How did you stop Cortiment (budesonide mmx)?

I have been on cortiment (budesonide mmx) for more than 2 months now. Almost 3 weeks ago, I noticed that I started to get large stools that are very difficult to be expelled. It's not constipation as they're soft. I attribute this to cortiment.My bms have always been very loose and easy to pass. My GI didn't mention that I should taper it . It did neither alleviate rectal pain nor did it reduce left sided distention. want to taper it and see what happens to my bms.

I did a ton of research on this drug. I have some sitting in my medicine cabinet, actually. I decided to give mesalamine one last whirl before surrendering to it, and as luck would have it---with patience I got lucky. I never used it, but this is one thing that stuck out to me :

"Budesonide also can be tapered gradually from the initial dose of 9 mg to 6-mg and 3-mg doses. Budesonide suppresses the adrenocortical axis, so physicians should monitor patient symptoms and evaluate for adrenal insufficiency. If a corticosteroid dose cannot be tapered, antimetabolite or infliximab therapy is needed."

It's from this page:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0201/p410.html


Maybe this is antiquated information though? it sounds like iPoop doesn't think it needs tapering? the paragraph I posted here does seem extreme.I'd probably keep on reading before making a solid plan though.

I am a really weird creature and everything I takes seems to have a magnified effect on me. I need to taper both ON and OFF things that most people would scoff at. Just how my body works. So I had planned on doing that with the Uceris, too (had I needed to use it).

As far as large stools go.....I am not understanding it. they are soft but STILL hard to pass?are you consuming large amounts of indigestible foods? maybe a change in diet that could have snuck up on you?

I ended up with some huge stools, too (that really burned my bum) and I figured out that it was due, at least in part, to adding psyllium seed powder. I dropped it for now and things settled back down. Good luck !

iPoop and MarjieKay, thank you.

Well, I have been on entocort for five years and a half and I always had the concern how would I stop it. This was done very smoothly when I switched to cortiment (budesonide mmx). Would be tapering it be that smooth esp that I have been on steroids for more than 6 years (I started pred a year prior to taking entocort).

I started today taking cortiment every other day and will see how things will go on.

Quincy, thank you very much. Yes, I have a perianal fistula and I can't retain pentasa enemas any more as they are liquid and the suppositories are ineffective. I'll take colifoam every other day as my GI recommended. If it turns out not tobe effective, I'll return to a daily basis.