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Question about flares and Prednisone.

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/11/2007 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I just recently tapered off of Prednisone and am now starting to have symptoms of a flare.  Loose, not fully formed stool with blood, a dull aching pain in my back along with stomach pains.  Also, for the first time in a long time I had diahreeah this morning.  Since I'm new to all of this should I be worried or is this normal when someone tapers off of Prednisone?

Thanks....

Posted 12/11/2007 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Its not normal.. Call your GI..
Posted 12/11/2007 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah - Call your GI and let him/her know that your symptoms are starting up again. He'll probably bump your pred back up a little bit again. Or, maybe try you on another med. That's what my doc just did. I was off and on pred for about 1.5 years, and my doc put me on Imuran, which is another immuno-suppressive. It's working for me too, at least for now! :)
Posted 12/11/2007 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Rather than start up the Pred again, you could ask your doc about rectal steroid meds (cortisone enemas or cortisone rectal foam). Far fewer side effects and less steroid absorption into your system. It would make sense to try the cortisone enemas first to see if you can get the symptoms under control without going back on the Pred.

Have you tried these before? I much prefer the annoyance of rectal meds to having to take Prednisone for a long time.
Posted 12/11/2007 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
the steriod enemas really helped me out, I would check into those too. I don't think pred has really done much for me but maybe it just took a long time to work?
Posted 12/11/2007 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
This often happens when tappering from pred..pred is used to help boost maintenance drugs, a bandaid until the maintenance drugs kick in...steroid enemas are a good idea if you're not already on them...of all the things out there, pred typically works faster than anything which is why it's given in combination with maintenance meds.

:)
Posted 12/11/2007 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
I will definitley check into steroid enemas.  Thanks for the tips......

I just thought I wouldn't flare so soon after taking Prednisone for so long.

Posted 12/11/2007 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
It happens quite commonly actually...that's just the way it is with pred...if it doesn't get you into remission while you're on it then as you wean off symptoms return, which is why it's used along with long-term meds...pred is meant to be used short-term for instant relief and boosting maintenance meds.

:)
Posted 12/11/2007 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi...is there a reason you're not on any 5ASA meds?

Yes, you should be concerned, you're starting to flare again. If you don't want to be on prednisone again..you don't have to...if you can try the 5ASA meds, both oral and rectal that would be good. You can also boost or supplement the 5ASA rectal med with a steroid one....or the steroid one with a 5ASA one.

The other option is to go on the 5ASA meds and maybe have a quick taper of pred...not longer 2 weeks.


quincy
Posted 12/11/2007 7:26 PM (GMT 0)

Quincy,

I'm on Asacol.  Is that a 5ASA med?

Posted 12/11/2007 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yes it is :)
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