Prednisone taper, allergic reactions n doc wants to switch me from asacol to entocort...what do ya'll think?

Hello Crohn's Forum dwellers!

This winter I had a wicked wicked flare-up and went to a GI for medication. A barium swallow/xray showed active crohn's inflammation & scarring. He put me on 800 mil of Asacol HD 3X daily and 40 mil prednisone around the beginning of January. After a few weeks the cramping and nausea stopped and I was able to eat again altho since then I have maintained a very limited diet.

Right around the time my flare symptoms subsided I got a very sore throat and swollen mouth. I was unable to swallow without discomfort and was quite hoarse but it beat having flare up symptoms. I was also supposed to begin tapering off the preds. I must admit I never took the full 40 mil a day as I cannot stand the speedy effects, but hovered right around 25 mil a day.

I dropped down to 2 800 mil Asacol a day and about 10 mil pred, and then began to bleed incredibly easily from my arms if I even so much as bumped them against anything. My arms were covered with red spots n scabs. So I dropped down to one 800 mil Asacol a day.

Now I've been on one Asacol HD a day for about 3 weeks and the free bleeding has subsided, but I still have swollen mouth, lips, and big ol itchy burny rash on my face which, when I try and drop below 10 mil prednisone a day, moves into my eyes in swells them in a most startling manner.

I went to my doc at the beginning of the week and he wants to take me off Asacol and put me on Entocort...there are several reasons I am baffled and unsure of this, including that my flare up has been in remission since mid January and at $1000 for a months supply, who can experiment with Entocort?

Sorry this is long but I'd love some advice!!!

Thanks
Pamela

$1000? That seems high. I just got my Entocort refilled, I don't have to pay for my prescriptions, but I still see the price, it was $161 for 100 capsules, which at 9mg a day is about a month's worth.

I'd love to know where you get your Entocort cause for the script my doc gave me, CVS quoted me $1300 for the month supply and Costco quoted me $1009

I'm Canadian, though I though drugs were cheaper in the US. I get mine from the base pharmacy, I'm in the military.. Until they kick me out.. But even when I got it from a Shopper's drug mart, it was pretty much the same price.

I have a coworker who was recently in the US with her step father. He got sick while they were there, when he came back to Canada, the meds that the US doc prescribed were way more expensive here than there. Maybe it's just certain drugs though.

More specifically my questions are..
1) has anyone had these sort of allergic reactions before? Might they be from the asacol or possibly from prednisone withdrawal?

2) Anyone think dropping the Asacol and changing to Entocort would be worth the expense?

Thanks so much
Pamela

Asacol to entocort: It's been a few years but I do recall I was on Entocort while moving from Asacol to Imuran. I got pancreatitis from Asacol, so had to give it up, and was on nothing while in the hospital for several days. Then the Entocort tided me over to something else (Imuran). It was good in a pinch, but I don't know about being on Entocort long-term. Good luck!

Thanks Joanne!

How has Imuran been for you?

Hi Auntie CoyoteVarlet!!! Pretty sure we know each other in real life, ha ha. Glad you finally joined the forum!! It's about time!

Hey You!
I've been lurking on this forum for awhile now but this is indeed my first post...and you can see I got more or less the same answer you gave me

Coyote, Imuran has been great for about 9 years. Although the possible side effects scared me half to death, I got my life back and have been able to travel and work with no problem! Lately I've been having liver numbers that aren't so great so I have reduced from 150 mg/day to 50 mg/day plus taking allopurinol with that, so now things are better. Crossing my fingers for year 10.

Glad to hear you're doing well Joanne!

I will check this medication out. Is it shockingly expensive like Entocort?

Auntie, glad you're getting good advice here. I just wanted to pop in and say hi.

Don't know about the cost! I have a small copay, Blue Cross. I'd have to research it.

Thanks again Joanne!

I'll find out about the cost when I talk with the GI about prescribing it

I have been on Entacourt for the first time for a month now, and I find it pefectly fine. Hardly any side effects, compared to Prednisone. Try it...the price of it in the U.S. is crazy...I think a months worth here in Canada was under $100. But I would give it a try.

Hmmm I wonder if one can use American prescriptions in Canada? I'll be in Buffalo NY later this month

Have you checked out Walmart or Rite Aide for pricing of your Rx? We discovered after the fact that Rite Aide was cheaper than Walmart for Lovenox injections.

Sadly enough Walmart pharmacy referred me to Costco to get a cheaper price on Entocort