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Cortifoam

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/23/2008 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'm having a mini flare that appears to just be impacting the tail end of my colon. We decided to treat it topically, using cortifoam and upping the Asacol to 3, 3X per day. I'm going to start the cortifoam tonite. He said it would probably work better than the canasa (which I keep blowing out due to the urgency "gotta poo" factor).

Any of you guys have experience with Cortifoam? How long did it take to kick in?
Posted 7/23/2008 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah I had the same issue with Canasa. It does no good if you're constantly going! I haven't used the Cortifoam in awhile but it's a little better b/c you use it at night so you have a better chance of letting it do its job.
Posted 7/23/2008 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
It helped me within 3-5 days. There is a mesalamine foam in existence, but unfortunately, it's still not available in the U.S.-- Europe, the UK, & Australia have it. Probably Canasa's producers want to hang on to their profits here so they keep it off the market somehow! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)

 

Posted 7/23/2008 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
LOOOOOOOVE cortifoam, it's the only thing that's ever helped with my proctitis (inflammation of the rectom)...it's individual on how quickly it will kick in, depends on you, the amount of inflammation you have, basically the severity of it and how well you respond to meds.

:)
Posted 7/24/2008 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
i have colifoam and was supposed to be using it for the last 2 months,, but i am such a bad girl cuz my bum is so uncomfortable and i go to the loo all night long, that the thought of inserting ANYTHING into my bum just gives me the jeebies.

i saw my doc yesterday and of course i got "tsk tsk'd"
so i will be back on it as of tonite.

it is usually good, i dont know why i was being stubborn and not using it.
stupid me
Posted 7/25/2008 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
I think cortifoam is great.  Works fast and it's easy to keep in so I use it throughout the day and in the evening.  Great to get the bleeding under control.

Posted 7/25/2008 1:38 AM (GMT 0)

Puffer rice --- you said you use Cortifoam throughout the day, evening?  My doc prescribed Proctofoam once before bedtime.  Does your doctor prescribe it for more than once a day?

ElaineNY

Posted 7/25/2008 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
I've only ever used my cortifoam just before bed during my least active time.

:)
Posted 7/25/2008 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor perscribed it for once a day but said that I could use it more often if needed.  So I alway use in after my many BMs in the morning during a flare and if I have been to the bathroom many times after that I will use it again.  At bedtime If I could keep an enema in I will do that for the evening but if I can't keep it in I will use the cortifoam again.  I find that if I use it at least 2 times a day it gets the bleeding and urgency under control faster than the salofalk enemas and suppositories that I also have.  The salofalk  suppositories I find helpful when things are under contol then I will stop the cortifoam and use them.

Posted 7/25/2008 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on the cortifoam for 2 days now (right before bedtime). I use it around 10, then get a BAD urge around 2. So I get up and go to the loo. Usually there isn't anything there but a lot of gas, mucous and some blood. My questions now are
1) Can you blow cortiform out (like canasa?) when you poo?
2) How long does it need to be in there to work?
Posted 7/25/2008 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
The good thing about the foam is it absorbs much quicker than those nasty suppositories, of course you can lose alot of it if you "go" just after putting it in that's why it's best to try and use it during your least active time of day or night to start with...the longer you can keep it in there the quicker it will likely work.

:)
Posted 7/25/2008 4:47 PM (GMT 0)

I would think that the cortifoam absorbs into the colon since its a foam but would ask a DR who knows.  As for the urgency hours after putting it in, I have the same problems and that is why the Dr said I could use it more than once a day.  It says right on the box 1-2times a day or after a BM.  I really don't know how quick it starts to work but I do know from using it that it works faster than the other rectal meds for gettting the bleeding and urgency under control. 

Are you taking enough probiotics during your flare, I always take alot when I'm flaring I definately see a difference when I increase them. 

Posted 7/25/2008 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
In europe we call Cortiofoam, Predfoam (that sounded like a line from pulp fiction!)

What is the standard dose size of one "shot" of Cortiofoam in the USA

Is it true that only 25% of a foam based steroid gets into the blood-stream compared to the same dosage of an oral based steroid.

In that case why dont the GIs always put us on rectal steroids first, at least when the flare is low in the colon
Posted 7/25/2008 4:55 PM (GMT 0)

My gastro doctor wanted to prescribe it first but I told him I have a hard time with "reaching" that area so he thought suppositories would be better.  However, Canasa did not seem to help much or go up far enough so I am now using Proctofoam which is mostly prescribed for hemmroids I understand.  Seems to be working slowly - but working to heal ulcers and cut down on bleeding.

Sometimes I can only get about 1/2 to remain in as I have to do it on the toilet and moving around I know some comes out.  My directions were to ly still for about 30 minutes so I do it before I go to bed. 

ElaineNY

Posted 7/25/2008 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
I'm still having some bleeding, but it's only been 2 days on the cortifoam. I'm having more blood today than yesterday, but I am also pooping more. I do feel better overall. So (fingers crossed) it's doing what it's supposed to do : )
Posted 7/26/2008 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
A very low (likely even lower than 25% of the steroid gets into the blood stream using rectal steroid meds compared to taking oral prednisone which is why there is virtually little to no side effects from using rectal steroid meds.

:)
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