Okay Chose Entocort, Refused Humira, for now

[sf925415]

So I just started entocort, I was in need of going back on something and then hit a flare this weekend which is slowly improving. I was told to go back on humira, but I am just scared of starting humira thinking that I'll be on it like forever and fearing some weird infection or something. maybe its irrational. i don't know. I just figured I'd give the entocort a try for the next 6 months, hopefully, and then do a colonoscopy and see what is going on. If it is not better, then I'll do humira.

Hope it works. Haven't been on entocort for years, so I don't remember if I get side effects.

 

[Emily]

Entocort is great and has few side effects but it's not good to be on steroid therapy long term. It doesn't really work on a long term basis, it relieves symptoms daily but doesn't really help for long run. I loved taking that stuff, those pills are magic. But if you've taken Humira before, don't you run the risk of it being less effective or having a reaction to it when you start it up again? I thought I had heard that. What about a different biologic like Remicade or Cimzia?

 

[sf925415]

Never heard about problems with restarting humira. My GI did also mention Cimzia as an option. Anyway for now I'm going to try the entocort. My GI said that I could be on the entocort as long as I want. I guess I'll see how this goes. Still not feeling great from this last flare, but want to give the entocort a chance. It did seem to some immediate improvement, but not a lot, though I know its not intended to work that quickly. Thanks for your reply!

 

[kllyeve]

I love hearing differing views - my GI says I can only be on Entocort for 6 months max. I wonder why the diference in time? I am in Canada so maybe our doctors are going with a different viewpoint on this steroid. Would love to know how other countries are handling this?

 

[littlemissh]

UK guidance states that oral steroids (pred or budesonide/entocort) should not be used for maintenance. This is because they are not effective maintenance drugs and because of their long term side effects - infection, diabetes, cataract etc.

 

[Slim Johnson]

If you take a TNF blocker, stop, then take it again; your body can develop antibodies to the medication, causing an allergic reaction to the medication. I have an acquaintance who's wife was on Remicade. She stopped due to cost, or something like that, then later started again. The second time around, it triggered rheumatoid arthritis as a side effect. She protested to her doctor that the drug wasn't working, yet he insisted that she continue treatment. Well, after some time, she got a second opinion. The second doctor realized the correlation, and discontinued the Remicade treatment, instead putting her on mercaptopurine. Since then, she is doing better.

I am struggling also with getting my illness under control, I also refuse to take Remicade, because I have been on Humira, and Cymzia with little to no real improvement. I have opted to undergo surgery instead.