Starting a new med? Please read this before posting on the forums

Hi all,

There have been a lot of posts on the forum lately by people anxious to find information on medicines they've just been prescribed, and I thought it might help to have a list of URLs that can give people basic information about the medications they're taking.

Please, please check these URLs before asking your questions on the forums. This will save forum space as well as our members' energy, and will help you to get the best support possible from the forums. Please remember not to rely on this forum alone, and to consult with your doctor if you have any questions, concerns or problems with your medications.

* Basic information about STEROIDS:
(Predsolone, Prednisolone etc),
5-ASA medications (Mesasal, Pentasa, Dipentum, Sulfasalazine etc),
AZATHIOPRINE and 6-MP, FLAGYL, CIPROfloxacin and CYCLOSPORINE
can be found here:
https://www.healingwell.com/library/ibd/faq2.aspx

* Basic information about anti-TNF medications
(REMICADE aka Infliximab; HUMIRA aka Adalimumab) can be found here:
https://www.healingwell.com/library/ibd/faq3.aspx

These are some threads where members have been advised on how to start taking new medications, and how to cope with their side-effects:

** Steroids**

PRED - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1117431

ENTOCORT - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=958850, https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=853350

**Immunosuppressants**

6MP - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1080472

IMURAN - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=699711

METHOTREXATE - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=692213


**Biologics**

REMICADE - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=830170

HUMIRA - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1064111, https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1100893, https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?m=1090857&f=17&p=1

SWITCHING FROM REMICADE TO HUMIRA - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1066419

CIMZIA - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1106379, https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1132423, https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1228256

DID YOU LOSE RESPONSE OR REACT TO REMICADE OR HUMIRA, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANOTHER ANTI-TNF DRUG WILL WORK? If so, you might find this thread encouraging - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1327090

** Antibiotics**

FLAGYL - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=699391
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=699391

CIPRO - https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1124627

ANTI M.A.P. THERAPY (RMAT THERAPY)
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1678222


**Newer / experimental drugs**

LOW DOSE NALTREXONE -

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=830575
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=702259
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1130137

PROCHYMAL -

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1072560


TYSABRI -

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1109339]
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1109338
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1107947
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1107947

**Other therapies**

WORMS -
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=864098
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1089064

HUMAN FECAL INFUSION -
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1079669
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=1079669

These are just some quick posts I've found through searching and they may not be the best source possible for each med. If anyone has a better thread for each med, please submit it below or let me know by email. It would be good if we could get a definitive guide together for our members.

Best wishes,

Ivy.

Great idea Ivy and thank you for taking the time to put this list together. Yes, you are so right about the space its taking up for peeps with questions about drugs. There are many sites available to look up any medication. Google is a great source too. Susie

... and added threads on SCD and the Maker's diet.

I'll add low residue diet when I can find a decent thread. If anyone has one, could they please let me know?

Ta,

I.

And I've just added 6MP. Thanks to whoever activated the links. You've just taught me how to do it! Thanks so much.

Thank you Ivy!!!

How are you so good at finding these? I must be search challenged
Karen

Ivy's list would work great as an FAQ that everyone sees at the top... Or possibly as a post within Chron's Disease Resources.

What does everyone else think?

PS. Karen, I search through Google. I type "healingwell crohn's" and then whatever I'm interested in, eg "healingwell crohn's tysabri", and then I go to the *last* page of Google's results and click on "do this search again, with omitted pages included". For some reason, that seems to work better than a straight search.

Rosie! Thank you for activating those links! They look great!

*small bow* . . . Thank YOU!!

Ivy, thanks for the tips! I will try that search right now! I do think a sticky might work if we worded it correctly... I also think we could encourage people asking about meds to check the sticky at the top of the page for more info.
Karen

Hi Jason,

There are basic links at the top of this thread, before the discussion links.

Let me know if that's not the sort of thing you need, and we'll see what else we (with your help, perhaps?) can find.

I.

I've just added worm therapy and human fecal infusions... and managed to deactivate the links again. Sorry. If anyone wants to fix them, please do...

I like that you linked the actual thread. That way if someone needs additional info they can post their question on that thread and it will just bump it back to the top. Great work.