how long until Pred kicks in

I've been on 40 mg of pred since Tuesday and it's helped a little, but I was hoping it'd be farther along now. I was going 12-15x per day with blood, D and mucus, severe tenemus and urgency. The blood, tenemus, urgency haven't gotten better at all and I'm still going 10x a day (as of today, and it's only 7pm, so I still have the evening left).

When should I start to see more improvement? I know it differs depending on extend of symptoms, how your body reacts, dosage. I just need to know there is an end in sight. I'm on this dose for two weeks total before I start to taper the following two weeks.

Also the doc wanted another scope and said on Mon that he would have his office schedule something with me sooner rather than later. He called in my prep kit to the pharmacy so I know it's on their radar, but I haven't heard anything from the office as to dates. Do I call on Monday and check in? I feel like I'm always bothering them...last time I was on Flagyl I was really nauseous and had to call for something. This time on Pred, I'm not sleeping and when I called for a aid, he said I had to contact my primary for something.

My worst flare took almost 2 weeks for 40 mgs of pred to make a dent in my symptoms. A much milder flare was tamed within 2 days on 20mgs of pred. It varies.

Yes it depends on the flare. I started 40 mg for a week went 30 mg for five days 20 mg for two days without improvement, so went back to 30 mg for the last three days. Will drop to 20 mg on Monday. I'm doing great with urgency just bleeding.

If 40 mgs of pred over a month hasn't done anything then it's time to talk IV steroids or cyclosporine.

When I was in my flare with the same symptoms you have, my gastroenterologist put me on 40mg for 5 days and tapered to 10, but when I wasn't seeing any dramatic improvement he immediately put me on 60 mg for 7 days tapering to 10 So, once I was on the 60 then 50 I saw urgency begin to slow down and bleeding stopped completely.

Hummm that's an idea- splitting up the dose. I'll try hat his am, and maybe take the 20 mg in early afternoon instead. I almost had two accidents yesterday and was literally exhausted by the trips and urgency. I literally was in tears and just lay in bed trying to fall asleep. I work at a college and the students come bac tomorrow. It's going to be one hell of a week if this holds up.

I think it depends. I've had it work almost overnight and I've had it take almost 2 weeks to get me feeling better. It hasn't been that long at all, be patient, I am sure you will be feeling much better in the next few days. Some people do have to take a higher dose to jump start things, but hopefully that's not the case and you will see lots of improvement over the next few days. I never split the dose personally... but it's worth a try. Did you get sleep aids? I could never sleep at all on pred.

I have been experiencing a flare up since probably Dec 6th. My doctor first put me on Budesonide after seeing no major change (after a week +) he made the decision to put my on Pred. I take two tablets twice a day for a total of 40mg. I noticed improvement that same night I took the medication. I was suffering form extreme epigastric pain due to the high levels of inflammation in my body. The stomach pain was unbearable and I had been dealing with it for more than two weeks. That same night after taking Pred. the pain went away. I also was passing about 10+ bloody bowel movements each day they soon decreased to 3-5 a day. However, blood is still present in each bowel movement. Today I had a colonoscopy performed and my doctor decided to double my dosage of Apriso and continue the Pred in order to try and push my body back into remission. I have faith that all of this works, it hasn't even been week that I have been taking the Pred. so I feel somewhat hopeful that it will clear up my flare up since I'm already showing improvements. Good Luck, I hope the medication kicks in for you and you start feeling better.
-J

Hey,
I'm sad to hear the pred isn't working as efficiently and quickly for you. Just give it some time, at least two-three weeks and then maybe start worrying. Maybe the levels of inflammation in your body are just extremely high and the medication just needs some time to kick in and start reducing the inflammation. I see you have a colonoscopy scheduled in two weeks, which is great your GI will be able to see how extreme the inflammation is and come up with a new treatment plan if the one your on right now isn't working. My GI thought this flare was extremely severe but when he actually took a look during my colonoscopy he said it wasn't mild but it wasn't severe, just moderate. Rest up & once again feel better.
-J