Entocort Dosing Question

[Sue777]

Hi All.
I was put on Entocort (budesonide) about a year ago and it worked wonders (for my collagenous colitis). I weaned off of 9 to 6 mg, then down to 3, then zero. I was in remission for about two months but then started flaring again. So the obvious answer would be to start taking it again, BUT.... here's my dilemma:

I had my thyroid removed last July (Graves Disease) and have been battling to find the right dosage of replacement hormone. We were just about there but then my levels made a rapid change, and the only reason we can come up with is maybe my coming off the Entocort. Could the Entocort have been affecting the way I absorbed my thyroid med? So here I am close to getting my thyroid meds back to the right place, but if I start up my Entocort again, is it going to mess up my thyroid meds again? SO FRUSTRATING!

I think what I'm going to do is only take ONE Entocort (3 mg) and see if I can get some colitis relief without throwing off my thyroid levels too much. But is there any benefit in only taking one Budesonide, or should I bite the bullet and go back to full dose?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Sue

 

[theOcean]

I'm not sure about entocort, but I think that being on prednisone mimics hyperthyroid and once you're off of it, people can sometimes swing into hypothyroid if not have it induced by being on prednisone.

Alternatively, if you've been sick you may be malabsorbing your medication (which happens, as well as with nutrients) which can explain why you're having issues with your thyroid.

 

[Sue777]

Hi, and thanks for the reply. Actually, my thyroid levels were very close to being good while I was on the Entocort.... it's when I went off the Entocort that my thyroid levels went drastically MORE hyper. That makes me think that I wasn't absorbing the thyroid meds as well while I was on Entocort, and that once those were removed from the equation, I was absorbing more thyroid med causing me to become hyper. (I'm on meds to add thyroid hormone to my system since I have no thyroid).

Since I can't go on indefinitely with this chronic diarrhea, I have no choice to put myself back on Entocort and deal with the thyroid issues that come with it.

I'm going to set my alarm for 4:00 a.m. and take my thyroid med at that time, HOPING that if I wait a full four hours between that and the Entocort that maybe there won't be as much interference?

God knows I love a challenge, but I'd love a break once in a while, too (as I'm sure we all would)
Sue

 

[theOcean]

One of my family members had her thyroid gland removed, so I understand! I'm assuming you have an endocrinologist you can hopefully talk to about it? Maybe they would have some tips for you?

 

[Sue777]

He had never heard of Entocort affecting thyroid meds, but as with most anything in our very unique bodies, anything is possible. Just like with our intestinal issues, lots of thyroid issues are "try it and let's see what happens" so I am going to start taking just ONE Entocort a day, see if I can find some colitis relief, and not upset my thyroid levels. If one Entocort doesn't do it I'll try two, and hopefully getting up at 4:00 a.m. to take the thyroid med will leave enough of a time buffer to not upset the apple cart.

Every time you think you find the answer, they change the question.
Sue