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Steroid Rectals? What kinds have you tried with what results?

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Posted 5/12/2014 9:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all:

I had posted about my current sort of flare/whatever the heck this is. I'm not where I was when dx...but have been in this limbo of symptoms for a few days, then days of OK, back to symptoms again...for about 6 months.

I'm considering trying a steroid rectal....as I feel my symptoms are at the very bottom (I think this b/c I'm not where I was when dx).

I will, of course, research on my own, but I like input from here...from real people who get it. Love this forum!

So, what steroid rectals have you tried? Did they work? I REALLY don't want steroid side effects, I don't think I'm sick enough for Pred...and I never want it anyway!

What has worked/not worked for you?

Thanks everyone!
Posted 5/12/2014 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
OH, and I am in the USA...I know some drugs are labeled differently in other countries.
Posted 5/12/2014 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
I have used hydrocortisone enemas, they were very helpful!
Posted 5/12/2014 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
There are foams and liquids of varying dosages. If you're wanting to add to use during the day, I'd suggest a foam.

I used a steroid foam once 25 years ago (for 2 weeks), while my doc was away and prescribed by another doctor.
It helped a lot, but went back to the mesalamine once my doc was back to prescribe them.

q
Posted 5/12/2014 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Ooh i just got prescribed predfoam and was anxious about all the steroids but embersglow1 and Marauder93 told me on my own topic that they should be fine. Defiantly agree with you, pred sucks can't seem to come off it. But this whole rectal medication is so new to me so i can't really give much input yet, but i'll creep around though :)
Posted 5/12/2014 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Would it be good for me to do a foam during the day and stay on mesalamine at night? Ia the foam not for retention? How long does it stay in?

Any input would be appreciated. ..I want to call my doc tomorrow. Meantime I'm reading alot here too
Posted 5/12/2014 10:22 PM (GMT 0)

momto2boys said...
I have used hydrocortisone enemas, they were very helpful!

Ditto. Hydrocort/Tevia/Cortisone enemas. Never had side effects from the enemas but will from pred.
The steroid enemas are thicker than rowasa. MUCH easier to retain and actually work better for me. If you can get 1/2 one in and chill out for 20 min. in floor you can usually get up and go on.
Posted 5/12/2014 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
c-o-t-o.....yes, the foam enemas are for retention. They're for use in the daytime or at bedtime...but since you use the mesalamine, use that at night. The foam is easier to retain than a liquid...

It's just a suggestion, however...

q
Posted 5/12/2014 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
I have tried a lot of different steroid rectals and I haven't had much luck going from flare to remission with them. I have had it where I had mild symptoms and the rectals helped to get me back on track but in the case where i was flaring badly, it usually requires more than a rectal for me. Maybe it's because those cases, things have already progressed beyond the rectum.
Posted 5/13/2014 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone...I've been reading other threads too...doing searches, etc.

I think I'm going to call my GI in the morning...so far I pretty much tell him what I want to try and if he agrees it's as easy as that. Hopefully he'll be for these steroid enemas. I do NOT want Pred!

NSSG...I know everyone's different...but I thought that was the beauty of steroids...they nipped inflammation in the bud! I "feel" like I'm flaring mainly in my rectum...when I was dx and in that flare...I had NO solid stool at all...and I was going more BMs, etc...and I only have UC through my sigmoid anyway...or at my last colonoscopy that was the case. So I was thinking the enemas would be more helpful.

Q...thanks as always for your advice

And to all who chimed in...thanks so much! I will post updates!
Posted 5/13/2014 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
The foam enemas have very low levels of steroids and extremely low systemic absorption. It would be unusual to have any systemic side effects from using them. It's not ideal to use them over the long long term, but that's years, not months.

The liquid steroid enemas (e.g. Cortenema) have greater systemic absorption, roughly equivalent to 10 mg of oral prednisone if you retain them, but that's more for more extensive inflammation anyway. If your inflammation is at the very bottom, a foam enema or even a suppository like Anucort would probably be really helpful.
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