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Asacol and Prednisone

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/9/2010 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
I went to a GI for a follow up 2 weeks after being the in hospital. I was on Sulfazine initially, 1 500mg tab 4 times daily. At the follow up the GI doc double the Sulfazine and put me on Prednisone, 30mg at breakfast and another 30 mg at dinner. I started to feel much better but still had bloody loose stools. I had too find another GI dr. because the one I had seen for the follow up wasn't covered under my insurance. So i found a GI and had an apt. 2 days ago. He decided to put me on Asacol and lowered the Prednisone significantly. I'm now taking three 400mg tabs of Asacol 3 times daily and only taking 20mg of Prednisone once a day. I know I'm no doctor but the Asacol dosage seems really high and the the Prednisone seems too low. I went from 30 mg twice a day to just 20mg once a day. the Asacol has me feeling nauseous much like the sulfazine did when I initially took it. I'm starting to feel overall crummy again and my stools are straight liquid, no form whatsoever. Last night after going to bed I must have woken up every 45 minutes to use the toilet. For those of you on Asacol, whats your dosage and will the liquid stools start to go away?
Posted 7/9/2010 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
How long were you on the 60mg of Prednisone?
That is a fast taper to go from 60 to 20 just like that. I'm on 40 now and will go down to 35 for a week and then 30, and so on
Posted 7/9/2010 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
I was only on 60mg of prednisone for 2 and half weeks. thats why I'm having serious doubts about this new GI dr. judgment.
Posted 7/9/2010 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with what Pam said. It is not good to go from such a high dose to 20mg overnight. They should have let you drop slower. 60mg is a high dose, were you symptoms under control significantly after 2 weeks on 60mg?

I don't think the dose of Asacol is high, there are people on 12 400mg pills a day and it can be very helpful. DO you know the location of your inflammation? Is it is the rectum? You should probably also be on some rectal meds, either a steroid foam or a rectal 5ASA.

There is no guarantee that Asacol will help control your flare. My last flare was not at all controlled with Asacol.
Posted 7/9/2010 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
I am on Asacol: 4 tabs, 3 times a day (pretty much the max) and have no side effects.

I agree with other postings re: prednisone.  You need to be at the level that gets you into remission for at least a week AFTER your symptoms have gotten under control....then taper by 5 mgs every week (unless you re-flare).   Just general consensus here, no medical advice being dispensed....this has been my experience.

Posted 7/9/2010 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
I took my dose of Asacol around 1pm and ate some spaghetti with it. I noticed my appetite is starting to drop off as i couldn't eat very much and started to feel nauseous. The last 2 weeks on prednisone my appetite has been pretty good. about 45 mins after eating and taking the asacol I threw up. A half hour later I threw up again. I can't afford to be throwing up my food. I've lost 40 lbs since this thing started.
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