Fumaderm Use (for Psoriasis)

isnottheword

My Dermatologist has just told me he's going to put me on Fumaderm - just as soon as I've got a Drugs Payment Scheme (DSP) card. Not on med card - so have just sent in a DPS application.


What results have you had with it - and how long have you ended up taking it? I understand that there's a possibility of having to take it on an ongoing basis?

Naturally, I'd like to solve the psoriasis issue - but it's also an expensive regime if it must continue permanently.

i.e. €140/month (and I know that's a reduced price from what the hse/govt pay for it. I priced it with a canadian online pharmacy and they said $1590 for 56 pills! (120mg).


Also, how often did any of you have blood tests whilst on Fumaderm? Again, no med card so I'll have to call to GP for each blood test @€;45/visit ....so just wondering how often I'll have to check in...

Kurtosis

Hi isnottheword,

Just for your information, if your doctor want to prescribe this to you now, there is no need to wait for your regular DPS application to be processed. For expensive medicines, if you go to any pharmacy with the prescription, they'll be able to complete an emergency DPS registration for you (once you have DOB/PPS number for all individuals in the family/household) so you can get your medicines there and then and only pay up to the €144. It's worth checking to make sure Fumaderm is covered under the DPS, and a pharmacy may need to order these in for you ahead of time.

Ocean Blue

Kurtosis wrote: »

Hi isnottheword,

Just for your information, if your doctor want to prescribe this to you now, there is no need to wait for your regular DPS application to be processed. For expensive medicines, if you go to any pharmacy with the prescription, they'll be able to complete an emergency DPS registration for you (once you have DOB/PPS number for all individuals in the family/household) so you can get your medicines there and then and only pay up to the €144. It's worth checking to make sure Fumaderm is covered under the DPS, and a pharmacy may need to order these in for you ahead of time.

See this HSE circular available online since last Autumn. Fumaderm was being removed from state drug schemes except for existing patients already receiving it at that time. I haven't seen any update to this so I reckon you may run into problems getting it on DPS.

isnottheword

Thanks to you both for that info. I had never heard of this drug before today - so all new to me. However (and naturally, I'm open to correction), from what I could understand from the consultant (and he also ended up later on having a similar conversation with a colleague in my presence) - they have to get special permission to use it or something - there's some sort of a licensing issue. Don't fully understand it.

In any event, if the HSE don't go with it, then the next option is biologics rather than this systemic treatment - and that will cost the HSE a shed load more (I was told by the dermatologist I visited in the states whilst I was over there temporarily that this type of solution they could offer for $14,000!).

So if they were to refuse, then fair enough.

As regards not having to wait, I guess he must have some rationale for having me get the DSP card first. I don't really mind. I've had to live with this bloody thing for 3 years (albeit wasn't so bad the first year - it's a pain in the ass now - but then it's still an unsightly irritant rather than something life threatening - so I'm not inclined to complain).


That aside, I'm interested to hear from those that have taken the drug. I may have misunderstood but I came away with the belief that there's a possibility that I may have to simply keep taking Fumaderm (at whatever level is sufficient to quell the psoriasis) - on an ongoing basis. Is this the experience of others?

echo beach

isnottheword wrote: »

My Dermatologist has just told me he's going to put me on Fumaderm - just as soon as I've got a Drugs Payment Scheme (DSP) card. Not on med card - so have just sent in a DPS application.

As a general rule if a product isn't on the medical card it won't be paid for under DPS either. I'd agree with Ocean Blue that you are likely to run into problems getting this covered.

isnottheword

echo beach wrote: »

As a general rule if a product isn't on the medical card it won't be paid for under DPS either. I'd agree with Ocean Blue that you are likely to run into problems getting this covered.

Id actually hope you're right as they'll have to move on to biologics - which are the most modern drugs on the market. Naturally, I'll report back here with the outcome.

In the meantime, if anyone has any experience of using that drug itself, how it worked for you, how long you are taking it or have you had to take it on an ongoing basis

huskerdu

You should be able to get the blood tests done in the hospital for free, to avoid having to pay your GP to do them.

Get the hospital clinic to give you the bag for the samples during your visit.

isnottheword

huskerdu wrote: »

You should be able to get the blood tests done in the hospital for free, to avoid having to pay your GP to do them.

Get the hospital clinic to give you the bag for the samples during your visit.

Really appreciate you mentioning that huskerdu - that will save me a fortune. I've had that scenario a few times now for Galway Clinic (other complaint) recently but they wouldn't do the tests - said, go to my GP.

