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Has anyone experienced repeated infections while taking SKYRIZI
Autoimmune Diseases | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (33)Comment receiving replies
@swalex Good morning! May I ask what you took instead and how you are faring?
I have psoriatic arthritis (there is no definitive test for PA, and another rheumatologist asked me if I have ever been treated for osteoarthritis, which has thrown a fair amount of doubt into the PA diagnosis for me).
Thank you for the info. You confirmed for me why I’m feeling the way I do.
I’m sort of between docs right now. When my first (and current) doc prescribed methotrexate, I asked if my hair would fall out. I told him, if it will, just prepare me. He assured me it would not; I’d be on a low dose, and he prescribed RX folic acid to make sure it didn’t happen.
I lost over 50% of my hair over 5 months. That, combined with terrible rash, and he took me off it.
He never told me I’d be on biologics for life. He said that while my immune system would be reduced, he said it wouldn’t be a problem; the drug wouldn’t suppress a large “swath” of my immune system.
Cut to me now, three weird bouts of inflammation/infections (2with fever) in 7 months.
A nurse told me to take my COVID and flu vaccines 4 weeks after my latest dose. Doc was furious, said no, you have to wait until the week before your next one.
I’m going a little out of my mind here.
I had a second opinion with another rheumatologist. She’s the one who asked if I was treated for osteoarthritis. I liked her a lot, and told her I wanted her to take me as a patient. But I emailed her through the portal last week to inquire if I even should take the next dose, and she hasn’t responded.
I’ve a fair amount of anxiety over this, as my next SKYRIZI dose is Thanksgiving Day, and I don’t know what to do.
Thank you again. Wishing you a calm and sunny morning.
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@beachesanddreams
I use topical steroids (clobetasol) for moderate topical psoriasis. Its helpful but hardly a cure. 6 months of Sky my symptoms improved but did not resolve. Not even close to worth it considering the repeated infections.
Worst part of stopping is not so much the rebound of skin symptoms but the increase in osteoarthritis type joint pain that did improve on Ski .... but then again in no way worth it. Who knew it was an effective anti inflammatory?
Poor due diligence on my part!
Caveat emptor!
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@beachesanddreams I've been living with psoriasis since the age of 11, and over time, psoriatic arthritis developed as well—bringing with it a deep, persistent depression. Despite being on SSRIs for eight years, they had no noticeable effect. I eventually stopped taking them, and nothing changed, which confirmed what I had long suspected: the root cause might lie elsewhere.
For the psoriasis, I used topical corticosteroids, which provided only marginal relief. Years later, I was diagnosed with midbrain inflammation—likely caused by a viral or bacterial infection. This inflammation may be the underlying cause of the depression, with inflammatory cytokines believed to be the main drivers of the process.
In 2008, an MRI revealed a Chiari malformation. Although I underwent decompression surgery, it did not lead to any significant improvement in symptoms.
This presents a complex medical challenge, as there are very few treatments that effectively target brain inflammation. I experienced brief relief with methotrexate (MTX), but the side effects were substantial. As with many treatments, responses vary widely depending on the individual and the presence of other comorbidities.
Currently, I'm managing fairly well while taking cetirizine (an antihistamine) at night, which helps keep cytokines partially in check. However, depression resurfaced after I contracted COVID-19—possibly due to renewed brain inflammation.
Keep advocating for yourself, and if necessary, don’t hesitate to change doctors.
I found a very interesting explanation for depression and inflammation, you may like to review: https://www.youtube.com/watch