Making a Treatment Decision

There are many treatment options available to you once you are diagnosed with a psoriatic disease. It’s important to not only stay updated on your options, but keep an open line of communication with your health care provider (HCP).

When making treatment decisions, you should weigh the pros and cons of all options with your HCP. Factors that should be considered include your lifestyle, severity of symptoms, family history, what has or has not worked in the past, insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs, and pre-existing health conditions.

You should feel empowered to speak with your HCP about any concerns you may have, including risks and side effects, so you can make an informed decision. This open communication between you and your HCP can lead to a treatment plan that is effective, easy to follow and may lead to better results.

Things to Keep in Mind When Making a Treatment Decision

Everyone Responds Differently to Treatment

When learning about treatment options, it’s important to remember that each person can respond to a treatment quite differently. You should speak with your HCP about any concerns you have, including the benefits vs. the risks of any treatment.

Medications Are Thoroughly Tested

All prescription medications undergo years of rigorous study to ensure that the benefits of the treatment far outweigh any potential harm. While it’s true that medications are sometimes recalled because of unforeseen side effects after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, recalls are actually quite rare.

Risks vs. Side Effects

There is no doubt that possible risks and side effects of any treatment should be considered. It is equably important to consider the benefits of treatments.

A risk is a possibility of something happening. Each person has unique characteristics so their individual risk may vary.

Side effects are unintended consequences of using a treatment and can be positive or negative. When a medication is undergoing clinical trials prior to be being approved by the FDA, all side effects must be reported. Side effects can range from very common to very rare.

By addressing any concerns head-on and discussing them openly, you and your HCP can work together to choose treatments based on fact.

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