Pentasa making things worse the second time around?

I've been on the pentasa/entocort combo once before and it put me in remission for about 3 1/2 weeks after I was first dx'd. I was on it for about a year total before I was taken off everything. Recently, my disease has become active enough that they can see it on scopes and scans again, so my new GI thought it would be a good idea to just try pentasa and entocort again to see if it helps. If this fails, my next step is Cimzia. I don't have very high hopes for the pentasa since the last time I was in a flare up this severe, it took Humira to get me out of it and I got a nice 3 month break from my Crohn's before it started its dirty business again.

Anyway, since I started taking it again (about a week ago), I've been feeling much worse. There is more blood in my stool than ever, and the only thing getting me through the day without an E.R. visit is percocet, I haven't been able to sleep well due to waking up in pain every 4 hours, and my fever is even higher than before (100-102 every night).

Is it possible that it's making things worse even though I was on it before without a problem?

Have I not given it enough time and this is probably coincidence?

I'm very frustrated and just want to be able to go to my classes without being high or barely awake or running to the bathroom every 15 minutes (if I'm lucky and even go)! I'm calling my GI about it on Monday to see what he thinks...but in the meantime, opinions?

I agree with Zanne I think you need something stronger. Pentasa also gave me an increase in diarrhea, but I do fine with Asacol. May I ask why you would go straight to Cimzia instead of maybe trying something like 6mp or Imuran first?? Whatever med you get on, make sure you always stay on some type of medication. This is a disease that must be treated at all times. Hugs!

Thanks everyone :). Sometimes this disease has a way of making you feel a little crazy about your symptoms and what you should be blaming.

Nanners- I'm skipping the 6MP/azathioprine because the last time I was on it, I didn't tolerate it well.

You can develop a sensitivity to the 5ASA meds at any time, even after years of use with no problems.

It may be that this is an issue and you need to use another med for that reason.

Entocort is not approved for use beyond 3 months as a maintenance medication. It is a steroid and can have some of the same long term effects (osteoporosis for example) as prednisone although not usually to the same degree.

I think you are right about needing to be on a biologic. And you should probably be on an immune modulator too if you fell out of remission quickly after starting a biologic.

Sounds like it might be time for a 2nd opinion from an IBD specialist.