HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Thoughts please

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/19/2010 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
 

Son's consultant has said again that he can come off of the Pentasa if he wishes(on Azathioprine too) Last time we tried it his inflammatory markers started rising so he started taking Pentasa again and to be fair he had only been on the azathioprine for a couple of months. Now he is 6 months into it and barring the odd rumble is doing ok. I know people say to continue taking maintenance meds does this apply when taking Azathioprine too? Consultant appears to think that the Pentasa isn't really doing anything and it will be less tablets for son to take(he isn't too worried either way)

I would hate for him to pump his body full of meds that he doesn't need  but equally would hate to stop them and him have further problems.

Thoughts??

Posted 8/19/2010 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know what azathioprine does, but Pentasa is pretty safe. Aside from the cost, and restrictions against using aspirin or NSAIDs while taking 5-ASA meds, I don't see the down side.
Posted 8/19/2010 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
You'll get lots of different opinions on this.

Here's mine: I'd stop the Pentasa. It's not worth the cost or the hassle of taking so many pills. It's of questionable benefit in the first place. It could have been purely coincidental before when his inflammatory markers increased after stopping it the first time. And once somebody is stable on azathioprine (imuran), I think there's even less reason to stay on Pentasa.
Posted 8/19/2010 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
If you would like you can try stopping the Pentasa, but if symptoms start to return put him back on it. The Imuran is a good med. But you can do a trial without the Pentasa and see what happens. Good luck!
Posted 8/20/2010 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
I second what Nanners says. That would be what I would do.
Posted 8/20/2010 8:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks l for the input.

I guess it is worth another go.
Posted 8/20/2010 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
I stayed on Imuran for years and they only took me off of it when I had lots of kidney stones. The imuran did not cause this but I could not take it and the med for stones together so I was put on Methotrexate.
Posted 8/20/2010 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Pentasa and 6MP (imuran cousin) for years. When I stopped taking the Pentasa, my D decreased, so my 2 cents is to give it a shot and see what happens.
Posted 8/20/2010 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
I just went throught the exact same thing with our GI. She said, that she feels the Pentasa isn't an effective drug, and to continue with Imuran only. My personal contention was why mess with this combination if it's apparently working. I guess it's a matter of opinion. She did relent abit, and suggested we cut the Pentasa in half for a few months before eliminating it. 

Also, Imuan does take quite some time to reach it's full effectiveness. Up to 6 months. 

Posted 8/21/2010 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
decisions, decisions.
Son doesn't have any issues with D, if anything constipation becomes the issue so then thought he may be better on it rather than off.

73monte I agree that if something is working then why mess with the combination.
It is hard when consultant has bascially said do what you want!!

Son says that he would like to try stopping it whilst we still have some in reserve at home and if need be can start them up again immediately should the need arise so I guess that is what he will do.
The upside of this is that he has expresed an opinion on what to do which is great because it means that he is begining to make decisions for himself (small steps :D)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply