Thoughts on long term medication!!

[reidyjo81]

Hey All,
Just wanted advice/view on long term medication. One of my worst flares happened about 5 years and was in hospital for a long while, luckily without anymore surgery, was poorly for 6 months, anyway to cut a long story short ever since then I have been on the following medication: Pentasa 1000mg twice a day, Azathiprine 100mg, Amitriptyline 50mg, and iron supplements. Steriods on and off for 5 years. There is no talk of taking me off these meds anytime soon, I just wondered how long people have been on meds for and long term effects. I don't seem to get any side effects from these, only normal crohns symptons. But I just can't help but worry that these aren't good for me and really do hate taking them.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks Jo x

 

[braveheart]

I´ve been taking meds for 20 years. That includes predinsone, pentasa, 6-mp, omephrazol, budesonide, all kinds of antibiotics, all sort of anti-acids, vitamins, etc, etc. if treatment suits to you don´t worry about side efects, just test your blood regularly.

 

[reidyjo81]

Wow 20 years that is a long old time, I should stop worrying then! Blood test every couple of months and apart from iron levels everything is ok. Thanks

 

[DustyKat]

Roo has been on a maintenance dose of Imuran for 4 years. I often think about the effects of this drug long term but then again she doesn't have side effects and is in remission. We found out the hard way the havoc untreated Crohn's causes, so I think medication is by far the lesser of two evils.

Dusty.

 

[Crohn's 35]

I am the same as braveheart, been on every med, most my body doesnt tolerate, or doesnt work. Prednisone is more of the imediate drug that has alot of common side effects. Even when you are young, especially with an automimmune disease, you should be on adequate calcium and Vitamin d 3 because of Pred robbing your body of calcium. The nexium or ant acide types also do the same. Trial and error is the our only recourse and need to supplement what we lose.

I hate the drugs too, I think we all do and we worry down the road. Best to be in control of your crohns with milder drugs or natural route.

Just my two cents for what it is worth.

 

[Zalanicht]

Roo has been on a maintenance dose of Imuran for 4 years. I often think about the effects of this drug long term but then again she doesn't have side effects and is in remission. We found out the hard way the havoc untreated Crohn's causes, so I think medication is by far the lesser of two evils.

Dusty.

Agree'd, I'm on Imuran now and severe Crohn's flares are so much worse then most side effects of Imuran.

 

[Silvermoon]

I am the same as braveheart, been on every med, ...

I hate the drugs too, I think we all do and we worry down the road. Best to be in control of your crohns with milder drugs or natural route.

Just my two cents for what it is worth.

Ditto! They change over the years, but in 24 years I have never not been on some kind of medication....

That being said, my brother has been in remission for about 10 years and hasn't been on any... like the disease itself, meds and duration is individual.