopenia, lupus-like syndrome, serious infection, and malignancy. There is no possible contraindication of Adalimumab.

Infliximab: this drug reduces the science and symptoms of active Psoriatic Arthritis and improves physical functioning. This medication decreases the swelling and weakness of the immune system caused due to psoriatic arthritis. This drug is available as 100mg of lyophilized infliximab in 20 ml vial.
The recommended concentration to be used in the case of active disease is about 5mg/kg at 0,2,6,8 weeks.
 Some common adverse reactions of this medication are headache, infusion-related reactions, upper respiratory sinusitis, abdominal pain, and pharyngitis.

Tofacitinib: This drug is used in a patient who has active Psoriatic Arthritis and the patient has inadequate response or intolerance to methotrexate or other antirheumatic Drugs. This medicine is available in tablet form of concentration 5mg, 10mg, and 11mg. Patients having severe or moderate psoriatic arthritis are recommended to take tofacitinib 5 mg daily.
Patients taking tofacitinib may suffer from diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and nasopharyngitis. Some important precautions that should be taken care of while taking tofacitinib include gastrointestinal perforation, severe infection, live vaccination, and laboratory monitoring. There is no possible contraindication of this drug however breastfeeding is strictly not advised by the woman taking this particular drug.

Prednisone: It is a corticosteroid that is used as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of several diseases such as psoriatic arthritis, allergy, or organ transplantation. It is available in tablet form of concentration 1mg, 2mg, and 5 mg.
Some common side effects of this drug are elevation in blood pressure, alteration in glucose tolerance, fluid retention, increased appetite, mood change, and weight gain. This tablet is contraindicated to be used in any patient having allergy with any component of this defined tablet. This drug can be used alone or in combination with other medications have ever it is not recommended to be used along with anticoagulant or antidiabetic medication.

Ustekinumab: This refers to a class known as human interleukin-12 and 23 antagonists which is used in the treatment of adult patients suffering from active psoriatic arthritis either alone or in combination with methotrexate. This medicine is available in different concentrations and is recommended by a doctor according to age, weight, and stage of infection. The injection is either injected intravenously or intra subcutaneously.

Some popular negative reactions of this medication are upper respiratory tract infection, headache, nasopharyngitis, and fatigue.

Certolizumab Pegol: This drug is useful in the treatment of active Arthritis which works by blocking the Alpha tumor necrosis factor. It is available in an injection form containing 200mg lyophilized powder. Some common adverse reactions of this drug are urinary tract infection, rash, and upper respiratory tract infection.

Golimumab: it belongs to tumor necrosis factor blockage class used in the treatment of active psoriatic patients when used in combination with methotrexate. It is given in injection form containing 50mg/0.5ml and 100mg/1mL. 

The most common negative reaction of golimumab includes injection site reaction, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and viral infection.

Dexamethasone: This drug is actively used in the treatment of active psoriatic Arthritis in an adult patient. This drug is either used singly or in combination with other medications. The dosage of dexamethasone depends upon the medical condition and response rate of the treatment.

Some common side effects of the drug are headache, increased appetite, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, heartburn, swelling in ankles, muscle weakness, increased blood sugar level, impaired wound healing, and irritability.

Read:- What is psoriatic arthritis