Questions about Budesonide and treatments in general

[leica]

First time posting. Just recently have been diagnosed with Crohn's and have been prescribed Budesonide for my symptoms, however I'm worried that the side effects may be worse than my symptoms which are actually pretty mild for the most part. It's a steroid which tends to compromise the immune system and can make you sick. I've had experience with a topical steroid that did exactly that so I'm worried it could happen again.

My symptoms are generally abdominal pain that comes and goes and is usually tolerable, although sometimes it can get pretty bad, but I think it's a result of something that I eat, and once I get a better feel for my ideal diet I should be fine. My wife seems to think that if i don't take the meds it could get worse, but from what my doctor has told me and what I've read about Crohn's, it seems that the meds would just simply reduce my symptoms which I honestly don't think are that bad compared to the possible side effects.

So I guess what I'm asking is for is advice from people taking budesonide and how it worked for them, and also people taking meds in general and how it has helped or made things worse.

I'm all about natural remedies so if anyone has any info on that it would be great too. Just trying to figure this thing out, have never had to deal with anything like this so I'm just sort of winging it for now until I figure out what does and doesn't work for me.

 

[UnXmas]

I don't have experience with Budesonide, but Crohn's cannot be controlled by changing your diet. Even if dietary changes help your symptoms (which is often the case), Crohn's can carry on doing damage "silently" to your insides, resulting in bigger problems later - potentially meaning the need for stronger medications or surgery that may have been avoided if treatment began earlier, though that's of course a worst case scenario.

A lot of the medications, including steroids, do have a lot of potentially nasty side effects and risks. With steroids, usually the aim is to be on them only a short time to get the disease under control, switching to less harmful medication once this is achieved. I believe Budesonide is very mild compared to prednisone (the main steroid used for Crohn's), so your doctor may well be taking the mildness of your disease into account. With many medications, there are often ways to stop or reduce side effects that do arise as well.

Medications don't just reduce symptoms. Medications usually aim to tackle the inflammation (which then should reduce symptoms), while diet affects symptoms only.

Your doctor should be assessing the particular balance of risks and benefits in your individual case. You may want to ask for a second opinion if you're not sure of your current doctor's judgement (though no one can tell you exactly what the result of any treatment will be). Steroids are not the only option though, it's worth asking your doctors about alternatives, and make sure they know all your concerns, and tell them about the bad reactions you've had to steroid treatments in the past.

 

[Absentminded]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I was on Budesonide for several months a couple of years ago. It is a very mild steroid and is preferable because it has fewer side effects than others (like prednisolone) although the down side is that it often isn't as effective as the others are.
Personally I had no problems when on it, none of the usual steroid side effects! I can't take prednisolone anymore as I have a history of mental health issues and I get manic episodes and insomnia (amongst other things) when on it. Happily, I didn't get any of those issues on budesonide.

Hope that's of some help?

 

[Polaris]

I've been on it on and off for the past year.. The first few rounds it helped a lot, with only one side effect which was I was more annoyed at everyone than usual, but that's nothing new (ha). I've tried prednisone in the past and I just can't tolerate it.. the side effects are insane. If your crohn's is mild at this point it sounds like budesonide will be a great option.

 

[Jennifer625]

I'm currently on Budesonide. The main side effects I get are minor headaches and generalized fatigue. However, I tend to get all the flippin side effects from any medication I'm on, so considering this is all I deal with, I will gladly keep taking it!

 

[Lady Organic]

you can take a look at IBD-AID diet published this year in Nutrition Journal :

http://www.nutritionj.com/content/13/1/5

food tables and guidelines are mentionned.

I am currently on this diet and waiting to see if it will help me maintain a minimal dose of my medication.

 

[Justanothercp]

I've been on 9mg daily for many years (as well as Lialda and Remicade, along with other Meds and supplements). So far, it's been no problem and definitely needed, as any time I try to wean off I get into trouble with bad symptoms. I eat well (paleo, juicing and supplements) as well as exercise almost daily, just doing the best I can. I've had one resection and am trying to put off any need for another one as long as I can.

 

[Justanothercp]

you can take a look at IBD-AID diet published this year in Nutrition Journal :

http://www.nutritionj.com/content/13/1/5

food tables and guidelines are mentionned.

I am currently on this diet and waiting to see if it will help me maintain a minimal dose of my medication.

Interesting article. I know there is a lot of controversy as to diets impact, all I can say is for me it has made a HUGE difference. I have had one resection 13 years ago, but symptoms continued. I have been on Budesonide, Lialda, Remicade, Omeprazole and an assortment of supplements for years and years, but still suffered daily. It wasn't until I started the Paleo diet that my discomfort really got way better. I still take all those Meds and follow paleo and for me the results are worth every bit of the effort to follow paleo. (I also take into consideration low FODMAP).