Questions on Prednisone and other meds

[killerzoey]

Hello

I am yet un-medicated for my recently-diagnosed Crohn's. I was diagnosed only a few weeks ago.

I am traveling still and the doctor I was seeing here in CA for all the diagnosis is going to leave the medication issue up to the GI doctor I find back home when I return in 2 weeks.

He said basically I'm in the early stages and he didn't find anything in the scopes or small bowel series that indicated Crohn's - just some inflammation (per scope biopsies).

I am trying to educate myself about the various drug treatments.

I understand the doctor may want to put me on Prednisone (I am recently having more pain and diarrhea) to try to bring me back down into remission.

My questions:


1) What is your experience with weight gain on this Prednisone? Did you balloon up like the horror stories I've heard, or was it fairly moderate? And did it go away once you tapered down, or do you just have to ratchet up in weight every time you take P. for a flare?

2) Are there other drugs that can be given instead to curb a flare, that may be more mild in side effects and nearly as successful?

3) Are drugs always needed to end a flare?

I should add that I will not have prescription coverage for some time so cost is definitely an issue in drug choice, too.

I feel lost amid a sea of information and all the drugs sound the same to me still. Thanks to anyone who can help me sort this out.

 

[Snowfi]

Hi,

Well I have been on and off prednisone for the last six years. Weight gain on prednisone can be moderate if you control your diet while on it. Meaning sometimes you do eat more than necessary simply because you think I'm on stereoids. Yet you do feel the hunger so do not deprive your body of the food, nutrients you need!

Yes, as soon as you taper off the stereoid your weight will taper off, because it is all artificial weight gain. It may take the same amount of time though. For example, if you are on a three month course your weight loss will take the same amount of time.

Please don't worry too much about these things, as you are ill and do need the medication to calm your flare as there really is not another solution at the time. Drugs do usually stop flares.

good luck and take care!
Snowfi

 

[Creepy Lurker]

If you're only in the beginning stages then you'll probably be able to avoid prednisolone/prednisone.

The 'usual' first step is something like Asacol which has far fewer potential side-effects.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

Hi,

Well I have been on and off prednisone for the last six years. Weight gain on prednisone can be moderate if you control your diet while on it. Meaning sometimes you do eat more than necessary simply because you think I'm on stereoids. Yet you do feel the hunger so do not deprive your body of the food, nutrients you need!

Yes, as soon as you taper off the stereoid your weight will taper off, because it is all artificial weight gain. It may take the same amount of time though. For example, if you are on a three month course your weight loss will take the same amount of time.

Please don't worry too much about these things, as you are ill and do need the medication to calm your flare as there really is not another solution at the time. Drugs do usually stop flares.

good luck and take care!
Snowfi

I recently hit 14 stone after being on steroids for several years. Taking a while to get rid of it

 

[bk1579]

Hello Killerzoey, I've been taking 40mg of Prednisone for 2 months now and I have had some weight gain. It wasn't long after I started taking it I noticed my appetite really increased. I was always hungry and am still that way...I try to drink a lot of water to curb my appetite (I still eat a lot though)... When I started the medication I weighed 132 and now I'm at about 142. My GI put me on only Asacol at the beginning and I really didn't see any improvements, so that is when he put me on the prednisone along with the asacol. I must say the symptoms subsided within just a few days, so it definately works for me. I start tapering off Friday of this week down to 30 mg for two weeks and then 20mg for two weeks etc.....I have even asked the question here recently about how long it takes for the weight to go away. So, I can't answer that question for you...I guess I'll find that out soon...There is lots of threads on here about prednisone and other meds that I read often. All are very informative. Although everyone is different, I still like to see how we all compare...

Take care
bk

 

[Kev]

Hi Killerzoey...

