On loads of pills

[rickysmart]

just got out of hospital last wed ,i was put on hydrocortisone 10 mg up to 40 mg per day then reduce by five mg per week ,plus 4 x500mg pentasa in morning and night ,this was because had a lot of blood loss,but still loosing blood on a daily basis , i have got a hospital appointment on 8th dec ,what i am trying to find out is how long do the tablets take to work ect,are they any good or should i ask for anything else ,,, thank you ,,,

 

[ekay03]

personally I could not remember to take all those pills. I think it was 4 pills 4 times a day and I was forever forgetting to take them. The put me on Imuran instead. I am no positive about this but I think there is a medicine similar to pentasa but only once a day. But like I said I cant be positive. Having to take sooo many pills is definitely a drag! Even tho there are some dangers w/ Imuran, it is better for me cause I remember to take it every day. I wold think the Pentasa should work within a month. Good luck

 

[Grumbletum]

Hi Ricky and welcome to the forum steroids are normally fast acting and hopefully you'll see some improvement soon. Pentasa is more of a mild maintenance drug for when you get off the steroids. How did you end up in hospital and have you got a diagnosis?
I was on 20 pills a day at one point and am not used to taking regular meds. One of those pill boxes with days of the week etc kept me on track. You can get them for next to nothing on eBay.
Let us know how you get on on the 8th x

 

[xJillx]

Welcome Ricky! I am sorry you are on so many drugs right now. Hopefully, the pred will work well and quickly, and you can stop taking them in a few weeks and will only need the Pentasa. Have you seen any improvement since starting your new treatment plan?

Crossing my fingers you feel better soon!

 

[jaggartini]

Hey,

Yeah it can seem like a heap of pill but while you are bleeding the steroids are going to be the drug that works. I put 2 or 3 at the back of my toungue now at a time if I have to take a heap. I'm so over popping pills as well.

Pentasa (I take 4 x 1g sachets) - my GI did say they have proven that you can have them all at once and it will do the same as if you took them over the day so I take all my drugs in the morning and be done with it as I wouldn't remember either.

Are you taking iron tablet for blood loss?

 

[Angrybird]

Hi, I was put on Pentesa shortly after my diagnosis for crohns disease and was on 8 x 500mg a day. I used to take 4 in the morning and 4 in the evening, this was alongside the steroids which I was on for 8 weeks. They then tried to see if the crohns could be controlled by diet so it might be suggested that you go on a liquid shke for a couple of weeks then onto a lowflextt diet to hel0p determine if whether some things you are eating are causing the problems. This did'nt work in my case and I was put on 200mg of Azathioprine so this might be worth asking about. My doctors says it can take 4-6 weeks for the medication to fully settle take effect. Good luck for the 8th

Angrybird

 

[rickysmart]

personally I could not remember to take all those pills. I think it was 4 pills 4 times a day and I was forever forgetting to take them. The put me on Imuran instead. I am no positive about this but I think there is a medicine similar to pentasa but only once a day. But like I said I cant be positive. Having to take sooo many pills is definitely a drag! Even tho there are some dangers w/ Imuran, it is better for me cause I remember to take it every day. I wold think the Pentasa should work within a month. Good luck

hi sorry to trouble you again ,i noticed you have been put on azthropine 150 mg
i was at the hospital today ,my gp has kept me on hydrocortosine 30 mg daily for next 3 weeks and also azathioprine to build up to full dose over couple o weeks ,, but they say this drug kills white blood cells ,,how will you know when this happens ,,have you ever had this thank you for your help ,,,:eek2:

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

When you go on aza, you have regular blood tests to monitor your white count. It can cause leukopenia (low white count), but it's reversible by lowering the dose or coming off the meds. Keep in mind, it takes 6-12 weeks for aza to work.

 

[rickysmart]

got hospital app;; today the gp put me on hydrocortosine 30 for couple of weeks and azathiropine up to 150mg but to build the dose up weekly get these tomorrow ,dont know if my spelling is correct on the drugs ,,,any info on the azathiropine would b great , what to look out for ,,unwanted symptoms thank you

 

[Grumbletum]

Hi Ricky
Take a look over on the Imuran/Azathioprine section of the Treatment subforum. Lots of us over there on it too. Don't worry too much. Many people can take it with few or no symptoms and you will be monitored closely. Have you been told to have regular blood tests?

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I would suggest taking the aza at night to sleep through the nausea side effect.

 

[rickysmart]

Hi Ricky
Take a look over on the Imuran/Azathioprine section of the Treatment subforum. Lots of us over there on it too. Don't worry too much. Many people can take it with few or no symptoms and you will be monitored closely. Have you been told to have regular blood tests?

thanks for your reply,,yep i have to get regular blood tests ,my wife is a phlebotomist so she gets my blood its great dont have to leave house ,,but thank you for your reply cheers,,,:smile:

 

[rickysmart]

When you go on aza, you have regular blood tests to monitor your white count. It can cause leukopenia (low white count), but it's reversible by lowering the dose or coming off the meds. Keep in mind, it takes 6-12 weeks for aza to work.

thank you for that info,,i have also been told its very good if it works for you ,but i will try any way thanks,,:smile: