Entocort

[Margie63]

My doctor has prescribed Entocort 9 mgs. daily for a zip of 8 weeks. I am sure he will taper at some point during this but my question is my daughter was on Prednisone and developed the horrid moon face, facial hair, back hair and at 19 she was devastated.

Can anyone tell me their experience with short zips of Entocort treatment? She will be starting Remicade in two weeks as the 6mp is not working for her at all. I am hoping it will be the miracle drug for her as it has for some others.

Thanks.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I was on Entocort for a total of 7 months (3 months at 9 mg - my GI told me to taper after 6 weeks, but I flared up again so he kept me at 9 mg for another 6 weeks - the other 4 months I was at 6 mg). So, I definitely wasn't on a quick burst of it, but even so I didn't experience many side effects. I didn't get moon face. I did gain some weight, but I really only gained back what I had lost during the time that I wasn't on any meds. I started at 136 lbs when I was healthy, then dropped down to about 115, and on Entocort I got up to about 140. So not a bad weight gain. The one side effect I experienced was headaches. I had nonstop headaches from the moment I awoke until the moment I went to sleep. My GI put me on Amitriptyline as well and that stopped the headaches pretty much in their tracks.

8 weeks is actually a pretty short time to be on Entocort, since it can take anywhere from a week to a month to kick in. It doesn't kick in right away like prednisone usually does. But, like I said, it should have much fewer side effects than pred, so I'm guessing your daughter will probably like it better. Pred goes into the bloodstream and effects everything in the body, which is why it's got so many side effects. Entocort has a special coating so it doesn't go into the bloodstream, it just goes to the terminal ileum/cecum/right colon area and works its magic there. Anyway, I'm rambling, but I hope your daughter has good luck with the Ento and with the Remicade!

 

[Margie63]

Thanks

Thanks Catatonic for your quick response. Definitely eased my mind some. Have a great day.

 

[Astra]

Me too Margie
I've been on it twice, it's quite mild compared to Pred, non systemic, which means it'll only go to point of inflammation (usually the small bowel) and not the whole system.
Entocort needs at least 8 weeks at 9mg to work, then a month at 6mg then a month at 3mg. And 3mg can be used for up to 3 months to maintain.
Good luck
xxx

 

[Grant]

Concur with other posters, Entocort seems more gentle than Pred. Pred covers so many bases I guess & on that basis is the choice of many doctors, but IMO if they do their research properly & Crohns is only in the small bowel then really Entocort should be the drug of choice for a burst of suppressive action.
Rgds

1st symptoms 1983
Diagnosed 1985
1997 Right Hemicolectomy & Resection
2002 Laperotomy & Resection
2010 Laproscopic Ileocolic Resection

Been on Azathioprine & Pred

Currently on Entocort 3mg every other day
Humira 40mg every two weeks
Calcichew
Pentasa 4gm daily
3mthly B12 Jabs

 

[lj3]

i think the best thing about it is that as mentioned it isnt systemic! just dx and just started all i noticed so far is heart burn but that's kinda something im used to since i have had sx for 10 years now...

 

[bushydougie]

I've had very similar responses as others have had but I did still get bad skin especially when on 9mg. This was similar to how my skin reacted on pred
I hope your daughter does not have to suffer with any side effects whilst on entocort and it really helps her as it has helped me