Entocort

Bible,
I started taking Entocort in March 2006 when I was first dx with CD, it was the only med that helped with the inflammation. I didn't notice any adverse effects until weaned off of Entocort in August 2007, the mood swings I experienced were out of control, I was snappy and sometimes downright mean one minute and the next crying over absolutely nothing. It was scary for me because I had no control over my emotions, and it lasted about a week. Unfortunately, my doc had to put me back on the Entocort about a month later when the inflammation caused a partial blockage which caused me a lot of pain, after about 2 weeks of being back on the Entocort I went thru the same crazy mood swings, unfortunately the worst of it happened one day at work, I went in the bathroom when I couldn't stop crying, not wanting anyone to see me, I was so embarassed. And heaven help anyone who spoke to me because I would bite a head off. And that's not like me at all, I am very upbeat and even tempered normally.
So just be aware that the Entocort can cause serious mood swings, it is after all a steroid.
I hope it works for you though and helps with the pain and inflammation. Take care Bible!

Entocort I was on and off for a long while. It did not do much for me. You do get some prednisone symptoms BUT not nearly as severe! It is supposed to be safer though................ Just make sure you look in to things and always get second opinions if you are EVER un sure!

I've been taking entocort since I was dx in mid july....it took about 2 week b4 it kicked and then the GI told me to reduce it after 4 weeks and the symptoms came back. He then started me on imuran and increased my entocort.....after 11 days on Imuran I felt very hill ( vomiting and fever) so I had to stop the imuran.....I am decrease the entocort now and on monday I will be taking 3mg one pill a day for 2 week and then I am done....so far I haven't had any side effect with the entocort and feel much much better that before I started to take them....good luck

My daughter has been in remission for 16 months thanks to Entocort. Been on 1 pill a day since May, with no side effects. We LOVE Entocort. She has the blessing of Mt. Sinai docs to continue with it...they say some patients have taken it for years.

Been a while

I everyone, I have been feeling great as well knock on wood I believe this is due too my long term almost 2 years now on 3mg maintance dose of Entocort.  I live in Canada and here they are using this drug in its lowest dose as a maintenace drug very effective and I have had no side effects.  I have had all the steriod over test ie, HPA, eyes, osteprosis and i am doing well no probs.  I have also been on a lot of Vitamins I am experimenting.  Taking B-6 complex VitD Vit C Omega 3-6-9 and good balaced meals no Lactose at all avoid nuts corn and few others.

Anyhow cheers

Jay

It gave me osteoporosis in less than 2 years.  Make sure to get a bone scan after a year.

Have been on for 9 months and it's been the drug that makes me feel the best. When I try and go off symptoms return. GI doctor feels I should try and go off but after reading so many comments of people who have been on it for years, I think we'll discuss this more! Thanks!

Entocort, especially at the full dose of 9mg, tends to interfere with calcium absorption, magnesium, and IMHO vitamin D in the body. The following web site discusses potential mineral deficiencies and their impact on leg cramps.  

http://www.bodyandfitness.com/Information/Health/legcramp.htm

Nobody with Crohn's should take a magnesium supplement unless their magnesium deficiency is confirmed via a blood test, because these supplements tend to irritate the digestive tract and even cause D. (The best way to confirm vitamin or mineral deficiencies is to have blood tests taken to measure them.)  

Anybody on Entocort needs to take calcium and vitamin D. What you could probably safely do, right away, is take combination calcium/vitamin D supplements and see how you do.

My daughter takes a supplement that includes 450 mg calcium/400 IU vitamin D3 - she takes this supplement twice a day, plus a separate 1000 IU D3 (total of 900 mg calcium, 1800 IU D3)...it doesn't pay to take more than 450 mg calcium at one sitting, because the body can't absorb much more than that at one time. Also, calcium supplements tend to interfere with the absorption of other vitamins and minerals, so don't take them with meals...just with snacks. The vitamin D is fat-soluble, so we try to take these supplements with cheese, bread and butter, etc...something with fat. Calcium citrate appears to be easiest on the intestinal track and stomach.

The ccfa website offers guidelines for nutrition and supplements for Crohn's:

http://www.ccfa.org/info/diet?LMI=3.2