Drugs as treatment is pretty standard fare.. your doctor may want to start you on an anti-biotic.. mine did.. it didn't work for me. One of the pretty standard routes is a course of anti-inflamatory drugs.. along the lines of 5-ASA. Anti-inflamatory drugs are there to reduce inflamation... so they cope with the effects without tackling the cause. I mean, they are a blessing for reducing or alleviating symptoms, and once started you'll probably be on them for the long haul. next is the all too familiar prednisone aka steroids. Side effects? Yes. I started on them last november, came off, went back on.. still on them now. Weight gain? A little.. your appetite can act as if it was on.. wellll, steroids. Thing of it is, they work. Or doc's wouldn't give them out. Problem is, long term use isn't recommended. so if your doc get's you into remission, then he/she will try to wean you off them asap.
If that isnt' successful, you pretty much have to look at other drugs. I just tried to use imuran aka azathioprine. allergic. ended up rushing into emergency, not nice.
Next, in my particular case, I've only got 2 drug choices left. Methotrexate shots or Remicade aka Infliximab (like who in hell comes up with these ridiculous names?) by infusion. Neither has me jumping for joy. You asked about cost? Pred is cheap.
imuran wasn't too bad either.. I don't know the cost of metho yet, but remicade is just off the charts.. too rich for my blood.. ballparked at several 1000 per session..
I was paying about $400 CDN for my anti-inflamatories every month, but my doc is able to get those for me for free.. My long winded, totally amatuer piece of advice?
if your doc recommends pred, its' cheap, it works, and you may gain a little weight

 

[old hat]

If you're only in the beginning stages then you'll probably be able to avoid prednisolone/prednisone.

The 'usual' first step is something like Asacol which has far fewer potential side-effects.

The initial course of treatment is largely dependent on how severe the patient's symptoms are. For mild cases, a mesalamine formulation like Asacol is usually used. For moderate to severe cases, a corticocteroid is often used initially because of the greater risk of complications in such cases. It's all about weighing risks and benefits.

 

[laura2002]

Been on and off Pred. for over 5 years now, going in and out of remission. Pred. definitely works, and works fast. Side effects can be mild if you're not on it for very long, but the longer you stay on it, the more side effects you'll experience. Just remember that if you do take it, be sure to stay on top of your vitamin supplements since Prednisone will suck you dry of just about everything. Asacol did nothing for me, but Remicade was great, and did not experience any side effects with that. However, I stopped the infusions, and when I tried to go back, I became allergic to it. Good luck, and be thankful that your symptoms/condition is not any worse than it could be!

 

[kskitt]

Just remember that if you do take it, be sure to stay on top of your vitamin supplements since Prednisone will suck you dry of just about everything.

I wasnt told to take vitamin supplements whilst on it,just the calcium supplements to stop the steriods wrecking my bones

 

[DarrylP_Ajax]

1) I experienced weight loss and sore joints here and there and thats all i got from the Prednisone, but it worked which is all i cared about at the time.

2)If you arent that severe yet (but pain and diahrea is starting to get to moderate range i believe) there is other drugs, but they still will most likely put on Pred regardless. A drug like Imuran is long term but it take a while to start working, so what they usually do is put you on Pred, a drug that works almost instantly, to control/put you into some form of remission, while at the same time loading u up on Imuran, so while u are tapering off the Pred the Imuran would be just kicking in.

3) Pred is dirt cheap, easily the cheapest drug we will ever have to purchase. It works good, and as long as you dont stay on it long term the short term side effects are worth the relief it provides and are not permanent. My Imuran prescription is like $100 a month, which in my mind is a lot of money, lol, whereas my Pred subscription was like $10, lol

 

[Ani]

I've only recently been diagnosed too. I'm now in my second week of taking prednisone as the antibiotics didn't fully calm down the infection.

So far the only side effects I've noticed is that I'm not sleeping as well. My appetite hasn't increased and I haven't put on any weight.

The Dr told me to to take a multi vitamin, calcium and fish oils to along with the prednisone, and said that the first 2 weeks of taking it would be the worst with side effects, so I'm pretty pleased that it seems to be going okay.

 

[D Bergy]

My experimental research results indicate that taking the fish oil may do more for you than everything else on your list. It also would be better not to miss taking it at all.

I will eventually report everything I am learning when I am 100 % convinced of the theory and results.

D Bergy