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What would you do? In remission and choosing next med to quit
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Ulcerative Colitis
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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16483
Posted 8/22/2019 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Short history, confirmed in remission in Feb of this year. Post-colonoscopy told to quit Lialda cold-turkey. Did, no prob.
I am now on remicade, 6MP, and rowasa. Doctor said I could quit either 6MP or rowasa next, my choice. Which would you drop next? He said cold turkey on either, no taper pharmaceutically necessary. Might make me feel better to do a taper of either, but no other benefit in it.
He said certainly rowasa is the weakest med and easiest to cease. He said there's obvious risks in taking 6MP indefinitely (low risks of skin cancer and lymphomas) and I've been on it since 2013.
Last remission I whittled away in this order: drop lialda, 6-months later dropped rowasa, 6-months later drop 6MP, and flared 6-months later. Thinking was stay on only remicade for maintenance. That failed.
garyi
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2017
Posts : 2244
Posted 8/22/2019 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
My flair has all but subsided...who ever knows if we're in a solid remission.
In my case, I quickly tapered off the steroid, Budesonide ER after being on it for almost five months, also easing off Rowasa (2 nights on - 1 night off). Still taking 4.8 gms of Lialda daily as I have for over three years, and two different probiotics daily.
Seeing two gastroenterologists, who tepidly agree. They are more adapt at prescribing medications than they are at helping us ween off them, in my experiences.
Best of luck iPoop!
CCinPA
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2014
Posts : 2813
Posted 8/22/2019 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Since you have already been there and done that I would proceed very slowly and with lots of caution. Maybe slow down the enemas, but don't stop them completely. Drop dosage of the 6 mp by 25 mg and stay there for a few months before dropping any further. How long has it been since you dropped the Lialda?
Being on only 1 med sounds great, but sliding into a flare by going too fast is risky ... especially since you've gone through that before. Even though you don't get side effects by going cold turkey on those meds, your body is used to them being in your system and just stopping them means your body has to adjust.
iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16483
Posted 8/22/2019 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
>>How long has it been since you dropped the Lialda?
February, so 6-months ago.
DBwithUC
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2011
Posts : 4545
Posted 8/22/2019 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I would drop the Rowasa because if you need to restart the benefits are faster. If you drop the 6mp, it could take a while to gent benefit after restarting.
sfc425
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2010
Posts : 704
Posted 8/22/2019 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
I quit Rowasa after starting Inflectra + Imuran. Haven't had a flare in the 2+ years since. I think you'll be OK getting off that, assuming you're symptom free.
ASellers
Regular Member
Joined : Dec 2017
Posts : 95
Posted 8/22/2019 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I’d say drop the 6MP cause remicade could still cover the immune system component. Rowasa is a topical application and who cares if you stay on that long term. I’d choose to give my body a break from the 6MP. But you have to go with your instinct.
MarkWithIBD
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2018
Posts : 452
Posted 8/22/2019 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
I would stop rowasa, then 6MP. I wouldn't wait 6 months though.
6MP seems like the game changing one. If you can stay in remission without that, then you're doing really well!
Congrats on your progress. You must be feeling optimistic. How long did your previous remission last?
notsosicklygirl
Forum Moderator
Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 17890
Posted 8/23/2019 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
It's easy enough to taper down on te rowasa. If you feel like you need it, you can go back up to doing it more often. Maybe you won't need it at all for a while, that would be convenient. I agree with CC though, whatever you decide, proceed slowly.
iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16483
Posted 8/23/2019 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for the insight and thoughts to consider. I'll do some soul-searching and decide in the coming weeks.
quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33769
Posted 8/23/2019 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Why are you using the Rowasa?
q
iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16483
Posted 8/23/2019 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I've used Rowasa for 7-8 years now. We threw everything at this flare, now that it is over and I'm within a remission, time to remove a few things!
countess18
Regular Member
Joined : May 2016
Posts : 469
Posted 8/24/2019 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Why not stay on lialda and rowasa and wean off of 6mp which has the most risks. You can use rowasa a few times a week. I know you already stopped lialda but I think 6mp is the drug to slowly wean off.
quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33769
Posted 8/24/2019 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
I second staying on the oral/rectal 5ASA. Taper the enemas to twice a week.
I don't know the process getting off 6MP, but I would do that first.
q
Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7914
Posted 8/26/2019 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
I would drop the 6mp but i remember you saying you thought you flared as a result of dropping it the last time (although I'm sure there is no way to no for sure if that caused your flare 6 months later...seems a bit late to be the cause to me, but who knows with this disease).
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