Hi all,
I am in the middle of a flare-up and await the results of a new colonoscopy; in the meantime, I have gained some control through a change in diet supported by Pepto Bismol and imodium. However, depending on whether healing proceeds, I would like to know a little about using Entocort, particularly since my GI has never heard of it as a treatment for MC.
This information will be useful for "educating" my GI:
1. What is the "normal" dose people tend to have? If known, what tends to be the average amount of time on the treatment?
(I think I have read here that folks adjust their dosage according to their healing process, and they are careful to taper off it).
2. What would be the lowest dose to take, and could I take this every other day or so? My thinking is this: if I try Entocort I would like to start minimally.
3. Is it okay to use a low dose of Entocort combined with continued daily Pepto-Bismol with imodium as needed?
4. What is the least duration of treatment (ie least amount of time taking the steroid before stopping)?
One reason I am a bit cagey about diving in head first is that I already take daily corticosteroids for my Addison's Disease.
Many thanks to you all.
New to Entocort--Advice Please!
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Pebbledash
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Hi,
Without knowing your current daily corticosteroid dosage (and type) there is no way that I can answer your questions correctly (and safely). An existing corticosteroid treatment greatly complicates the issue, because the budesonide is going to eventually suppress your adrenal function even further.
You can find a complete label for Entocort EC at the link below:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfd ... 008lbl.pdf
Your doctor is not going to believe what you, I, or anyone else who does not have a medial degree says about any of this. He might believe what another doctor says, though, so you could show him the back cover of my book, which includes another doctor's opinion on treating MC with budesonide, based on her own personal experience.
In general, if you don't take a large enough dose of a cortecosteroid (or any other medication, for that matter), you might as well not be taking any, because it will not be effective in inadequate dosages. I can't tell you what that minimum effective dose might be, because we all respond differently to medications.
The label dosage for Entocort EC is 9 mg (3 capsues of 3 mg each) daily. The recommended treatment regimen is up to 8 weeks.
Most members here who successfully use Entocort to achieve remission from MC, take it for at least 6 months to a year or more (with declining dosages). Even the most difficult cases are usually able to maintain remission with diet changes and 3 mg of Entocort daily, or every other day, and in some cases, every third day.
Yes, it's safe to take Entocort together with Pepto-Bismol and/or Imodium.
Tex
Without knowing your current daily corticosteroid dosage (and type) there is no way that I can answer your questions correctly (and safely). An existing corticosteroid treatment greatly complicates the issue, because the budesonide is going to eventually suppress your adrenal function even further.
You can find a complete label for Entocort EC at the link below:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfd ... 008lbl.pdf
Your doctor is not going to believe what you, I, or anyone else who does not have a medial degree says about any of this. He might believe what another doctor says, though, so you could show him the back cover of my book, which includes another doctor's opinion on treating MC with budesonide, based on her own personal experience.
In general, if you don't take a large enough dose of a cortecosteroid (or any other medication, for that matter), you might as well not be taking any, because it will not be effective in inadequate dosages. I can't tell you what that minimum effective dose might be, because we all respond differently to medications.
That's not the way that corticosteroids work. With corticosteroids, you start with a substantial dose, and taper down from there. The other way around won't work.Pebbledash wrote:My thinking is this: if I try Entocort I would like to start minimally.
The label dosage for Entocort EC is 9 mg (3 capsues of 3 mg each) daily. The recommended treatment regimen is up to 8 weeks.
Most members here who successfully use Entocort to achieve remission from MC, take it for at least 6 months to a year or more (with declining dosages). Even the most difficult cases are usually able to maintain remission with diet changes and 3 mg of Entocort daily, or every other day, and in some cases, every third day.
Yes, it's safe to take Entocort together with Pepto-Bismol and/or Imodium.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Pebbledash
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 1:37 pm