Hi!
Can anyone tell me the common side effects of Entocort? I was just diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis. I was first put on a new thing called Enterogam, plasma from cows, but did not tolerate it. Now I'm on 3 pills of Entocort in the am. I am very irritable, cannot stop eating, quick to anger etc. Is this normal? Also clenching my teeth non stop. It has stopped the problem but I have no clue what to do when the 8 week treatment is over. I know you can't take steroids for long periods. Are there any treatment options after this? Any help is appreciated.
Entocort
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Hi,
Welcome to our Internet family. The most common side effects of Entocort are increased appetite, thinning of skin, easy bruising, etc., and reduced disease resistance (due to vitamin D depletion). Irritability and aggressive behavior is less common. Bruxism (clinching or grinding teeth) is rarely mentioned as a side effect, so it may or may not be associated with the use of Entocort.
The most effective long-term treatment for LC is diet changes to totally eliminate the foods that are causing you to produce antibodies that trigger immune system responses (T-cells) that generate the inflammation that perpetuates the symptoms. Medications can help to suppress the inflammation after it is produced (by treating the symptoms), but they cannot prevent the inflammation from being regenerated. Only diet changes can stop it (by treating the cause).
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. The most common side effects of Entocort are increased appetite, thinning of skin, easy bruising, etc., and reduced disease resistance (due to vitamin D depletion). Irritability and aggressive behavior is less common. Bruxism (clinching or grinding teeth) is rarely mentioned as a side effect, so it may or may not be associated with the use of Entocort.
The most effective long-term treatment for LC is diet changes to totally eliminate the foods that are causing you to produce antibodies that trigger immune system responses (T-cells) that generate the inflammation that perpetuates the symptoms. Medications can help to suppress the inflammation after it is produced (by treating the symptoms), but they cannot prevent the inflammation from being regenerated. Only diet changes can stop it (by treating the cause).
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
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.
Hi Harper,
Welcome! If you have not bought Tex's book it is a great resource. See top right of this forum.
Irritable and quick to anger can be signs of low iron. Keep an eye on your ferritin scores when you have your blood work done. I had irritability and quick to anger while I was on Entocort but I think it was due to low iron as I had the same symptoms after I got off of Entocort.
It generally takes going GF and DF in order to go into remission and off of meds.
Eight weeks is generally not long enough stay on Entocort, i.e. eight weeks on Entocort and then off of Entocort leads to high risk of relapse. Most of us have better results with a stint of say 4-6 months with extremely long taper at low end.
I''ve been medication free since January of 2012 but I eat a GF, DF and SF diet to remain in remission.
You've come to the right place.
Brandy
Welcome! If you have not bought Tex's book it is a great resource. See top right of this forum.
Irritable and quick to anger can be signs of low iron. Keep an eye on your ferritin scores when you have your blood work done. I had irritability and quick to anger while I was on Entocort but I think it was due to low iron as I had the same symptoms after I got off of Entocort.
It generally takes going GF and DF in order to go into remission and off of meds.
Eight weeks is generally not long enough stay on Entocort, i.e. eight weeks on Entocort and then off of Entocort leads to high risk of relapse. Most of us have better results with a stint of say 4-6 months with extremely long taper at low end.
I''ve been medication free since January of 2012 but I eat a GF, DF and SF diet to remain in remission.
You've come to the right place.
Brandy
Harper,
Brandy's post reminded me that a potassium deficiency can make one irritable, quick to anger, etc. The diarrhea that is common with LC can easily cause a potassium deficiency.
Beet greens, Swiss chard, spinach, and bok choy are the best food sources of potassium, but if you decide to eat them, be sure that they are well-cooked because fiber is not well tolerated with LC, and we do best when we minimize fiber in our diet during recovery. As long as you are taking Entocort you should be able to tolerate fiber OK, though. It's after you stop using Entocort that you will need to be careful to minimize fiber in your diet.
Most of us can tolerate a couple of bananas better than either of those 4 vegetables, but 2 bananas only supply about a fourth of the daily potassium needs.
Tex
Brandy's post reminded me that a potassium deficiency can make one irritable, quick to anger, etc. The diarrhea that is common with LC can easily cause a potassium deficiency.
Beet greens, Swiss chard, spinach, and bok choy are the best food sources of potassium, but if you decide to eat them, be sure that they are well-cooked because fiber is not well tolerated with LC, and we do best when we minimize fiber in our diet during recovery. As long as you are taking Entocort you should be able to tolerate fiber OK, though. It's after you stop using Entocort that you will need to be careful to minimize fiber in your diet.
Most of us can tolerate a couple of bananas better than either of those 4 vegetables, but 2 bananas only supply about a fourth of the daily potassium needs.
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.
Welcome Harper. It's important to read as much as you can about this disease because most doctors don't know much about it. They can treat the inflammation, but not prevent it. As Tex has said, only diet can heal and then prevent symptoms from returning.
I was on Entocort for 6 months total, slowly tapering the dose as my BMs got too solid, AND AT THE SAME TIME, DRASTICALLY CHANGING MY DIET. I am three years post Dx and continue to be gluten dairy, and soy free. For the first 6 months, I also stayed away from raw fruits and veggies and fiber ( too abrasive on an inflamed gut). Peanuts didn't work nor caffeine. . I also only used coconut, safflower, and olive oil. If you do the hard work at the beginning, then you can test foods back into your diet as your gut heals.
Good luck
leah
I was on Entocort for 6 months total, slowly tapering the dose as my BMs got too solid, AND AT THE SAME TIME, DRASTICALLY CHANGING MY DIET. I am three years post Dx and continue to be gluten dairy, and soy free. For the first 6 months, I also stayed away from raw fruits and veggies and fiber ( too abrasive on an inflamed gut). Peanuts didn't work nor caffeine. . I also only used coconut, safflower, and olive oil. If you do the hard work at the beginning, then you can test foods back into your diet as your gut heals.
Good luck
leah