Medication used to treat more severe cases of Crohn's?

[ninety]

I have crohn's in the ileum area , been taking entocort for 3 months and for the last month I've been having pain on the left side of my abdomen. I have almost no pain on my right side where my ileum is ( I guess the meds are really working on that side ). I'm now worried that the disease has spread to my left side. My dr. said that he might want to do another colonoscopy and from there on decide to alter my medication accordingly. My question is, any idea of what medication will be given in my case ? I just hope that it will be just as good as Entocort in the sense that this med has no or little side effects. I'm hearing about how people are taking Predisnode with more severe cases and how it is really bad with side effects and all I just hope I won't be prescribed that.

 

[CD68]

I have crohn's in the ileum area , been taking entocort for 3 months and for the last month I've been having pain on the left side of my abdomen. I have almost no pain on my right side where my ileum is ( I guess the meds are really working on that side ). I'm now worried that the disease has spread to my left side. My dr. said that he might want to do another colonoscopy and from there on decide to alter my medication accordingly. My question is, any idea of what medication will be given in my case ? I just hope that it will be just as good as Entocort in the sense that this med has no or little side effects. I'm hearing about how people are taking Predisnode with more severe cases and how it is really bad with side effects and all I just hope I won't be prescribed that.

I had particular kind of pain in my ileum. I thought it was a pulled muscle, turned out to be a large tumor made up of inflammation. I was put on Entocort, in September, I think, and at the end of December on Pentasa. My doc plans on doing another colonscopy in March.

Meanwhile I'm having that "pulled muscle" feeling in two other areas so I'm imagining that those areas might have new inflammatory masses as well.

My doc already told me that if the Entocort and Pentasa don't put me in remission that he'll start me on Humira.

 

[Luthgee23]

Don't worry ninety - there are lots of other meds out there besides the corticosteroids that work wonders for many people living with crohns. It's pretty interesting how certain medications work so well for some and not at all for others. I would be in the "not at all" category for Entocort. I took it for awhile and noticed almost no improvement. For around two years now I've been on Humira and it's been helping out a lot. One thing to note though, is that with Crohn's the disease doesn't really "spread," at least not in the same sense as in an infection or something. Diseased areas are just places where your body has become irritated and inflamed. Entocort has fewer side effects than straight Pred largely because it's time-released so that it acts primarily in the intestine and leaves the body quicker, from what I understand. Anyway, my point is that you have some other options available to you other than Pred, so don't worry that you'll get stuck taking it forever and your doc won't try anything else. If anything you may be put on a short course of it to get you under control and then be switched to some type of maintenance drug. Colazal worked well for me when I was on it, for example. Hopefully at least some of my incessant rambling made sense - best of luck to you.

 

[danman]

Pred isn't the nasty drug it's made out to be.
I've been on Pred on and off for 30 years (childhood asthma).
I was tested recently for bone density, and came out all clear. But if you are prescribed this drug, be sure to take you calcium tablets as well.

It has got lots of side effects, but generally, it's healing properties outweigh it bad points. I'm not saying it's all good and you should get it, but it is a bit of a wonderdrug when your flaring.

I've heard of people on here that seem to be on it long term, I don't think I'd be happy if I was. usually I have a 50-60mg dose and taper down for 5-6 weeks. that is usually enough to get me into some kind of remission to allow other drugs to take over.

If you feel that you don't want to take Pred, it may take the other drugs a little longer to kick in. My GI is dead set against pred, he kept me off it for 8 years. But recently, he's put me back on it to kick start remission for other drugs.

Many people on this board are/were on Pred, and I'm sure there are no major issues so far.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[Collette]

I too have crohnes in the ileum and just started Entocort a week ago. I can't say that it has started to work for me yet. Still have D as bad as ever and the mood swings are intense. I want to cry over anything. I used up the samples that the dr gave me until today when I went to the pharmacy to fill the RX. I was blown away that it was $150 charge! Yep, that wonderful insurance deductable and $50 for a 30 day supply of the Entocort. I called about a generic but now the doc has switched me to Pentasa again. I tried that years ago but couldn't keep up with the prescribed 4 pills 4 times a day. But...here I am again! My GI wants me on Remicade but insurance denied it which I am thankful because it scares the bejeebers out of me. I don't need additional problems. Not sure what he is thinking but I feel like I am all over the place. Ninety, you mentioned the pain now on your left side. Me too the past couple of days. It is just left of my belly button. It has me concerned too. I hope like me, you find a RX that works.

 

[ninety]

I too have crohnes in the ileum and just started Entocort a week ago. I can't say that it has started to work for me yet. Still have D as bad as ever and the mood swings are intense.

Yeah I know how you feel i've been on it for 3 months and on the first month I had severe mood swings, would get upset at my family and friends felt very depressed, I still have a bit of those symptoms but rarely now , I think I've gotten used to the meds.