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Just finished Prednisone a week ago and already having problems

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/2/2009 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Pred 3 times. The first time was actually because of an itchy skin condition that was out of control, then in Aug. and then about a month after that again for UC. I have been off of it about a week now and am already having problems with urgency, mucus and blood. I JUST finished the Pred. why is this happening already?!?
Posted 12/2/2009 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
What other meds are you on? it would be helpful to know that... You may have tapered off too fast, or you could be becoming steroid dependant.. I did after only taking it once.... Could be a few different reasons... Are you on any rectal meds?
Posted 12/2/2009 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
What other meds are you on? That'll help us with ideas/recommendations. Also, what was your starting dose and what was your taper like?

However, sometimes it takes a higher starting dose and/or a slower taper to do the trick. And, unfortunately, some people do become dependant on pred, and have to move on to meds like Remicade or have surgery.
Posted 12/2/2009 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I am taking Lialda twice a day - no rectal meds. I take Lexapro for depression and occasionaly valium for anxiety, Vit D, and Trazadone for sleep. I didn't realize that you could become steroid dependant that quickly. Does it sound like I am? What do you do then? Thanks so much!
Posted 12/2/2009 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I started out on 40 mg for Prednisone and tapered over about 5 weeks. I started it in the ER after I had to go in for IV fluids.
Posted 12/2/2009 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Nope, I think you need to add rectal meds, preferably mesalamine enema (Rowasa). :) I just threw that you there so you know it CAN happen. So are you taking 4 Lialda total? That's the maximum dose. Also, I'd add a probiotic supplement.
Posted 12/2/2009 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
I take a total of 2 Lialda a day, but took a total of 4 a day (max dose) for 3 weeks while on Pred. A long time ago I used Canasa, but that alone didn't seem to help. Is Rosasa similar to that? I have been meaning to get to Trader Joes to buy their probiotic supplement. Maybe I should try to get there sooner rather than later. It sounds like people are having some success with that.
Posted 12/2/2009 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I personally would stay at the maximum dose of Lialda until you've been off the pred and stable for a while. Rowasa has the same active ingredient as Canasa, but since it's an enema (liquid) instead of a suppository, it reaches much higher into the colon and therefore heals much better.
Posted 12/2/2009 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mickey.. Canasa is a suppository that does't reach further up than the rectal area in the colon.. Rowasa is the same med in a liquid enema, somewhere around 4 ounces that you insert at night before you go to bed and try to retain it all night. It reaches further up the colon (rectum, sigmoid and a bit of the descending colon) and can provide some relief if the Lialda isn't doing the trick down there. I used Rowasa for a couple of years and at first it did great for me.. Once you insert it, you might get a little crampy but if you just breathe through the cramping and keep that poopie hole shut... lol...things settle down and you don't even know it's in there till the next morning when you go... some people have a hard time keeping it in at first, but I was flaring pretty bad when I first used it and after a couple of minutes of breathing and concentrating after insertion.. I felt ok and was able to go to sleep. After about a week, it got to where I could just insert, and go to bed.. no cramping or anything.. easy peasy....
Posted 12/2/2009 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - I think five weeks is a pretty quick taper and it is possible that you were not totally healed. Sometimes a quick taper works but other times it does not. Did you have any symptoms at all at the lower dose of pred? I once tried to taper faster like you did but I was not successful. I had to go back on pred and slow the taper to just over two months....so far it is working for me.
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