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Diagnosed with UC in February - prescribed MANY meds - nervous!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/28/2012 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

I am a 33 yr old female who was recently diagnosed with UC. What a road it has been so far! Lots of tests - colonoscopy, blood and stoll samples, endoscopy, ultrasound, and signoscopy (sp??). I am in currently in the midst of a really bad flare up which prompted me to go to the GI the other day. I was previously hesitant to go on meds but I decided that I should try. I have only taken two prescription meds in my life before this and the GI specialist prescribed the following:

Asocol
Prednisone
Cipro
Flagyl
Florostor
many vitamins

Excluding the vitamins, these total to 20 pills a day! Has anyone else been prescribed so many meds at once? I'm afraid my body is going to go into shock haha. But at this point, I am desperate to try anything as this disease has affected my work, marriage, social life, etc...

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give and hope you all have a nice day!
Posted 4/28/2012 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Your list of meds does not look crazy to me but for a first-timer on meds there is an off chance that you could be intolerant of at least two: Cipro and/or Asacol. You will know in a week if you get worse than you are now but I don't think your GI is whacko for Rx'ing you these all at once.

I am sensitive to Cipro, can't take it. Others here are intolerant of Asacol and other mesalamines. I hope you aren't sensitive to mesalamines because they are the first treatment (less side effects) for UC. The one med you are missing that many have success with is a mesalamine enema (Rowasa is brand name but also available generic). I urge you to request an Rx for this too even if your UC is located higher up, you'd be surprised how beneficial this enema can be to reduce inflammation and bleeding.

Sorry if I've added to your med count but hope you will consider it.
Posted 4/28/2012 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much! That makes me feel better. I will keep Rowasa in mind if I'm continuing to have issues. It does sound like that would help as I have been experiencing severe bleeding (now I'm anemic too) and inflammation.
Congratulations on being in remission. I hope I can be there at some point!
Posted 4/28/2012 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Taking so many medications CAN be a shocker for anyone, especially someone who normally don't take meds. But this is typical and normal in regards to help control Uc. I highly encourage you to ask your doc for the enemas right now instead of later. It should help you taper off the prednisone easier and faster. AND get you feeling better sooner as well.
Posted 4/28/2012 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Also voting for mesalamine enemas. They will def. help--- I think it is a more direct approach to the rectum/sigmoid area. Good luck--I know all of these meds are a shock.
B
Posted 4/28/2012 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
I also would try the enemas. In fact, I would do them along with your other meds before trying the pred. Pred works but the side effects stink.
Posted 4/28/2012 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
smd78, 

 I would agree with the others ask for either mesalamine or hycort enemas to start with along with your asacol.  Cortifoam is another great foam enema that is great to use during the day.

 I would try this first before swallowing the prednisone pills.  The enemas work wonders for many of us here, and are very effective.  Once you get use to using them they get easier to use and aren't that bad, plus less if any side effects from them.

Make sure you are taking a good quality probiotic a couple times a day.

Metamucil is also helpful for bulking the stool, absorbing the liquid in the colon and making the BM"s easier to pass.  Make sure you take the one without aspartame.

 

Posted 4/28/2012 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
I would avoid prednisone at all costs and try the antibiotics or asacol at first. i don't know why your doctor would prescribe all of that at once. how are you supposed to know which one works? i guess it's his way of bleeding you dry. i have never taken asacol so i'm not sure what is in that, but flagyl and cipro helped a lot with my bloating and gas.
Posted 4/28/2012 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
The pred is presumably to quickly induce remission, although I would be anxious about taking pred while also taking all the antibiotics - seems an odd combo, but I'm sure it's safe. The pred won't be for long (if you choose to take it at all - it should be a conversation with your GI about why he prescribed it, when he thinks you'll get off it and how will you decide what to do).
Posted 4/28/2012 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
     I hear ya!  I was diagnosed with UP (ulcerative proctitis) at the ripe old age of 52.  Up until then, I never took anything more than an antibiotic for upper respiratory infections (which I think were prescribed too often) and multivitamins.

     Before my operation...total colectomy with end ileostomy at age 63, I was taking anywhere from 17 to 25 pills daily plus rectal meds in ADDITION to calcium and a multivitamin AND probiotics rolleyes .  Unfortunately, the meds did absolutely nothing in my opinion.  Oh yea, the prednisone gave me full blown osteoporosis.

     I now take only one pill a day and that is for my blood pressure.  If only I knew then what I know now.

Posted 4/29/2012 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed at 32, 8 years ago and felt just like you do. I would take the meds and don't worry too much, be patient and see if you see results. Just watch the taper off pred. Ask for clear instructions, my doc forgot or else I was still groggy from the colonoscopy and it didn't,t register. I was so Leary of meds that I think I didn't,t take them long enough, or consistent enough, and I did worsen over time..
Posted 4/29/2012 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
It is a lot of pills but there are ways to get it down to a normal amount. Asacol has a larger pill called AsacolHD that some do well on. That would cut the number of pills in half. Pred, cipro and flagyl are all temporary. Probiotics and vitamins are a lot of trial and error. Not everything works for everyone. You have to see whether you feel like your condition is improving while taking them and access whether it is worth it. I take vitamin D and B12 and that's it as far as vitamins go.

I would try to avoid prednisone if it's an option. It really depends on how severe your condition is... I was in a bad flare up a few years ago and Asacol alone got me into remission. Maybe the same will happen for you. I use Canasa and mesalamine enemas along with the other medication. It can be alarming to see so many medicines but looking at your list, many are temporary.
Posted 4/30/2012 12:31 AM (GMT 0)

smd78 said...
Hello All,

I am a 33 yr old female who was recently diagnosed with UC. What a road it has been so far! Lots of tests - colonoscopy, blood and stoll samples, endoscopy, ultrasound, and signoscopy (sp??). I am in currently in the midst of a really bad flare up which prompted me to go to the GI the other day. I was previously hesitant to go on meds but I decided that I should try. I have only taken two prescription meds in my life before this and the GI specialist prescribed the following:

Asocol
Prednisone
Cipro
Flagyl
Florostor
many vitamins

Excluding the vitamins, these total to 20 pills a day! Has anyone else been prescribed so many meds at once? I'm afraid my body is going to go into shock haha. But at this point, I am desperate to try anything as this disease has affected my work, marriage, social life, etc...

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give and hope you all have a nice day!

Yep, same prescription I got to start on.

Asacol, Pred, Cipro and Flagyl (is usually just for 10 days or so to kill bacteria), but if you find that Cipro or flagyl (I cant remember which one) makes you feel off, stop taking it, I consulted with my doc and pharmacy.

Is Florostor a probiotic? Vitamins are good. How about fish oil? Any supplements?
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