ENT Doc sees no problem with off label use of antihistamines

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:27 am

Granted she knows nothing about CC and never heard of entocort but said other than dry mouth and nasal passages from use of antihistamines with no presence of allergy it shouldn't cause any earth shattering problems. She suggested sinus rinses for the dryness.

Since no cure works for everyone.. the more things people find that might work.. gives everyone more options to try. The price difference between entocort and generic antihistamines is breath taking...
grannyh

Post by **tex** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:10 pm

Entocort is priced right up there with gold, these days. Interestingly, in a way (as far as the end result is concerned), Entocort works somewhat similarly to antihistamines. Corticosteroids apparently suppress inflammation by suppressing mast cell numbers, whereas antihistamines work by preventing histamine from activating histamine receptors. Since histamine seems to be the primary inflammation modulator released by mast cells, for many of us with MC, the resulting effect can be quite similar, except that antihistamines don't carry the same side effect risks as corticosteroids.

Thanks for tracking down that information.

Tex

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:16 pm

Tex,
Just checked the price of gold... US gold bullion was $1616 an ounce just a few minutes ago. Last price I got for entocort was $1600 for 30 day supply (90 pills) so you are soooo right!
grannyh

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:43 pm

Yep, Imodium is even cheaper than antihistamines. I think it's more effective than Entocort is for me this time around.

Gloria

ant · Post by **ant** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:36 am

Dear Tex,

in a way (as far as the end result is concerned), Entocort works somewhat similarly to antihistamines. Corticosteroids apparently suppress inflammation by suppressing mast cell numbers, whereas antihistamines work by preventing histamine from activating histamine receptors.

Thanks for the information. Fascinating. Although I am doing OK with my entocort treatment, perhaps I should try out antihistamines if they are safer (and cheaper).

Best ant

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:32 am

Gloria,
Does imodium make you sleepy? I used lomotil for years before entocort came back on the market but it made me sooooo sleepy. My insurance no longer covers lomotil!
grannyh

kayare · Post by **kayare** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:42 pm

Hi Grannyh,

I have used Imodium for several years to control my symptoms. I was diagnosed just a year ago. I don't have any side effects when using it and find it highly effective.

Kathy

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:43 pm

Kathy,
Thank you for letting me know your experience with imodium. Will get some next time I go to the drug store to have it on hand.
grannyh

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:36 pm

GrannyH,

The only side effect I've had from Imodium is feeling bound up after I've taken 2 a day. I've found that 1/2 - 1 pill a day works fine.

Gloria

grannyh · Post by **grannyh** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:41 pm

I had the same problem with lomotil.. so tried not to take two in a day unless absolutely necessary.
grannyh

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:06 am

Are antihistamine users taking H1 or H2 blockers? Do you take it every day? I'd sure love to get off Entocort.

FWIW, I was taking Zyrtec daily for a couple of years. All it did was dry out my nose so much that every breath I took smelled like garbage! I still needed the Entocort too so I'm guessing you're taking H2 types of antihistamines. I have low-ish stomach acid though so that could make life more complicated in the acid-reducing department.

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 6:12 pm

Gloria, taking immodium long term is ok? Maybe if I tried 2 a day I'd be able to resuce the entocort to one every other day?

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:17 pm

Everything I've read indicates that Imodium can be taken long-term and is safe. You may not need 2 a day in order to reduce Entocort. I am taking 1/2 Imodium in conjunction with 2 Entocort. I was unable to reduce from 3 Entocort a day until I substituted 1/2 Imodium for 1 Entocort. I've just started to reduce 1 Entocort a day every three days. Thus far, I haven't needed to increase the Imodium, but I will if I need to.

My reasons are the following:

Entocort is very expensive, especially under my Medicare prescription plan.

I have deteriorating osteoporosis which is likely exacerbated by taking a steroid.

If Tex's theory is correct, taking an anti-inflammatory slows the healing process.

The biggest MC advantage I've noticed that Entocort has over Imodium is the urgency is reduced or gone.

A couple of weeks ago, when DD was still visiting, I put my Imodium out of reach of my granddaughters. I forgot to take it for about a week and began to have accidents and D, even though I was still taking 2 Entocort a day. Once I remembered to resume the Imodium, I returned to having Normans within 5 days.

Gloria

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:23 pm

Thanks Gloria, I never thought of trying with the entocort. I'm doing about the same alternating the two meds, maybe I'll try decreasing the immodium to just one and see what happens.