Prednisone Vs. Budesonide: Battle of the steroids

[ozguts]

Okay my next survey on drugs that are most effective for crohn's with fewest side effects is the steroid class.

On one side the traditional Prednisone and on the other the newer Budesonide (known as Entocort at least here in Oz).

Or neither...they both are too much trouble....

What do you guys think?

 

[ozguts]

Your experience gives us a depth of understanding about things! I'm sorry you have to suffer so much (in fact I'm sorry we all have to suffer!) but you have helped and continue to help the rest of us!

I wonder how many of us are actually optimists.....

 

[Colt]

Entocort only works in the terminal ileum and the ascending colon. It won't affect disease outside of those area. It also won't cause many side-effects outside of those areas. So, if your disease is mostly limited to that section of your intestines it's better. If not, prednisone which will get your inflammation anywhere in the body.

For more, mine large affects my ileum and/or the last portion of small intestine. That bothers when it comes to diagnostics because that area is not visible to a colonoscopy. The only way to get a look in there is exploratory surgery. Regardless, when I finally get a GI I'm interested in giving it a try.

 

[ozguts]

Colt, my Crohn's is in the small intestine: they used a double balloon endoscopy which goes further into the intestine than a normal colonoscopy to discover the ulceration and take biopsies. A pill cam gave them an indication that something was wrong there....so now I'm coeliac, IBS (they won't say the Crohn's discovery over-rules that) and Crohn's.

If you can do a double balloon over exploratory surgery it is probably better, but here in Australia only a few hospitals have the technology.

So are you saying Entocort may be right for small intestine Crohn's?

 

[Colt]

No, Entocort will not affect the small intestine. It's effectiveness does not extend beyond the ileum which is the valve that connects the large and small intestines.

 

[Colt]

It's still just for mild-moderate crohn's even if your problem is the ileum. That sounds good for me but for the surgery vets out there I think prednisone is still going to reign supreme.

 

[kromom1]

Entocort did nothing for me. While I hate most of the side effects of prednisone (especially what it does to my blood sugar), I consider it a miracle drug because it quickly resolves my flareups (usually by the next day!), and I get so much energy from it. Unfortunately, I appear to be dependent on it and can't seem to find another drug that is effective.

Good luck to you!

Lisa

 

[teeny5]

Entocort has been great for me as far as no side effects. The only thing that sucks is that after being on it for about 3 months I am getting some pains back. Hopefully it isn't wearing off already.

Friends of mine who have taken Prednisone call it the wonder drug. The side effects suck, but makes them feel soooo much better.

 

[ozguts]

I've been on Entocort now for two weeks. My ulceration and Crohn's is in the Illium and up the small intestine. The first 3 days were hell for me with an acidic feeling that started upper abdo and moved to be very painful in the mid gut section below the belly button where I normally am sore. I've never had that acidic feeling in the gut before, though I've occasionally had it in the small intestine.

It also takes me hours to get to sleep, and sometimes most the night.

On the other hand my lower back pain has been gone, and for a week after those 3 days my mid abdo seemed more relaxed and not sore. The anxiety has gone too, but sleep is still a matter of being awake for hours. Unfortunately the soreness has returned now...but I'm hoping it isn't because the drug isn't working. Also my nausea is generally better, and though I've had mushy stools I haven't yet had full on 'd', which is unusual.

My problem is that I am also supposed to have IBS (and coeliac disease too), so I don't know how much that is playing a role too.

I really hope that in a month or so I'll start to feel way better than before with better sleep, less occasional acidic feeling, and an overall better quality of life.

 

[teeny5]

When are you taking your Entocort? They told me to take it in the morning...before lunch for sure otherwise it could interfere with sleep. I go to work early so I take it like at 5:30am.

 

[ozguts]

When are you taking your Entocort? They told me to take it in the morning...before lunch for sure otherwise it could interfere with sleep. I go to work early so I take it like at 5:30am.

About 9am and then I have my rice noodles for bfast. I usually need to sleep before then to catch up on the late/early night!

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I've never taken entocort so I can't comment on that. I asked my doc about it but he said it was too mild. The times that I have been on prednisone (4, I think) it has worked very well for me with very few side effects.

 

[ozguts]

I've never taken entocort so I can't comment on that. I asked my doc about it but he said it was too mild. The times that I have been on prednisone (4, I think) it has worked very well for me with very few side effects.

I'm glad it works for you. I did try prednisone awhile back but it made me manic with the shakes. I don't react too well to drugs as a general rule for some reason

 

[Matt645]

Pred worked for me though there were some unwanted side effects, Budesonide had no effect on my crohns whatsoever.

 

[coachvee]

Budesonide helped me the most and didnt give the usual side effects, in fact if anything it may have given me LESS of an appetite!

Pred worked the first time I had it, then the second course did nothing - side effects made me feel worse, I was SO hungry but really didn't want to eat