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Is the Prednisone working??

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/26/2008 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
So I was recently diagnosed in February, but have been flaring lightly (now that I know what a flare is!) for about 6 months, and it's gotten continually worse, hence the doc appt and subsequent diagnosis. I feel blessed to have found a good GI so soon, and am grateful that I'm getting treatment.

So he started me on Asacol (12 pills a day, 4800 mg) and Rowasa. I showed no improvement after 2 weeks and I also have a nice case of erythema nodosum going on (it's a skin thing that the GI said is related to my UC, however i've had EN since I was 16, and i'm now 31...) that he was extremely concerned about. So he pulled me off the Asacol and rowasa and now I'm on day 6 of 40 mg of prednisone... I start weening on day 8 down to 30 mg, then a week later down to 20 mg, and then I have an appt with him...

My question is, How do I know it's working? My frequency of running to the bathroom is really the only change, the pain, the fun mess that comes out, all that's the same. My legs are slightly better, (and I mean slightly) so I have hope that it's working but these side effects are kicking my butt! I can't sleep well, have "moon" face, look sunburnt and cry at the drop of a hat!! :( But I'll gladly suffer through it if I know it's gonna work.

And if this pred does kick me out of my flare, what's next? More asacol? What happens if the pred doesn't work?

Just lookin' for some answers/advice since I'm new to this party. :P
Posted 3/26/2008 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
I would call the dr. if you are not better by day 8. He/she might want you to stay on 40mg a little longer. I should have done that myself. In fact had my appointment the last day of pred...it did very little so I am on another longer round of pred. Dr. said..."should have called me...I would not have had you taper so quick", to bad he didn't tell me that before. I ask lots of questions now. Also I kinda judge my meds to fit my symptoms. I do see him often because of sever flare, and relay what I am doing.
Posted 3/26/2008 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
It took a month and a half for the pred to help me, if it did........I started azathioprine in that time.
Posted 4/1/2008 1:52 PM (GMT 0)

Do those of you who start on 40 mg prednisone take it all at once or 20 in the morning and 20 at night? 

Posted 4/1/2008 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I never took pred at night... just one dose in the a.m. to lessen the risk of insomnia.

Last time I was on it, it started working immediately. I felt totally better the next day.
Posted 4/1/2008 4:49 PM (GMT 0)

I've been on this stuff once. (Hopefully never again.) The doc put me on 20 mg, but that wasn't enough, so upped to 30 mg after 5 days of no change in symptoms. Anyway, I always took it in the morning. This didn't help the insomnia.

There are other drugs that you can take if prednisone doesn't work, but I can't say that they're better in terms of side effects. I'm lucky that the prednisone worked for me, because I've had a positive ppd and can't take many meds due to the chance that I could get active tb. Talk about scary!

Good luck! I hope that you feel better soon.

Posted 4/1/2008 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
You know, MathGeek, my doc kept me on my dose of Lialda when I went on the prednisone.

From what I understand, even though the meds are all mesalamine, there are nuances between asacol, lialda and colazol that makes one more helpful than the others for some people. Also, there are different side effects- I had side effects on Colazol, but not Lialda.

You may want to ask your doctor about this for your long term treatment once remission has been attained. Again, good luck! From my experience, it takes some trial and error before they find the right treatment. Stick with it. This will work out. It won't last forever.
Posted 4/1/2008 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
hi math geek,
you'll know if pred is working if everything starts getting better. it takes a little longer for some to kick in than others. definitely call your GI before tapering. he may agree to try another week or so.

did he take you off the asacol because he thought it was causing the EN? if so then he probably won't put you back on it.

i know i'm answering this late, but day 6 is pretty early to be feeling a lot better since you were flaring for a while. maybe you're feeling better now? hope so... didn't read your other post yet.
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