HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Doc wants to switch me to something stronger... Lialda not working

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/12/2014 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
Saw my specialist today and after 3 years of me taking Lialda, he thinks I need to step up to something if my prednisone taper doesn't work.

Apparently there is new research that now says biologics like Humira should be the first line defense on initial diagnosis of UC. Don't quote me on that.. just paraphrasing my doc had read about. I don't think I'm at the point of needing a biologic, though.

He did, however, mention 2 options:

Imuran -- I'm somewhat interested in going this route since it seems like the success rate is high as long as your bloodwork stays healthy. I like that it's a common formula so the cost should be low and no need to dink around with pharmacy discount cards. It is scary to take an immunosuppressant, but that's a risk I'm willing to take if I can not be a dribbling mess of mucous and gas in my day-to-day life.

A new 8 week steroid? I don't think this was suggested as a replacement to Lialda, but apparently its a newer steroid that can be taken for a long time since it doesn't absorb into the blood as well as prednisone. I didn't hear a name, though.
Posted 3/12/2014 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Uceris. If you do a search on here you will find some people taking it and their results.
I am going to be switching off Prednisone to try it soon, myself.

I would think Uceris would be good to try to get you into remission if prednisone has worked in the past but isnt quite cutting it now. It is VERY expensive though.

IMHO, Imuran is a great next step. That is what I would like to try next as well.

I am sure you will get a slew of replies about adding Rectal Meds as well.
Posted 3/12/2014 6:01 AM (GMT 0)

embersglow1 said...
Uceris. If you do a search on here you will find some people taking it and their results.
I am going to be switching off Prednisone to try it soon, myself.

I would think Uceris would be good to try to get you into remission if prednisone has worked in the past but isnt quite cutting it now. It is VERY expensive though.

IMHO, Imuran is a great next step. That is what I would like to try next as well.

I am sure you will get a slew of replies about adding Rectal Meds as well.

Thanks. Uceris sounds right. I've been fortunate enough to only need a pred taper maybe once a year, so the simple generic stuff usually gets me free and clear again.

I have NO problem with rectal meds, but they are darn near impossible to retain with urgency/gas, and I think my current flare is a small section too high for rectal meds to reach, and just low enough that Lialda won't touch it. Canasa isn't cheap and I don't like the idea of "flushing money down the toilet". hehe.
Posted 3/12/2014 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
Haha... every nasty diarrhea poop I take reminds me how much of my money is just going down that toilet :P

Well hopefully the prednisone works for you, like usual. And you can get back to your life! :) :)
Posted 3/12/2014 10:46 AM (GMT 0)
6mp is available in generic and Imuran may be as well.
Posted 3/12/2014 12:04 PM (GMT 0)
Uceris has a very nice pharmacy discount card.
Posted 3/12/2014 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
The urgency is a sign of rectal inflammation though so you need the rectal meds. Make sure you are getting the air out or it will be even harder to retain. And what I would do if you can't retain long is only do half of it and then if you have to go to the bathroom do the other half. It is still more medication cutting it in half then if you were doing suppositories which I currently use with great results.
Posted 3/12/2014 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
I chose 6mp for the same reasons you like imuran. It's inexpensive and easy - I take a half a pill a day. I hated the idea of expensive biologics that I couldn't afford if I were uninsured. I do understand that often there are no other options... I was doing great on 6mp for a few years, recently, I've been dealing with a flare up and I am taking Uceris with good results. It's an 8 week course. I hope I can stop it without having to add a biologic. There are some bad points to 6mp/Imuran. They take a long time to get into your system. It can take months to see results. They require frequent blood work when starting. I think it's every 2 weeks for a month, and depending on how things work for you, you can go down to every 3 months - still a lot more than normal people. I was getting lood drawn every few weeks for months because my blood work wasn't right...
Posted 3/12/2014 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
yup, what sheri said - darn near impossible to retain should become pretty much always able to retain with continued use -
Posted 3/12/2014 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
Yup, mesalamine enemas and try just using half.
Posted 3/12/2014 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Agree with mesalamine enemas...possibly Cortifoam in the am to help minimize inflammation which will help u retain the enema.
Posted 3/12/2014 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
I used Uceris, ($25 copay card) and it wasn't successful. Not saying it won't be for you, just wasn't strong enough. It is coated to not release until it hits your colon, so it has no side effects like Prednisone...it had none for me, so that's a good thing....it just wasn't strong enough was all.

I wound up on prednisone after that, which still wasn't working so I wound up on Simponi which now is...so that maybe was the problem, so it may work for you.....give it a try!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply