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Couple of questions

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/12/2009 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on prednisolone since March after a bad flare left me in hospital, since then we have tapered down very slowly whilst trying other 5ASA drugs, as it is i've reacted to them all so they've decided to try me on azathioprin but as of yet haven't started taking it as firstly i was worried, then i didn't want to start it just before going on holiday and then i brought a nasty cold back from holiday so i'm just waiting for that to clear before i take it.

However the cold has set the UC off quite badly again, it's getting worse every day, trouble is my gastro nurse is on holiday until next week and my GP doesn't know much about it so i'm a bit stuck until then! I'm only on 5mg of prednisolone now as that was keeping it mostly at bay  but obviously it isn't now, i'm thinking about upping my dose to 10mg and seeing if it helps seen as i can't see anyone until Monday, do you think that's a wise thing to do??

Secondly for the last month i've had blood shot eyes every day, do you think the prednisolone could be causing it or should i see an optition? My GP just thought it was conjunctivitis but we've tried drops and it isn't that.

Posted 8/12/2009 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
I can't give you advice about the prednisolone... I have only been on prednisone and I am not sure if their dosing is similar.
But I did want to say that I had conjunctivitis and the normal drops didn't work. I had to (ironically) have prednisone drops before it went away. My normal doctor couldn't prescribe them, I had to go to a special eye doc. Just in case that info is helpful!
Good luck and why not take the azathioprine... you better start it since it takes a while to kick in and you can't be on steroids forever.
Posted 8/13/2009 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I think it takes about two weeks to really start working, and your cold should really be cleared up by that time.
Posted 8/13/2009 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Azathioprine's one of those crazy drugs where it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to kick in. Sometimes prednisone is prescribed to keep you in remission till azathioprine starts working. I was on azathioprine for over a year and didn't see any benefit, so I stopped taking it.

Prednisone and prednisolone are the same thing. Any decision to change your dosage without your doctor's approval is yours to make. I don't think upping Prednisone from 5mg to 10mg till you see your doctor on Monday is a big deal -- it's a small increase, and for only a few days. I have done that when I was on prednisone and had to adjust a taper.
Posted 8/13/2009 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
I dont think it'd be such a bad thing to up your prednisone to 10mg, hoenstly thats really low so I wouldnt even think it would help, yes 5 kept you in or close to remission, but thats remission, this is trying to GET it under control not KEEP it under control. Yea the biologics take some time to notice the full effect a lot of times, escpailly like 6mp seems to take i believe 3 months at the minimum. A lot of people even use two biologics like I do, I use Humira and Methotrexate, which to be honest most people that use 2 biologics , one of the two for them is usually either , Remicade or Methotrexate, those are two that Drs like to use in combination with other medications of the same time.
Posted 8/13/2009 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone, I went to see my gp about my eyes today and he thinks it could be linked to the UC or it could be an allergic reaction to something so before prescribing anything for it just going to see how it goes for a bit longer. I started the azathioprin today after dinner, i've read on here taking it at night will reduce the tiredness problem but it says to take with a meal? Do you really need to take it with a meal?

It's not been great today but not as bad as yesterday so i'm thinking of sticking to the 5mg pred until Tuesday when i have an appointment anyway, although i suspect they will tell me to up it anyway seen as it's getting bad again. Thanks again for your replies.
Posted 8/13/2009 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Since starting taking azathioprine in January I haven't gotten a cold or anything.

When I started it, I was just coming off the Entocort, and I was so so feeling. Amazingly, I didn't need the Entocort in the meantime while waiting for the azathioprine to work - about 2 months. I think I got lucky with the time frame. I achieved all that in my final semesters before graduating college and a change in seasons. Miracles happen...

=]
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