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uceris for maintenance of UC

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/30/2015 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
i went to a new GI dr for a second opinion because i am mesalamine intolerant. he suggested taking uceris as a maintenance medication. From what ive read, uceris is given for a flare up, and it not intended to be used as a maintenace medication. He said it is safe and contains a lesser dosage of steriods than a steriod enema, such as a hydrocortizone enema.
from everything ive read online about uceris, it really is not intended for long term use. Yet the dr says its ok.
can anyone help? thank you.
Posted 7/30/2015 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Uceris is a steroid and steroids can cause irreversible side effects (osteoporosis, glaucoma, and type ii diabetes) when taken long-term at any dose. There was some talk around the time uceris was being released of using it at a low dose for maintenance treatment, but that thought quickly went to the wayside. Uceris is 90 percent topical, but the rest goes into the bloodstream and causes issues elsewhere in the body.

If you're melamine intolerant, there's other uc medications you can take that are much safer than steroids. You're next stop on the uc medication ladder is immunosuppressive medications (Imuran, 6mp, or aza).
Posted 7/30/2015 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't want to be on Uceris long-term but I hate steroids. I was taking it for a while and my GI didn't seem concerned about me being on it for longer than the normal 8 week course. I think the biggest issue I had with Uceris is that it works for mild symptoms but over the course of my flare up, things progressed beyond what Uceris would manage. Eventually, Uceris wasn't controlling things, at that point, then what? You should just go for something that is more of a stable maintenance drug. I feel like Uceris is a band-aid and who wants to take steroids long-term even if it's low dose? It's a good bridge while you find something that works for you.
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