Really not a lot of choices with UC

I was sort of surprised to find out the following. First we've got the Mesalamine drugs:

Canasa
Apriso
Lialda
Asacol
Rowasa

Then we have several chemotherapy drugs:

MP6
Remicade

Then of course Prednisone and other lower versions of cortisone:

Cortifoam
Hydrocortisone enemas
Hydrocortisone suppostitories

So there you have it folks. Choose your poison! It's not like we have a whole lot of categories to choose from. No wonder our doctors are always scratching their foreheads and shuffling us from category to category. LOL

John

The options are limited but there are some options that aren't always mentioned, such as antibiotics.

Did you read the resources sticky? It goes through a lot more options, including alernatives. It's sticky on the forum main page.

As pluot said, Remicade is not a chemotherapy drug, it's a biologic. There are a few biologics available now.

Good one soy dud ;p

Yeah, my post is really simplistic I realized it later. I also forgot Delzicol. I READ where MP6 and Remicade are both chemotherapy drugs, my doctor referred to them as both "biologics."

Anyway what really surprised me the most was Canasa, Delzicol, Asacol, Asacol HD, Lialda, Apriso, and Rowasa are really all the same medication (Mesalamine!).

I think I need some Mesalamine stock!!

John

There's a lot more choices than when I had UC. My last year of UC was 2001; the drug choices were the enemas, Pentasa, Asacol, 6MP and Imuran.

Sue

I'm going to be the dissenter here and agree that there really are few choices. Most of them are the same darn thing, just with different names. I'm not looking forward to my next GI appointment at the end of September. I could be doing better and he will tell me that there are several choices and I am going to tell him that I do not want long term prednisone, Imuran, 6MP, Remicade, or Humira and his face will drop down to the floor and he will be speechless.

I'm either allergic or non-responsive to the choices (except cortifoam but that only aids with proctitis) sickening disease this IBD is.

Jonny,

There are lot of diseases that are misunderstood and don't have concrete treatment plans. And I know from experience that it stinks when you have one of those conditions. However, GIs aren't researchers and after a full day of taking care of patients, I don't think they have the time to go home and pursue research on IBD. They know as much as they know which is not much because it's a complex disease and if you stick around on this board you will see that there are no two UC patients that are alike. Some of us respond to western meds, some to diet, some to alternative treatments. I know from my own illness that when I started working with my GI, I felt more in control of the options that were given to me.

Sue

"Jonny,

There are lot of diseases that are misunderstood and don't have concrete treatment plans. And I know from experience that it stinks when you have one of those conditions. However, GIs aren't researchers and after a full day of taking care of patients, I don't think they have the time to go home and pursue research on IBD. They know as much as they know which is not much because it's a complex disease and if you stick around on this board you will see that there are no two UC patients that are alike. Some of us respond to western meds, some to diet, some to alternative treatments. I know from my own illness that when I started working with my GI, I felt more in control of the options that were given to me.

Sue"

agree 800% !

 

Right, as some have said, there are other choices.

And probiotics have done a lot for me.

When I first had UC, the choices were Sulfasalazine, Pred (pill or IV).. and I had some cortifoam in those early years. (If there were steroid enemas I ddn't know.)

Before Rowasa was approved, my GI asked if I'd like to experiment: I mixed up oral sulfasalazine, orange flavored, yet!! and used a traditional enema bottle to administer it. (This calls for so many jokes.....)

And it was a BIG deal when I could ditch the sulfa and switch to Asacol. So..... from my perspective, we've come a long way in the past 25 years, and research is heading into good directions!

protocolteck said...
Totally agree, pb4. My GI is the same way and is also well known in his field. I think the best GI's (and other Dr's) are always looking ways to treat better. My GI told me that he has went from RXing meds only to looking for natural and dietary breakthroughs for his mild and moderate cases. He has mentioned that more and more of his patients are finding relief naturally or naturally + meds (extreme cases always require meds). When new U.C. meds come out, he will not RX them for the first year to monitor all the side effects that can be much worse than U.C.

Does your GI also have his own radio show? I'm seeking a GI willing to treat me natural before meds and I'm willing to travel.  Saw info about one in your area that sounds similar.

Adventureuc-No, he does not have a radio show but does speak a great deal. He has been practicing in Scottsdale for over 20 years and had 3 different MD's (who do not work together) refer him to me in a 3 month span. I am very pleased.

I know what you mean songlady. I was diagnosed only 3 years ago and hopefully in 25 years - if I last that long - I'll also be talking about how many more options have become available.

My GI's advice is very much meds only - any additional advice about diet, lifestyle or anything else and he does not have much to say.

It's just SOOOOO frustrating to think that the current mesalazine/immunosuppresant/biologics is the best we've got to hope for! Nightmare!

Post Edited (Jonny_Murray) : 8/26/2013 4:55:27 PM (GMT-6)