Remicade and other options?

I am new to this forum.  My 15 year old son was diagnosed with UC 1 1/2 years ago.  In that 1st year he was in remission from October to March because he was taking Lialda and it was working.  He began to flare in March 2010 and the Dr started him on 60 Mgs of Prednisone and changed his mesalamine.  They went through many of the different mesalamine drugs but his flare continued.  He ended up in the hospital for a week in July.  In early August, they began Remicade.  It immediately helped.  He went from 15-20 bloody loose BMs per day to 5-7 formed.  He struggles every once in a while with loose BMs but basically they are formed.  I have added supplements- SCD yogurt, probiotics- GI ProHealth, Carsons Fish Oil and SCD Complete Vitamins.  I have tried diet alterations.  For many months, he has been eating a high protein, gluten free, low sugar diet and only very cooked vegetables.  I have added 1/2 teaspoon of Metamucil but immediately his stools become loose.  He wants me to call his doctor to ask him to add something to his Remicade regimin to cut down on the frequency of his stools.  I don't want to add Prednisone back because he just beginning to grow again after a year of no growth.  What would be the next drug to add to the Remicade? What have other's tried?

I would wager that any drug that could help him at this point will likely come with risks. So while prednisone is a nasty drug, a short course of it may be something to consider if the doctor thinks it will help; obviously it can't be taken long term though. The first thing that came to mind when I read your post though was what notsosicklygirl has already recommended which would be something like 6mp, Imuran, or methotrexate.

I currently take 50mg of 6MP along with my Remicade.

i was on 50 6mp with my remi too, they told me it would help keep me from developing antibodies, but it failed me anyway.

You may not want to think of it, but talking to a surgeon may be a good idea. he's so young to be on such dangerous drugs. that said, i'm hugely pro surgery, but talking to one never hurts. and i can tell you that, a while back, my son had some blood/mucous in his poo for a few weeks and i told my husband flat out, we aren't doing drugs we aren't waiting around, colon comes out. Luckily it turned out to be a reaction to some food and meds.
i hope you get some answers!

Have you given rectal meds a try? These have helped get many over the hump with Remicade. Just to let you know; I was on Remicade for over five years. It took about six infusions before I really got the stools under control -- I too was having about 6-8 per day. Then things evened out and I went from 2-4 per day.

Ask your doctor what might be the best option for him, but the Rowasa enemas seem to be what most do well with. I know it must be difficult for both of you to deal with this. Take care, keep us updated on how he is doing.