Don't Just Say "No" To Drugs

[WhoaTrigger]

If you are thinking about quitting the drugs and trying alternative or complementary treatments for your psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, you might like to be aware of the "rebound effect" first.

"Rebound effect

Rebound effect is the tendency of a medication to affect a return of the symptom being treated when the medication is discontinued or when it is no longer effective. Medications with a known rebound effect can be withdrawn gradually or in conjunction with another medication which does not exhibit a rebound effect.
In extreme cases, the symptom will be more pronounced after the medication is withdrawn than before it was used.
An example is the use of corticosteroids, such as Clobetasol for psoriasis. Abrupt withdrawal can cause a much more severe case of the psoriasis to develop. Therefore, withdrawal should be gradual."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebound_effect

Work with your doctor, or alternative doctor, if you choose to get off the drugs. I didn't, because my doctor didn't know anything about alternative treatments. My own experience in stopping daily prednisone pills abruptly was to get a really bad relapse of plaque psoriasis which was much worse than before I started the drug. Stopping the topical steroid cream was not as bad, probably because I had only applied it sparingly.

Now, I am drug free and use diet, supplements and herbs. I have been in remission for a couple of years!

[deemah]

Hi Whoa,

Thanks for posting that reminder. It is definitely something to keep in mind when stopping any medication.

[mcordy77]

WhoaTrigger,

You are so right. I opened that page and could identify immediatly with 2 of the 4 examples wikipedia gave for rebound.

Oh yes...use Clobetasol for psoriasis...good for a time, then WHAM...back worse...or hey, it's clearing here (but now over here, where it wasn't before at all!).

And yes...I over used nasal sprays for years and paid for it. Needed a year on steroid nasal sprays to heal.

Rebound is real. And it is no surprise that they picked a superpotent topical for the prime example. I found clobestasol and ultravate to be great for short term improvement. But when the psoriasis came back, it was always worse.

Plus, at least in my case, no doctor cautioned against use over two weeks. For a while, I looked on in horror as the skin on my feet became more like glass than skin. Seemed to remind me of the "invisable man". Better now, a few years after...but long term use of topical steroids thins your skin for sure!

Mark

[Dulane]

Thos topical steroids are nasty drugs, by my estimation. They knock the P down but the rebound can be worse.

And MANY people, especially young women, get stretch marks in fatty areas like breasts, belly, and thighs. This is NEVER explained well enough by their doctor before people use these...and the stretch marks never really fade.

P is devastating enough w/o having such a blind-siding reaction from a drug that is supposed to help you.

Just say, "No Thanks!"

:mad:

[NYGuy11]

Agreed. That's the tough think about starting a drug and then realizing you want off of it. I successfully went off Humira and Psoriatane w/o a rebound effect. I gradually went off both drugs and did not experience any problems.

It is very important that when you get off a drug, you wean off of it. Do it over a span of a month or two. It's definitely worth taking that precaution.

[MadCat]

Work with your doctor, or alternative doctor, if you choose to get off the drugs. I didn't, because my doctor didn't know anything about alternative treatments. My own experience in stopping daily prednisone pills abruptly was to get a really bad relapse of plaque psoriasis which was much worse than before I started the drug.


Never heard of this rebound thing. I know you sometimes get a flare-up and get worse before you get better, is that the same? Sounds the same.

I wanted to go off prednisone pills too, doctor said no (he wanted to increase), so I went ahead and stopped them anyway (actually I ran out of pills and just never bothered to get another prescription).

Detoxed the pills out of my system for about two months and then started on the vitamins and minerals.

Doctor very angry, said I could have had liver or kidney failure, but nothing happened and I was completely fine.

..........as they say in all the action movies, don't try this one at home! :)

.