Gael23

A doctor won't go down the road of biologics until you have tried other options unsuccessfully first. My dermatologist did mention it but I have contraindications to systemic due to an issue unrelated to my psoriasis. Anyway I would have concerns relating to the side effects of those drugs.

I spwould imagine it is covered under the DPS but that's easily found out. Every case of Psoriasis is different but generally you would take medication on an ongoing basis, you can't say I'm clear this week so I'm not going to treat it- I made that mistake for too long.
I'm on biologics for 18 months now and it's been a life changing experience but I didn't go there for a long time, only after years of steroid creams and unsuccessful UVB therapy were biologics put on the table.

isnottheword

Gael23 wrote: »

A doctor won't go down the road of biologics until you have tried other options unsuccessfully first. My dermatologist did mention it but I have contraindications to systemic due to an issue unrelated to my psoriasis. Anyway I would have concerns relating to the side effects of those drugs.

I spwould imagine it is covered under the DPS but that's easily found out. Every case of Psoriasis is different but generally you would take medication on an ongoing basis, you can't say I'm clear this week so I'm not going to treat it- I made that mistake for too long.
I'm on biologics for 18 months now and it's been a life changing experience but I didn't go there for a long time, only after years of steroid creams and unsuccessful UVB therapy were biologics put on the table.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll see how I go with this systemic in the first instance.

Adamsrogers

Kurtosis wrote: »

Hi isnottheword,

Just for your information, if your doctor want to prescribe this to you now, there is no need to wait for your regular DPS application to be processed. For expensive medicines, if you go to any pharmacy with the prescription, they'll be able to complete an emergency DPS registration  for you (once you have DOB/PPS number for all individuals in the family/household) so you can get your medicines there and then and only pay up to the €144. It's worth checking to make sure  Fumaderm is covered under the DPS, and a pharmacy may need to order these in for you ahead of time.

exactly

isnottheword

huskerdu wrote: »

You should be able to get the blood tests done in the hospital for free, to avoid having to pay your GP to do them.

Get the hospital clinic to give you the bag for the samples during your visit.

Things progressing (albeit slowly). Dermatologist has now applied for funding to put me on Fumaderm.

He says this in his letter;

"Prior to starting on Fumaderm you need to have your full blood count, differnetial U&E, LfT's and urinalysis checked by your doctor".

I don't suppose there's any opportunity I could rock up to phlebotomy at the hospital and that they can take care of this? Between a liver issue in recent months and now this, I'm running up GP bills like I never have ever before. (the irony was that before the Celtic Tiger died, they gave me a medical card! - and prior to that, a GP visit card. Went straight from med card to nothing at all. Aside from savings, nothing had changed - working same job for same money... and of course, I never used the med card back then - not once....and rarely used the GP visit card....murphys law).

huskerdu

isnottheword wrote: »

Things progressing (albeit slowly). Dermatologist has now applied for funding to put me on Fumaderm.

He says this in his letter;

"Prior to starting on Fumaderm you need to have your full blood count, differnetial U&E, LfT's and urinalysis checked by your doctor".

I don't suppose there's any opportunity I could rock up to phlebotomy at the hospital and that they can take care of this? .

Are you a public or private patient of the consultant.
If you are a public patient, the consultant should be able to get you the tests in the public hospital. That is what happened me in similar circumstances.

isnottheword

huskerdu wrote: »

Are you a public or private patient of the consultant.
If you are a public patient, the consultant should be able to get you the tests in the public hospital. That is what happened me in similar circumstances.

I'm a public patient (albeit I'm not a med card carrying public patient).

huskerdu

isnottheword wrote: »

I'm a public patient (albeit I'm not a med card carrying public patient).

I'm a public patient with no medical card and all tests / x-rays have been carried out for free in the hospital ( St Vincents).

Gael23

You should be able to get those done in the hospital. I have private health insurance and got my bloods/X-rays done in Vincent's public and get routine bloods done there too. That was after seeing dermatologist in Vincent's private.

isnottheword

Thanks to both of you - huskerdu & Gael23. Consultant had sent word that I was to attend my GP for full blood test (LFT/U&E/Full B. Count). Had I not known otherwise (thanks to yourselves), I would have assumed this was the only option. Asked the question and he's sending on the relevant paperwork.


On the Drug Payments Scheme (DPS) card, how does that work exactly? Received today - but there wasn't much info with it. Am I to assume that I hand over the €144 to the pharmacist every month? It's not paid directly?

Gael23

isnottheword wrote: »

Thanks to both of you - huskerdu & Gael23. Consultant had sent word that I was to attend my GP for full blood test (LFT/U&E/Full B. Count). Had I not known otherwise (thanks to yourselves), I would have assumed this was the only option. Asked the question and he's sending on the relevant paperwork.


