Yet another Entocort question - colds?

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I just refilled my Entocort prescription, and I was reading over the information. There's a section that says:

"Corticosteroids may lower your ability to fight infection or may cause infections to become more severe. The risk may be greater if you take them for a long time. Avoid contact with people who have infections such as colds, chickenpox, measles, or tuberculosis (TB). Tell your doctor right away if you have contact with anyone who has these infections. Tell your doctor if you develop symptoms such as fever, sore throat, rash, or chills."

Well, my husband has just come down with a cold, which means I'm probably going to catch it too. Do I really need to call my doctor and tell him that? I obviously would call my doctor if I were exposed to TB or measles, but a cold? What do you guys think? For the record, I've been on Entocort for 8 weeks, so not a terribly long time, and I haven't had a cold in over a year.

 

[Nica]

Entocort is supposed to stay in your guts, so the immune side effects are minimal. If you start to get sick I would call otherwise I would not. I Have never called my GI when someone in the house was sick, I have never picked up an illness on entocort either. (now its a dif story with all the other meds)

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

That makes sense. I will wait and see and then will call my doctor if I do start to develop the symptoms of a cold. Another question while I'm thinking of it - does anyone know if things like NyQuil are safe to take while on Entocort? That's always my go-to drug of choice when I have a cold, but if I do get a cold I want to make sure I'm taking something that's easy on the gut and won't interfere with Entocort.

 

[Jessica]

Cat - I've never had a problem taking other meds with my Entocort. And I haven't gotten horribly sick with everyone in my house has gotten sick. I've gotten down as if I was fighting something. It's guaranteed that I feel like this almost everytime someone has something. But not yet have I actually stayed home from work for anything but my Crohn's.

I think NyQuil would be fine. This would make sure you also got your sleep. God knows no sleep makes my Crohn's act up.

Stay well & don't forget the Lysol or Clorox Wipes <3

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Thanks Jessica. Yeah, I am carrying a bottle of hand sanitizer with me everywhere I go and using it about 50 times a day! I can't tell yet if I've caught the cold or not, my sinuses are acting up but they do that all the time (allergies) so I don't know. It could just be the change of weather that's causing my sinus problems right now - it was 60 degrees out yesterday and it's about 20 degrees out now. I'll take it easy, and hopefully the cold won't manifest.

 

[Becky]

I have had several colds, including right now, while on entocort and been fine. My GI just wants me to call if I get a fever and even then i would probably wait it out a few days first.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Well, I've definitely caught my hubby's cold, although it's not too bad (yet anyway). I'm a bit congested and my throat hurts. No fever or anything though so I won't call my doctor unless I get significantly worse and/or develop a fever.

 

[Jessica]

Sorry to hear, Cat. Remember to drink plenty of liquids and eat lots of soups. Get your rest, missy! <3

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

No rest for the wicked, ha ha. I'm at work for another couple of hours and then we have to bake 2 pies for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I could have just bought pies and rested this evening, but we're going to my aunt & uncle's and they're gluten-free, so I had to go buy some special gluten-free rice flour to make pie crusts. Honestly though, this cold still isn't very bad, I'm just a bit congested and my throat hurts (my hubby had it much worse, he was coughing like crazy and had body aches and bad fatigue). I'll take it as easy as I can through Thanksgiving and then will rest up the remainder of the long weekend.

 

[Jessica]

Then please enjoy your 4 day weekend. I know I'll be trying to do the same.