Treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis
There’s currently no exact cure for psoriatic arthritis, but certain recommended treatments can help manage the condition. Other treatments focus on managing symptoms and increasing the quality of life.
Biologics
Current guidelines recommend using biologic drugs, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors [4], as a first-line therapy for most people with a new diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. These drugs work by blocking TNF such that there is no or only minimal Inflammation. They are also effective at reducing the severity of symptoms and the frequency of flares.
However, certain side effects have been traced to using these medications, especially in people who experience frequent infections. Anyone who uses biologic therapy will need routine monitoring for these effects. Your doctor will discuss with you everything you need to know about biologics and explain your other options.
Oral small molecule drugs
Another option aside from biologic therapy is a new class of drugs known as oral small molecule drugs (OSMs). Examples of these drugs include apremilast (Otezla) and tofacitinib (Xeljanz).
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) [5] is also a long-term option just like biologics and OSMs. They may slow the progression of psoriatic arthritis. Examples include methotrexate and cyclosporine. DMARDs work best when a person starts taking them as early as possible in the disease progression.
They can take time to work, so it is important to continue taking them, even if symptoms do not improve immediately.
Treating symptoms
Your doctor may need to focus on the symptoms, for this he may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [6] and corticosteroid injections when symptoms flare in the knee. These are short-term treatments that aim to provide immediate relief. Long-term use can lead to side effects.