Starting Entocort today.

[dieselguy]

Hey everyone,

So I'm starting entocort today. Been diagnosed in October, but only been taking the imuran, folic acid, and vitamin D since i've been diagnosed. I have had no flare ups, I stay away from popcorn, nuts, seeds and corn. My diet still consists of lots of about half protein, then the rest is split up over carbs and fat. I'm not super crazy active, but I am a mechanic by trade, I am constantly on my feet all day, I go to the gym a couple days a week and I play softball on Sundays.

I have never taken medication prior to my diagnosis. I had a colonoscopy, and it was 15 cm of infected area of small right before terminal ileum.

Little nervous about taking this new drug, he only has me on it for 3 months for now, so here's to hoping I only need it for three months, and then I can stop taking it, and just take my regular imuran and vitamins.

I'll keep you posted as to how I feel if anyone's interested...

Do you take entocort? How long have you been taking it? Have you ever had a small 3 month dosage like me? How did it affect you? How did you feel? Did it take the inflammation down any?

20 questions anyone? Haha -- sorry for long post, but thanks for reading it if you made it this far!

Cheers :beerchug:

 

[LodgeLady]

I was diagnosed Crohn's last summer. Lots of illness got in the way and my prior drugs either didn't work or did and I didn't know it. The reason I say this is that I had gallbladder symptoms and surgery on top of this Crohn's. So had to stop all drugs during my recoup time. Four months later my Crohn's symptoms are back. Dr started me on Entocort 2 weeks ago. My prescription is for 5 months. I'm seeing a specialist end of June so I'll know which way it's all going to go after that appt.

BUT... the Entocort is working! I feel great! Do have constipation and a little trouble sleeping but otherwise I feel fantastic! I've been on it 2 weeks now.

 

[Everly]

I've been on entocort twice, and both times have worked wonderfully for me Although the first time, my symptoms started coming back as I tapered down to two pills, but then again I was in a highly stressful situation which brought back a flare a few weeks later. But the second time around, which I finished a couple of weeks ago, has taken away all of my symptoms and I've been feeling great! I never noticed any bad side effects either. I was on three pills for six weeks, two pills for two weeks, and one pill for two weeks both times I was on it. I sure hope entocort works well for you and that you start feeling better!

 

[dieselguy]

Thanks for the replies!! Thing is, I feel great. I have been feeling great since my very first flare, after I left the hospital. But I guess just because I feel great, does not mean that there is nothing going on in there...

I think my GI wants to bring down the inflammation that he saw during the scope. I don't have any symptoms, my bm's are regular, I'm pretty stress free (usually haha) and I have no pain at all.

I think i'm worried about 'moon face'. Is there anything I can do to try and prevent that from happening? Or if its going to happen, it's going to happen!?

 

[LodgeLady]

I have been on lots of prednisone, sometimes months at a time, for my asthma. Only when I was on 40 mg/day for 3 mos straight did I get the moon face ( and face whiskers . The reason I was on such a high does for so long is that I couldn't wean from it. Once I did all the symptoms ( except for the facial hair) went away. ( Thank goodness for laser hair removal ).

Entocort is not near the strength that 40 mg prednisone is hence not near the side affects. I would not worry about moon face at all!

 

[dieselguy]

Understood! I cant remember the dosage, but I think its just 3 or 6mg daily. Thanks.

 

[lisadc1]

I am on month 8 of Entocort - 9 mg. per day. I cannot tell a real difference in healing from when I began. I take other meds as well. Not sure if it or the others have messed up my sugar levels though. I was diagnosed diabetic a month before all the crohns flare began.

 

[LaurenAuf]

Hi dieselguy!

I just started taking Entocort (9mg) last week and I too am super concerned about waking up one morning to the MOON FACE!
How's your Entocort course going? Have you experienced any weight gain or other side effects?
I'm so paranoid and I'm just 5 days in...eeek!

Thanks!

 

[Vick23]

Hi, I have been on entocort since April my consultant put me straight onto them after a colonoscopy started on 9mg which I felt great to start with then I reduced the dose to 6mg and started to flare Ibd nurse advised to go back to taking 9mg until I see my consultant. Had no real side affects and no weight gain xx

 

[fissure2]

i just got diagnosed with crohn's and started entocort today. 9mg (called uceris here) for two months. i hope i do gain weight as i am malnourished from the past month or so or solving this mystery. did it make your stools firm or just less frequent?? i dont want firm b/c i also have a nasty fissure. how long did it take to kick in?? what did it do exactly??

 

[lisadc1]

Fissure2, I am just beginning my 9th month on Entocort at 9 mg...I gained weight (didn't want to - was hoping the weight I lost would stay lost). I still have daily D/and soft stools. Today has been especially rough. Waiting on HUMIRA RN to start the injection training. Also on Lialda, Bentyl, Lomotil, Canasa Suppositories, Nexium, Carrafate, and a host of other meds. Good luck to you. Was diagnosed with Crohns and UC back in the fall.

 

[fissure2]

oh jeez! sounds like you need the luck more than me. thanks for the info

 

[dieselguy]

Hi LaurenAuf! I have experienced no weight gain, only weight loss, however I can only attribute the weight loss to me eating right, and busting my ass in the gym and playing sports so far the summer. No moon face for me, and I can't really tell a difference in my guts, because I'm not in any pain before, or after taking them. So All I can say so far is that it is going really well, and i'm sure the only true test will be when I have another scope to see what effect it had.

Fissure2: It did not change my stools at all. I have regular b/m's and regular stool.

Vick23: Thanks for the input!


Thanks for the replies guys, hope you all are doing well.