Entocort

My daughter's doctor has now prescribed Entocort at 9 mgs. to begin with for 8 weeks. She has not been on this but on Prednisone she did get the facial hair, the puffiness, all those dreaded side effects which at 19 is pretty devastating, but she came off of Prednisone several months ago. He feels she is experiencing a slight flare at the moment so he is beginning Entocort. She is due to come off of 6mp soon and begin Remicade within a week or two. I am hoping this will prove to be the miracle drug for her as it has been for so many others.

My question is with Entocort, for a short 8 week period, does anyone have experience with whether she will get the puffy face and facial/back hair growth like with the Prednisone? Just wondering what to expect.

I am hoping that other's experiences with this will alleviate our worry about these nasty side effects.


Thanks.

Entocort usually has a lot less side effects than prednisone. I know I didnt really notice much from 9mg of it when I was on it for sometime. Prednisone on the other hand messes me up side effect wise. So I think she might have more luck with the entocort and the side effect profile will be easier for her to handle. Lets hope. Good luck

As Nanners has said I think that most people get very little in way of side effects with entocort.
Ds however became plastered in a rash from head to toe(which diappeared when he was weaned of Entocort) but he developed pretty severe acne that has taken well over a year to get rid of. As for any other side effects, he had none.

Here is to hoping she has a good summer Margie : ) I think its great your on here to try and help her! Also will mention that remicade worked well for me but ran into some complications. Keep the hope alive though. That stuff helps a lot of people big time.

He had minor teenage spots a few years previously but on a scale of 1-10 it was a 1 or 2,what he got within a couple of weeks of starting entocort was way over the 10! I wouldn't worry needlessly though, although it is a known side effect I don't think that most takers get it and if your daughter was unlucky enough to do so get help for it fast. I assumed that once he was off the entocort his skin would go back to normal by itself but it didn't.

like dfDavedf it works really well for me with no side effects at all - been on it four months this stretch ans so far so good. Good luck with the reme :)

Lesley in NZ

Hi Margie, I am just now starting my taper from Ento after being 9mg a day for more than a year.  It was helping me tremendously.  I can tell I am tapering as my insides are feeling less well with each taper step.  I have gained NO weight, no puffy face, nothing.  I am still losing weight as a matter of fact.  It is the less fearsome drug of the 2.

Entocort is still not considered a med you should use longtime, although some have. It still can cause the bone damage etc that Pred can if used for a long time. Hugss!

THe following is from the Entocort site. I understand it to say 8 weeks at 9 mg, then up to 3 months at 6 mg, then if I understand this, to stop this drug.
My doc talked to me about moving to 3mg for 3 months, but it does not match what the manufaturer is saying.

Dave

DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION
The recommended adult dosage for the treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon is 9 mg taken once daily in the morning for up to 8 weeks.

Repeated 8 week courses of Entocort EC can be given for recurring episodes of active disease.

Following an 8 week course(s) of treatment for active disease and once the patient’s symptoms are controlled (CDAI <150), Entocort EC 6 mg is recommended once daily for maintenance of clinical remission up to 3 months. If symptom control is still maintained at 3 months an attempt to taper to complete cessation is recommended. Continued treatment with Entocort EC 6 mg for more than 3 months has not been shown to provide substantial clinical benefit.