Your Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Doesn’t Last All Day: What Are Your Options?

If you’re living with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) — an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of your joints and other parts of your body — you may be taking medication daily. 

Is it important to talk to your provider, if your PsA treatment is only giving you temporary relief for part of the day, and/or you are having to cancel plans or stop activities. This may be a sign that you may need to adjust your treatment regimen. 

“Coming to your team with as much information as you possibly can about the circumstances is really important,” says Hana Conlon, NP, a Nurse Practitioner in Rheumatology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. Conlon suggests being prepared to describe your symptoms, including patterns, triggers, and timing. 

What are your options if your psoriatic arthritis treatment doesn’t last all day?

If your PsA treatment isn’t lasting throughout the day, your provider will likely ask you whether you’re sticking to your treatment plan. The first step is to make sure that you are taking your medication as prescribed, since missing doses can affect your treatment outcomes.

If you have been sticking to your treatment regimen but are still experiencing  symptoms, your provider may suggest the following options:

• Adding medication: If you’re already taking daily medication, your provider may suggest taking a breakthrough anti-inflammatory agent, like an  nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) to help you get through the day. Common NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin, and Naproxen.

• Changing medication: Another option may be to change the class of medication that you are taking to include a non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), a biologic medication, or a janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor.

• Lifestyle changes: Some of the pain you experience with PsA may improve with physical activity, including yoga and stretching, and/or applying heat.  If you spend lots of time working at a desk, Conlan recommends setting a phone alarm each hour or so as a reminder to get up and stretch out your back. 

• Physical or occupational therapy: Visits with a physical or occupational therapist may also help you with pain management.

Conlon notes that your provider may start with the least amount of medication that’s appropriate for your PsA, depending on its severity and other factors. If that doesn’t work, you may move on to the next class of medication until you find the best fit.

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Dr. Mera Goodman is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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