On the Drug Payments Scheme (DPS) card, how does that work exactly? Received today - but there wasn't much info with it. Am I to assume that I hand over the €144 to the pharmacist every month? It's not paid directly?

You need to fill in a form to register on the DPS scheme, your pharmacy should have them. Then you pay the €144 to the pharmacy and you will have to sign a form also each time.

isnottheword

Gael23 wrote: »

You need to fill in a form to register on the DPS scheme, your pharmacy should have them. Then you pay the €144 to the pharmacy and you will have to sign a form also each time.

Perfect - looks like I'm almost set, so. Have the DPS card as of this morning - just need the paperwork to get bloods done at the hospital and can get prescription after that.

huskerdu

isnottheword wrote: »

Perfect - looks like I'm almost set, so. Have the DPS card as of this morning - just need the paperwork to get bloods done at the hospital and can get prescription after that.

With a DPS card, the maximum you pay for prescriptions in any calender month is €144. Once your pharmacy have the card number on file, they will charge you for prescriptions until you have paid €144.
After that, if you present a different prescription that month, you dont have to pay.

Maryfrancis

I was on fumaderm a couple of years ago having tried everything else.
it certainly worked for me but is a hard tablet to stomach!! The dose is increased gradually as the side effects can be bad at the start nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea but preserve with it and you will really see the benefits.

Maryfrancis

Forgot to ask how come you have not got a medical card when u obviously have a medical condition.

isnottheword

Maryfrancis wrote: »

I was on fumaderm a couple of years ago having tried everything else.it certainly worked for me but is a hard tablet to stomach!! The dose is increased gradually as the side effects can be bad at the start nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea but preserve with it and you will really see the benefits.

That sounds dreadful :-( I guess there is no drug that comes without side effects. To the other Fumaderm consumers here (past or present): Is this your experience re. side effects? Did you (or are you currently) find it as bad as MaryF. in terms of side effects?

Maryfrancis wrote: »

Forgot to ask how come you have not got a medical card when u obviously have a medical condition.

In the Celtic Tiger days, I had a GP visit card - and was happy enough with that. Applied for that to be renewed and was surprised to find that I was issued with a Medical Card. Post Celtic Tiger, enter austerity and I go from having a full Medical Card to not even having the GP visit card :-( My income had not changed throughout that period (save inflation...but then again, there's been little in the way of inflation over the past 10 years...so such inflation-indexed pay rises have been insignificant).


Perhaps I'm missing something. I know there are a handful of conditions that someone can have that facilitate access to a medical card but are not means tested. Is this one of them?? I'd be surprised if it was. It's not trivial but at the same time, it's not life threatening (and it affects a shedload of people...which suggests to me that they wouldn't issue a med. card for it!).

Ironically, all the time I had the medical card, I never had to utilise it. Almost the same with the GP visit card. Murphys Law dictates that now that I don't have one, I need to access the helath system (not just for this issue - I also have liver inflamation medical investigations ongoing....all the usual suspects have been ruled out....specialist still trying to get to the root cause).

@Maryfrancis: One final question. You use past tense 'was'. Are you no longer on Fumaderm? Did you move on to another Psoriasis medication? Reason I ask is that Gael23 mentioned the experience of using Fumaderm and the expectation that it needs to be taken on an ongoing basis (or else, psoriasis returns). Did you switch meds or was it a case that your psoriasis took flight of it's own accord?

Gael23

What you are thinking of regarding certain conditions being covered is the long term illness scheme. Psoriasis isn't under that although I personally think it should.
Don't dwell on the side effects too much just now, everyone tolerates medication differently. If you do end up with intolerabl side effects then there are absolutely other options but cross that bridge if/when it arises.

Maryfrancis

I was on it for over 2 years and completely got rid of the prososis.i had had it on my feet and hands.
Re the side effects I had been advised of same but was told to preserve as they wouldn't last and they didn't. To me it was a wonder drug.i would absolutely recommend it but the side effects are very well known and recorded.
Went off it coz I had absolutely no sign of any plaques or redness after using it successfully for about 3 years. I remained prososis free for over 2 years.
Since then I haven't had it as bad .
I did a course of light treatment in the mater recently which sadly wasn't very successful At the moment using an over the counter ointment that I bought in boots which is very good. (USC foot cream)
Good luck with it.

isnottheword

Just an update. Been on Fumaderm for the best part of 2 months now - and yet to see an improvement. However, they continue to increase the dosage. Did a months course of Fumaderm initial - 2nd month has been ramped up week on week - to 3 tabs / day. For August I'll be ramping up to 5x tablets / day.

Does it normally take this long to see results?