Medications

[Cbanner]

Hi im new to this forum, I'm in the process of being diagnosed with IBD and I just wonder what medication people take on a day to day basis
They have put me on quite a bit even though I haven't got a diagnosis yet and I was wondering if people are the same

Many thanks

 

[DJW]

Once the severity and location are determined the doctors go from there.

I have servers Crohn's.

My meds:

Remicade 8 wk cycle
Imuran 100 mg/day
Vitamin D 3,000 iu/day
B12 injections 8 wk cycle

Some docs do a top down approach...most powerful drugs first to get things under control quickly.

Others use a bottom up approach and use the mildes meds first t see if remission is achievable before adding stronger medications.

 

[lgpcarter]

Here's a good basic brochure from Crohn's and Colitis Canada: http://www.crohnsandcolitis.ca/atf/cf/{403f6026-70ba-417c-a39b-7fbf23d5d690}/2015-PRESCRIPTON-HEALTH-BROCHURE-EN.PDF

There are also forums here on different medications that you might want to browse through.

 

[Cbanner]

Thank you for your replies, they have put me on steroids to see if they help whilst waiting for biopsies to come back... Hopefully I will get a diagnosis soon

 

[lgpcarter]

I hope so too! Are the steroids helping?

 

[Cbanner]

I'm currently admitted in hospital for a suspected 'flare up' they have started me on low dose steroids for the past 3 days now but I seem to be sleeping a lot more, is this normal?

 

[Mr chicken]

Ds takes
Steroids for flare ups ( still tapering since April - should finish up in a week or two )
Partial een ( formula ) plus crohns exclusive diet
Humira 40 mg every 10 days
Mtx 12.5 mg X1 week
Iron 50 mg due to anemia
Zantac
Vsl#3 probiotic
Folic acid 2 mg every day

Hope the steroids kick in soon

 

[Bunty]

What dose of steroids are you in Cbanner?
Yes, fatigue is one of the things with crohns and other IBD flares, so sleeping more isn't unusual at all. I've learned not to fight it but just go with it, you'll pick up again once it all settles....and it will settle
Bunty x

 

[Cbanner]

Only on very mild dose, I believe it's 9mg? They haven't diagnosed me with IBD yet however this is my 6th hospital admission within an 8 month period so they wanted to try a gentle steroid until the biopsy results come back. I had a colonoscopy Wednesday which showed red patches and ulcers...hopefully this will help with the diagnosis. I'm glad to hear that because every time I seem to have these 'flare up' I always get the fatigue along with some other symptoms. Thank you very much for the information you supplied me x

 

[Bunty]

That does seem a very mild dose, I'm sure they know what they're doing though.
And now you've had a colonoscopy, and will soon get the biopsy results, they'll know which drugs to start you on to get it all under control.
I'm just coming out of a flare up...fingers crossed...and now I feel so much better, it makes me realise just how rubbish I felt at the height of the flare. It'll be the same for you, don't get disheartened, you will pick up and get back to normal
Bunty x

 

[Cbanner]

Yeah they did say that to me but didn't want to put me on a strong dose until they got the biopsies back, yeah that's what I'm waiting for, start some medication to get things under control... Awww that sounds so reassuring to hear that and to know there are other people that have been going through the same.. What are your main symptoms of a flare up, thanks for your time Bunty x

 

[lgpcarter]

Sounds like you are on Budesonide rather than prednisone, and I think that it is the highest dose they use of that. It is definitely gentler than prednisone.

I also get fatigue when ill. My other symptoms are diarrhea, bloody stools, abdominal pain, mouth ulcers if things get really bad...but it all depends on where your disease is, what type and how your body reacts. One of the super frustrating things about this disease is that it is so different for everyone!

Hang in there, Cbanner. Any idea when the biopsies will be back?

 

[Bunty]

For me, in my initial flare last year, it was just rectal bleeding, not loads of it but enough to take me to the GP after it going on for six weeks. It then progressed to a lot of bloody mucous which had me on and off the toilet all evening. I didn't have any pain and little diarrhoea. Fatigue was a huge problem though, and really took me by surprise as I didn't realise it was connected.
This time I had pain for two weeks, which stopped, and a week later the rectal bleeding started. And fatigue again, I actually find the fatigue has the most impact on me as the five or six BM loo visits all happen over a couple of hours in the morning and that's it, finished for the day.
As lgpcarter says, it's very different for everyone, not something I ever thought about until reading all these personal accounts here.
How old are you Cbanner? I found out that between 17and 20 is the most common age to get crohns, and then in later life approaching 60. I'm 62 and didn't expect to be dealing with this....
I hope you're getting your head round it all, it's not easy is it?
Bunty x

 

[Cbanner]

Yeah that's the ones they put me on, I've had pretty bad mouth ulcers too, I believe that it is in the terminal ileum, that's where the ulcers and red patches were.
I believe they said that they would be back in about a week? I'm still in hospital at the moment but don't think they will discharge me until they have the results back. They also started me on calcium tablet, vitamin d, folic acid and omeprazole

 

[Cbanner]

I am 21 now but been having symptoms for over 2 years Bunty, I just hope that a diagnosis will be made but I know how difficult it can be finding it sometimes. I have had lots of different tests and this is the 2nd colonoscopy which wasn't normal like the first one, fingers crossed x

 

[Bunty]

I hope you had a relatively good night Cbanner, hospitals aren't the best places for it though are they?
I really feel for you youngsters who develope Crohns. It's bad enough to get it at my age but at least I'm not in education, training or trying to hold down a job.
Having said that, my cousins daughter, now 30, went through 'A' levels. teacher training and now teaches so it can be done. She's always on the go and lives life to the full, such a great girl.
She started infliximab infusions a year ago, in combination with azathioprine, and has found it has worked wonderfully for her.
Keep your chin up
Bunty x

 

[Cbanner]

No they keep waking you up to do observations, can't get any proper sleep even if you wanted too haha.
Yeah I know what you mean, I've been doing an apprenticeship for the past 4 years, completed it now luckily however it was hard as I did struggle to attend college because of symptoms, never mind got through that now...
They are sending me home today so should get more rest at home, consultant had said there is very strong evidence of Crohn's disease in the terminal ileum still awaiting biopsies. Looks like I'm getting somewhere now. I'm glad your cousins daughter is responding to the medication and infusions, onwards and upwards

 

[teeny5]

I have been on many different meds at different times. Went through quite a few at the beginning until we found something that seems to work. Entocort seems to work to get me out of a flare still. Currently I take Colazal 2 times a day and Prilosec 1-2 times a day.