When to go on Pred?

I have been flaring for about 2 1/2 months now.

My doctor does not want to put me on pred again.  I have been having 1 flare a year for hte past 3 years.

He just switched my meds but he did not put me on pred this time.

I am going about 5-8 times a day to the bathroom. bloody mucus sometimes.  Mostly diareaa but sometimes normal.

YOu can read below what meds I am taking. I have been on them since October.

When should I start to insist I need Pred? This is the first time I have been on a flare without any meds. I did lost 13 pounds in the past 2 months but holding steady the past 2 weeks.

 

He wants to add 6mp. But I really don't want to take it b/c of the side effects. Also he wanted me to start on 100mg of it which from what I read the side effects can be worse than pred at that level of 6mp. The only side effects that I have gotten from pred. was acne, increase hunger, and the swollen face.

When I was on 6mp in the late 1990s there was not much known about the drug or the side effects. I took it anyway because I was desperate to gain remission. It has since been proven to be a very benign drug at the dosages we take it at. However, that is not true with prednisone. Prednisone, even at low doses for short periods of time, can have life long detrimental side effects with bone loss and damage to joints. I took prednsione in varying dosages for 2.5 years. It was a drug that helped me maintain my health while I waited for the 6mp to kick in (it never did). I took the prednisone because again, I was desperate. I came out of the pred years (it's been over 7 years since my last dose) with no long term damage but I know that was just probably luck with a bit of preventative measure thrown in.

I do think GIs that don't prescribe pred for moderate flares should be commended.

Sue

My experience agrees with kickboxer's. If the flare is not severe, and it sounds like yours isn't, a short course of pred at a moderate dose and tapering quickly could be just what you need. As I said in the other pred thread, side effects are less likely when taken this way and any mild effects you experience will be reversible.

I also worried more about being on a powerful immunosuppresant long-term. One of my docs, back in the beginning when I was flaring terribly, put me on 6mp against my better judgment. After three months, there was no noticeable improvement in my condition, yet my hair was falling out and my nails were growing odd horizontal ridges. I got off it and have maintained long-term remission without going that route.

Mrsarcasm, just wanted to tell you vsl#3 or any other probiotic might be ineffective when you take anti-biotic, and it might take much longer than 3 weeks for them to work.

     Have you tried Rowasa or Cort enemas?  I would try the probiotics too.  My GI doctor put me on probiotics, as did my nutritionist.

     Prednisone helps me kick start remission but it also left me with osteoporosis.

 

     The enemas were difficult for me to keep in too.  That is why one of the GI doctors in the hospital suggested Canasa suppositories.  They helped somewhat but the ememas are able to treat the UC further into the rectal area which is where my UC is located.

Mrsarcasm....where in the colon is your UC..limited or throughout?

I have at least one flare a year...although mine are considerably minor compared to the first 4 years.

Since your flare started and you were on the Rowasa, has it improved at all? Were you put on the Colazal and the Rowasa at the same time?

Why were you switched from Asacol?

Are you bleeding at all?

Has your doctor taken stool samples to rule out any gastro bugs?

I suggest you continue the Rowasa unless your symptoms are not improving at all.

Some patients seem to have diarrhea from the Colazal...but I wouldn't think it would be 8 times daily.

quincy