FINASTERIDE/HRT WITH ENTOCORT ?

[Massimo]

Dear all,

I'm under entocort since 3 weeks now (@9mg) with "up & down" improvements.

I've already had this treatment (4 weeks 9mgs / 4 weeks 6mg /4 weeks 3 mg) in late 2013.

Now I'm trying 8 weeks at 9mg then 6 weeks at 6mg and I will finish 4 weeks at 3mg.

As far as I'm living in France, it's a bit expensive for me to do the enterolab test and be sure of all my intolerances.
All the tests I've done in France & Belgium didn't show any problem with gluten (fiberscopy/coloscopy/blood tests/stool tests) but still, I've started a gluten free diet since 2 years now (with still some accident sometimes).

My concern is that after 3 weeks of entocort I still have flares sometimes with 2-3 bowel movements in the morning, quite normal at first and then liquid.

I'm mostly gluten free, i'm taking cheese sometimes but not everyday. i eat vegetables/meat/rice/rice pasta always with olive oil. I'm cooking a lot from scratch as far as I love to cook and I make my own bread/pasta/cake gluten free.
I drink coffee quite a lot in the morning and coffee without cafeine in the evening

But I'm wondering about something. I've read this post where Tex explained that HRT could trigger MC (http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14516)

I'm taking finasteride (Propecia) everyday for my hair (I wasn't taking it 8 years ago but I've been taking it for a year and a half now).

Does Finasteride classified as HRT ?
Do you think that maybe taking it while entocort tries to work isn't a good idea ?

Other question : If you were gluten free 6 months and then you start entocort and 2 weeks after starting the treatment @9mg you where glutenised, is it like having done nothin ?

NB : I wrote my entire story in a previous post here (http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ht=padawan)

Thanks for your help! :)

Max

[tex]

Does Finasteride classified as HRT ?
Do you think that maybe taking it while entocort tries to work isn't a good idea ?

Other question : If you were gluten free 6 months and then you start entocort and 2 weeks after starting the treatment @9mg you where glutenised, is it like having done nothin ?

Those are tough questions, because these are uncharted waters (IOW, there is no published medical research that directly applies to this topic). However, it appears that we would have to consider Finasteride to be a form of HRT, because it works by blocking the production of 5α-reductase enzyme, and by doing so, that in turn prevents the conversion of testosterone to the more potent form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). And of course the side effects are mostly hormonal, so surely it would have to be classified as a form of HRT.

It's possible that if it is triggering an adverse effect on your MC, then yes, it could possibly prevent the Entocort from being effective at reducing your MC symptoms.

Accidental exposure to gluten does not undo all of any healing that might have taken place prior to the exposure, but it will certainly cause a temporary setback. The length/severity of the reaction will depend on how much healing has actually accrued, and on the size of the gluten dose (or doses) that triggered the reaction.

I'm mostly gluten free, i'm taking cheese sometimes but not everyday.

That may be why the Entocort is not effective. Many of us here react to even tiny traces of gluten and/or casein. We are at least as sensitive to gluten as celiacs, and some of us are more sensitive than celiacs.

Also, many of us are sensitive to soy, and those who are sensitive to soy seem to react more severely to soy, than to gluten. Soy is a very serious problem for anyone who is sensitive to it, and it is found in many food products.

You're very welcome. I hope that some of this is helpful.

Tex

[brandy]

Hi Max,

Welcome!

This is not apples to apples but I was on low dose of HRT when I went on Entocort, throughout 4.5 months on Entocort and was able to get off of Entocort while on the lowest dose of Prempro.

Hormonal changes do effect my MC. When I switched from lowdose Prempro to bioidentical hormones I was thrown into a 1 week flare which was tough to get out of---I was off Entocort at the time and had to take an antihistamine to kick me out of the flare.

I've already had this treatment (4 weeks 9mgs / 4 weeks 6mg /4 weeks 3 mg) in late 2013.

Now I'm trying 8 weeks at 9mg then 6 weeks at 6mg and I will finish 4 weeks at 3mg.

Generally folks on this board find it takes 4-5-6 months or so on Entocort. Consider a pill every other day at low end for awhile. Listen to your body regarding when to step down.

I'm mostly gluten free, i'm taking cheese sometimes but not everyday

To get and stay in remission you need to be 100% gluten free. Consider going cheese free for a year or two until you are in remission. I'm okay-now- with a few cheese shreds that might be in a restaurant salad by accident but I've been at this awhile. If you retest cheese several years down the road goat cheese will be safest choice. We've had discussions about goat cheese if you want to do a search. You will get better faster and suffer less if you eliminate cheese for now and retest a year or two in the future.

All the tests I've done in France & Belgium didn't show any problem with gluten

With the exception of the Enterolab tests the vast majority of us do not test out with any problem of gluten. i.e. My American doc did other tests on me that showed no problem with gluten. However we respond to the GF diet to get into remission.

Most of us are ok with coffee.

I make my own bread/pasta/cake gluten free.

Dee has a French bread recipe and Artisan bread recipe that look good in Dees kitchen on our forum. I have not tried them yet. Dee is a professional chef who also has MC like us. You would need to convert to metric.

[Massimo]

Dear Tex & Brandy,

Thx a lot for your quick answer. I need to investigate more about this.

I have another question. Which enterolab test you'd advice me to order ? It seems to me that the most important is to start with A1 panel ? With that one I will know if I have a problem with caseine & soy.

thx :)

[tex]

Yes, I agree that's the best choice for your situation. Many members find that adjusting their diet according those results is sufficient to bring remission. If they continue to react after those changes, then many members order the C1 panel of tests to see which of those additional foods might be a problem for them.

Tex