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Prednisone enemas verses oral prednisone?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/26/2014 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, am wondering if anyone has used pred. enemas and if it was the same as taking oral pred.....I will not take pred. again orally as so hard to come off and had awful side effects. My Dr. says it is not the same as taking pred orally but would like to hear from others who have tried these enemas. Thanks!
Posted 11/26/2014 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
the enemas are usually hydrocortisone instead of pred, but both are in the same steroid family. (you can also get the budesonide (uceris) enema, but very very expensive)

with enemas, a lot less gets into your blood, so generally much less side effects. it is still for short to mid term use because it is a steroid and long term use can eventually have problems
Posted 11/26/2014 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Steroid based rectal meds like Cortifoam don't tend to cause near the side effects or any for many of us (myself included) compared to taking oral pred because it doesn't go into the blood stream the oral pred does.

I've been on Cortifoam for as long as a year before tapering off of it (so technically longer than a year) at one point years ago and I never once had any issues with being on for quite a long time daily.

Your GI should go over the pros and cons of all rectal meds before choosing the one that may be best for you.
Posted 11/26/2014 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Prednisone is 100% systematic. Rectal steroids are 10% systematic and 90% topical. So rectal steroids are equivalent to being on much lower dosages of steroids, as far as side effects go. Side effects still do occur, but in general, there are less and not as severe.
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