Steroid enemas

Are steroid enemas helpful for people with pancolitis? Prednisone always works wonders for me but I think I'd like to maybe try an enema. Not sure if it would work on me though since my UC affects my entire colon and enemas only go so far. They have less side effects than pred though right? Like as far as crazy hunger and moon face? Do you have to taper them at all like pred?

Calling my GI on Monday cuz I'm flaring a bit and it's driving me crazy especially since I have a trip coming up next week. Gonna ask to take pred on it but want to see if an enema would help. Also gonna ask about trying 6MP. Imuran vomit was too much for me but 6MP is metabolized differently so it's worth a shot. It's coming up to my next infusion so I'm wondering if I just need to adjust my schedule. Gonna talk to my GI about it all just wanted to hear your thoughts.

I agree with DB, enemas are very helpful if your inflammation is lower.

It could be helpful but keep in mind that enemas can only go up so far and cover only so much of an area...they tend to work well for the rectum but probably don't reach far up enough from there to make any impact in the lowest part of the colon connected to the rectum.

I am starting steroid enemas and I have pancolitis. My inflammation at the moment is only limited to the rectum so it's a good starting point for me. I also take 150mg a day which I kind of am wondering if it is not as effective after 4 years now. Best to give the enemas a go and also take your oral meds and or remicade to treat from both sides.

Lol DMC I was wondering the same thing. I first read it as steroids but was like uh no way would a doctor allow that. His signature says Imuran so I'm assuming that's what he meant lol.

I'm not sure if the enemas will help but I'm still going to ask. I honestly can't wait for tomorrow morning so I can call and have them fill a scrip for pred. I wish I had my infusion tomorrow but it's not until next Monday.

Also, does anyone know if you can get samples of 6MP from your doctor? Since Imuran didn't agree with me I'm not sure how I'll do on it so it would be nice if I could just get like a week's worth or something instead of paying for a whole bottle and it going to waste if I throw it up. I seriously have a stash of failed meds at home lol.

Sara - Did you always have pancolitis? Like the first time you took them did you have it? Or was it less severe and that's why it worked the first time and not after? I just think it's worth a shot. Straight to the source lol. And you don't have to take them as frequently right? Wondering also if I did a steroid enema if I could still take pred, but a smaller dose. Like instead of taking 20mg of pred, take 10mg and do a steroid enema.

I dont believe the extent of disease had changed but didnt have a scope the first time I went on them so not totally sure. I think drugs just stop working dor us sometimes. A lot of people speak of oral prednisone losing effectiveness as well.

Oh -- and yes, enemas can work with pancolitis as long as you're on some kind of oral med as well. And yes, far fewer side effects than pred. I had no side effects with the enemas. And yes, you should taper them (like any enemas), so you dont flare again, but the taper is not as slow as with pred. Sorry, didnt read your entire post initially.

Cortifoam always does the trick for me.