HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

cortenema vs. cortifoam enema

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/17/2009 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
I asked my GI for the foam she called in the cortenema, the same but different she said. I was reading on here how most like the foam are they both steriods anyways?

Just curious. I have Rowasa but that doesn't do much for me.

Posted 4/17/2009 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've never used the foam. The cortenema works miracles for me. Like I mentioned before, after the first day of using it, I noticed improvement. My biggest issue is being disciplined enough to do it daily. I often skip nights because I'm out late, it's such an inconvenient drug!
Posted 4/17/2009 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
my pharmacy won't have until Monday, should I see if another in the area has it?

Posted 4/17/2009 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
They are basically one in the same.

:)
Posted 4/18/2009 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Is the hydrocortisone suppositories pretty much the same thing too?
Posted 4/18/2009 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
Though they could be the same drug, just in different ways of application, then can still work differently based on how your body tolerates them.

For example, I could retain the cortifoam much longer than a liquid enema. Or some people prefer the mesalamine enema to the mesalamine suppository. Whatever works best for you.
Posted 4/18/2009 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yes they're both steroids but the foam will only reach the rectal area while the enema will reach higher up to the sigmoid. I personally have liked the enemas because to me they are much easier to use then the foam. I could never get the knack of getting the foam into the application syringe - I guess I'm not coordinated enough! lol
Posted 4/18/2009 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
The different formulations are also different med dosage amounts. The proctofoam has less medication per dosage than the cortifoam.

The suppositories would have less medication per dosage then the enemas.

One can use the supps more than once a day....and they can be stacked if that's the only form of medication one can retain.

q
Posted 5/17/2010 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
How far up the colon do the enemas reach?
Posted 7/14/2010 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Who can afford this? Just got a call from my pharmacy and the co pay for 6 bottles ( have radiation proctitis since 2005, when I was treated for prostate cancer ) is close to $80.00.
That's too high, but what makes it worse is that it's retail I was told is over a thousand dollars. This would collapse the "donut hole" and then all my 6 prescriptions would be impossible to afford.
I still work in addition to a small pension and Social Security. Not enough money in our budget to live, as the supplements to medicare are another $180. a month.
At least I won't have my home taken away as that happened already.
Where is all that "help" that our leadership was supposed to provide?
I can still buy epson salts and hot water. Guess it's a good sits when I have time, and painkillers. Hope it won't get worse.
Posted 7/17/2010 7:49 PM (GMT 0)

KrissyUC said...
How far up the colon do the enemas reach?

They can reach all the way up the left side. Cortifoam reaches about 10-12 cm for most people.
Posted 7/18/2010 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
I have proctosigmoiditis about 13 cm. and the foam seems to work ok - most of my inflammation being rectal.  IF I could tolerate the enemas, I believe they are the best - I just can't administer them properly or retain enough.  I use Cortifoam about once or twice a week along with Anusol suppositories (doctor says that is for the very LAST end of the rectum!!  I consider myself in remission - 99% of the time.

I also have IBS so problems never go away entirely!

ElaineNY

Posted 7/18/2010 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
I think Cortifoam is under-utilized by most GI docs. Some of the worst symptoms come from the last part of the sigmoid colon and the rectum, and most flares start there.

Cortifoam is super easy to retain, it is much safer than oral steroids, and for me it works like magic.

If your symptoms are mostly urgency, rectal pain, and bloody mucous, I would check with your GI doc about using cortifoam, especially if you can't tolerate mesalamine enemas, or if they are not effective.

Just my $.02
Posted 7/18/2010 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
I totally agree about Cortifoam.  After taking prednisone for 5 months and new doctor tapering me off slowly - he added the Cortifoam and Anusol - two to three times a DAY!  Soon no more rectal pressure, pain, mucous/blood, etc.  Worked and keeps on working for me - hope it continues!

ElaineNY

Posted 7/18/2010 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
A couple of other advantages of the foam are the applicator is much more comfortable than the enemas and the foam is super sticky adhering to the walls of the colon better. The applicator is an injector type and it can be pressed quickly and firmly which helps squirt the foam higher if desired (albeit less so than the enema bottles). The foam applicator also allows all of the product to be used where the enema has to be squeezed to death and while inserted in our fragile rectums.

I wish they would approve a rowasa foam as it has less side effects and has been proven to be as effective as based rectal treatments. I posted the long term study results here sometime ago.
Posted 7/19/2010 2:41 AM (GMT 0)

bbc said...

I wish they would approve a rowasa foam as it has less side effects and has been proven to be as effective as based rectal treatments. I posted the long term study results here sometime ago.

Do you know why rowasa foam is not available in the U.S.? Asacol foam is available in Europe. Foam is great if you need to be active. Retaining a watery enema usually requires just lying there and not standing up or walking around too much.

I wonder if it is a patent issue, or perhaps the cost of getting the FDA to approve it is prohibitive based on the limited demand that could be expected for the product.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply