Mezavan XL 2.4mg

[Ellowyne]

My 19 year old son has just been diagnosed with Crohns. He has been in hospital for 5 days now and has to stay a further 5 untill they see results of Biopsy and may give him IV Steroids...I feel so confused and lost and don't know where to start.

They have intitially started him with a drig called 'Mezavan XL 2.4mg' 3 times a day...Please, I can find little information on this drig?...Does/has anyone here had this drug for treatment please?

If yes, please tell me what you may of experienced.

Please help...very worried Mum...Lorraine.

 

[CDDad]

I had never heard of it. Turns out, in the USA, it was released as Lialda. Anyway, it is composed of Mesalamine which has been used for many years and is very safe. It is usually the first drug to try before falling back on stronger drugs with more side effects.

Good luck to your son and I hope he feels better.

 

[Ellowyne]

Thank you CDDad...I am relieved to hear that is it safe for my son. He has been in Chronic pain fo weeks now. They gave him 3 lots of Picolax, saying there may be a blockage?...He went to hell and back with that stuff. Then the top consultant came to see him today, after being in hospital for 5 days, he orders Urgent Endoscopy, not the colonoscopy, the other shorter procedure for the begining of the bowel...They apparently had an expert consultant on the team this day. Then, well, we had the diagnosis and he has began the medication...Should he begin to feel better soon?

Sorry for all the questions, just so worried. Thank you, Lorraine.

 

[Rossy]

Hi,
Its Mezavant XL, however I'm not familiar with it being administered by drip, i thought it was only taken as a pill. Normal dose is 1200 or 2400 mg.

The steroids will pack the punch to get his symptoms under the control and the Mezavant will help with this but it is more of a maintainance drug to keep any inflamation at bay, as said its one of the first pills in the arsenal, by no means the strongest.

Oh dear, just re read your post, i read your drig as drip but of course you meant drug:lol: Oh well, the rest applies!

Hope he gets better soon.

 

[Ellowyne]

Sorry, no, it is the steroids that they will be giving by IV whilst he is in hospital, he could be in for further week or so...The Mezavan is in sachet form, my son finds tablets difficult to swallow...Thank you for your reply, I guess they have to work there way up with the medication.

I am worried about him having the Steroids though, seems that many here don't like them for many reasons...Are the side effects really bad please?

Thank you.

 

[Rossy]

The steroids are great at controlling IBD. Trouble is they can have side affects although not everyone gets them and if they do it can be mild, don't expect the worst with them as on the contrary they are likely to make him feel much better.
However long term use is not good as this brings with it the potential of many problems, so the best plan is to get his symptoms under control and keep them in remission for as long as possible. There are many drugs available other than steroids to help him stay in remission, but normally steroids are used to attain remission.

 

[Ellowyne]

Thank you Rossy, that has helped put my mind at rest a little...I guess I have alot of learning to do in order to help my son. He also has mental health problems, fears and anxieties, he has amazed me at how strong he has been with all that he is going through. Perhaps he can now begin to get himself better. Much love to everyone who kindly replied, God bless...Lorraine.

 

[CDDad]

Endoscopy is a generic term - it could mean any kind of scope. From what you said, it's sounds like they will do a sigmoidoscope - to view the rectum and the last part of the colon.

The Pred should make him feel better very soon - usually a few days. Pred usually is only a problem with long term treatment. A few months should not be a big deal. Find out what dose of Pred he is getting. I don't know if the IV dose and pill dose are equivalent. In pill form, 40mg would be a typical dose, and 60 and up a higher dose with more side effects.

Some of the lesser and reversable side effects you will see after a few weeks are, rounding of the face, and mood changes, and a large appetite. When I was on Pred, I would never stop eating.