1. Can JAK inhibitors be taken with other psoriasis medications?
3. What happens if I miss a dose?
4. Should I try other medications first?
5. Will this medication stop working over time?
2. Will this drug interact with medications I take to treat other health conditions?
Questions About JAK Inhibitors for Psoriasis, Answered
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If you’re taking another systemic drug for plaque psoriasis, you’ll need to come off it before starting a JAK inhibitor. Examples include:
Acitretin (Soriatane) Cyclosporine Methotrexate Apremilast (Otezla) Adalimumab (Humira) Risankizumab (Skyrizi) Secukinumab (Cosentyx) Tofacitinib (Xeljanz)
Deucravacitinib has not been found to interact with other medications, says Sobell. It’s still important to discuss your complete health history with your doctor, though, including any other medications you’re taking, before you start any new drug.
This medication must be taken exactly as prescribed. You and your doctor won’t be able to determine exactly how effective the drug is if you don’t follow the prescription instructions to a T. Dr. Feldman advises using a pillbox to ensure you’re taking it every day as prescribed and not forgetting — or accidentally doubling up on — doses. “And to whatever extent you’re not taking it regularly, be honest with your doctor about it, so they can give you informed advice,” he adds.
Even though there’s a lot of excitement around this new psoriasis treatment, it doesn’t have to be your go-to option. “IL-23 and IL-17 blockers seem like a really good first choice,” notes Feldman. “You only take these injections once every two to three months. They’re very effective, and they seem to be extremely safe.”
The effects of this new drug are long lasting. “A potential problem with injectable medicines is that your body may develop antibodies against them, and you may lose effectiveness over time,” says Feldman. “In contrast, there has been no [evidence of a] decrease in benefit with deucravacitinib thus far with continued treatment,” he adds.
