Rowasa or Cortenema?

Rowasa or Cortenema - which is better?

My son has been flaring since late March. Did a quick Prednisone burst (40 for a week, 30 for a week, then I had him do 25 since he was much improved, but not all the way there) that went really well at first, but not so well when he got to 20/15 range. He hates Pred and doesn't want to go back up in dosage, but is willing to try one of the enemas. Which one is best?

He has also had his Lialda raised to 4 per day from 2, his Aza raised from100 to 150mg since he as grown so much since the former dose was rx'd and is doing proctofoam the nights he remembers and culturelle when he remembers.

He just moved back from college so hopefully he can get caught back up on some much needed rest.

Thanks!!

I think cortenema may be more effective for getting him into remission but it can't be used indefinitely like Rowasa can. I would get a script for both and use cortenema at night until he's feeling stable and then try to alternate with Rowasa. When I was at my worst, I was using rectals morning and night. usually I would use Cortifoam at night and Canasa in the morning. I've heard proctofoam is very low dose.

Has he has his imuran levels checked?

keylime, I was unable to get into the theraputic range and I was able to add allopurinol to help get me into range. Usually you can lower your dose of Imuran to about a quarter and add allopurinol (used for gout) and that brings down toxicity. I am not sure if this would help him but it is worth mentioning to your GI. I can't believe you've been using proctofoam and thinking it was like cortifoam, haha. It's good that you're going to be able to get the cortifoam tomorrow. I can't see how 1% would be very helpful, especially for some of us who have moderate inflammation. Cortifoam is very expensive with my insurance, I always hated buying it but sometimes it is necessary.

Which enema he should use right now depends on his symptoms (extent of inflammation). If he has bleeding the hydrocortisone enemas would likely be more effective sooner. They also have a systemic effect after a few weeks of use, whereas mesalamine enemas just act topically. RE Proctofoam-- it is really a hemhorroid treatment. It's not only weaker than Cortofoam; the applicator it comes with doesn't put the foam as far up. Sorry your son is flaring now while in college-- does he feel stressed? Rest & better food at home will likely help him get back in remission soon. Best wishes! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Hi Songlady. I didn't know if anyone would remember me :)

Thankfully son did great his first year of college. I was really hard on me, though :) Thankfully we have a wonderful university here in town with a very strong engineering program. Son is in a Fraternity and lived there. I barely saw him the first semester with pledging and all that that involved (cough...hazing). Thankfully he made it through all that without flaring. He didn't flare until the last 5 weeks of school. Second semester I got to see him sometimes weekly, but usually only for about 5 mins.

Before he left for school, I bought a couple months worth of those weekly pill containers and would fill them ahead of time. It worked really well. Also what worked in our situation was that I have a key to his Jeep so we were able to trade out empties for refilled ones every few weeks. It also worked well for helping him out with his laundry, LOL. about weekly I would get a text telling me there was laundry in his car. I'd pick it up and return it the next day.

Academically he did great!! He is a Chemical Engineer/Bio-medical major. He got a 4.0 the first semester and a 3.8 this semester (president's and dean's honor rolls). He made top three freshman Greek men (out of about 600-700 young men). He's been asked to be an engineering success coach for the eng dept next year. He made the top 10 pledge members in his Frat house. Was chosen to be on the Student Foundation (only choose 50 from the whole campus) and then was appointed to the executive board. That's all I can think of off the top of my head - can you tell I am a proud Momma??

I would have like to have put a disability plan in place, but he said no. I was so nervous about the bathroom situation at the Frat house - communal bathroom!!! NO stalls, just a row of toilets. It didn't seem to bother him. Feel free to ask any other questions you might have.

One thing I will recommend - make sure he signs releases with his doctors so that they can communicate with you on his behalf.

What drugs does your son take for his UC?

Is he your oldest child. I remember this time last year how bittersweet it all was. So much happy and sad! Then when he moved out, the first few days when I would pass his room in the morning when I first got up, it would hit me that he didn't live here anymore. I lost my Dad just before that so it just seemed like a time of goodbyes that I wasn't ready to make.

Write me anytime. I'd love to keep in touch since we have so much in common!!

I feel bad that I avoid this board when things are going well, but then only come around when I need support - kind of selfish, but with two kids with this, when times are good, I have to take a step away and at least for the time being pretend that life if just fine.

Julie

Post Edited (keylime) : 5/13/2011 6:50:17 AM (GMT-6)