The NHS has approved new eczema treatment tablets
(Picture: PA)Many eczema sufferers have tried every treatment and promised “cure” under the sun from topical creams and solutions to diet changes and taking antihistamines.
However, the condition can be fairly stubborn and often persists or flares up at random times due to heat, stress or other factors.
Fortunately, the NHS has just approved brand new eczema treatment in the UK with three new tablet medications recommended for use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The new treatments, abrocitinib, upadacitinib and tralokinumab, are now set to be offered to patients. Here’s everything you need to know about the medication.
How do the new NHS eczema pills work?
Following the approval of the new eczema medications, which are believed to have an ‘almost-immediate impact’ on symptoms, the NHS will soon start rolling out the treatment to patients.
Doctors will prescribe the pills to patients over the age of 12, who suffer with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis or eczema.
However, it is believed that these patients will need to have tried standard treatments or quit them due to side effects before being eligible for the pills.
The new medication has been described as “life-changing”, according to Consultant Dermatologist, at Barts Health NHS, Dr Padma Mohandas.
She told the Daily Mail: “Eczema is a common problem but in some cases it’s not easy to treat. In the worst cases it’s a debilitating disease that leaves patients feeling embarrassed, socially isolated and, in extreme circumstances, suicidal.
“With these new drugs we can offer them hope that their skin will get better, which is life-changing.”
What are the side effects of the new eczema medications?
Patients must be over the age of 12 to be prescribed the new eczema treatment medications on the NHS and cannot be allergic to abrocitinib, upadacitinib or tralokinumab – depending on which is prescribed.
Abrocitinib side effects
You cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding when you take abrocitinib, and the government guidance states that the medication can cause side effects for anyone taking them, like all medications.
Serious side effects, which may affect one in 10 people, can include a painful skin rash (shingles), blisters or sores, blood clots or pain and tenderness in legs.
More common side effects, that can affect more than one in 10 people, may include vomiting, cold sores, upper abdominal pain, headaches, dizziness, acne and an increase in an enzyme called creatine phosphokinase.
Upadacitinib side effects
Common side effects of upadacitinib include abdominal pain, anaemia, dyslipidaemia, fatigue, fevers, headaches, nausea, neutropenia and skin reactions.
However, as with all medications, some people may not experience any side effects, while others may experience several of the aforementioned symptoms.
Again, upadacitinib is not to be taken by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Tralokinumab side effects
Of the three new eczema medications, tralokinumab appears to have the fewest side effects listed on the NICE website.
These include eosinophilia (a higher level of disease-fighting white blood cells) or eye inflammation.
As with the other two new treatment options, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take tralokinumab.
