I took three Budesonide capsules for the first time yesterday. This morning I had a perfect bowel movement. Today I took one capsule. I am thinking of taking one capsule for a week. If I need more, I will take more. If things continue as they are I will go to a capsule every two days, then 3, etc.
1. Is this a good plan?
2. I have read here that I should never taper Budesonide to zero. What is the lowest maintenance dose?
3. I am getting mixed messages on psyllium. Is it likely to be helpful? I have taken a single capsule of the Walgreens version for each of the last few days, with no apparent effect, but am thinking of stepping up the amount. I would rather be dependent on psyllium than on Budesonide, and probably should have kept increasing psyllium for a few days before taking the Budesonide. Now that I have screwed up, what should I do ?
Budesonide tapering and psyllium
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
Re: Budesonide tapering and psyllium
You seem to be misinterpreting the information here. If you have a normal case of MC, you're not going to be able to taper the dose of budesonide within a day or two of starting the treatment, without having a relapse. If you don't have a relapse in that situation, your symptoms are extremely easy to control.
And normally, most of us don't continue to take a very light dose of budesonide after we wean off the treatment. Continuing to use a very light dose is only necessary for someone who chooses to restart a budesonide treatment multiple times. The reason for that is because published research shows that each time a budesonide treatment is stopped and then subsequently restarted again, it becomes less effective each time that occurs, and eventually budesonide will stop working altogether as it completely loses its efficacy. In other words continuing to use a small dose of budesonide is simply insurance to prevent it from losing its effectiveness for patients who continue to stop and then restart another treatment, numerous times.
Psyllium has no anti-inflammatory properties. It simply serves to thicken watery stools, giving the impression that it's helping. But unfortunately, it thickens stools at the risk of causing the diarrhea to continue, because like most fiber, psyllium irritates the epithelium of the colon.
I hope this clarifies your understanding of these issues. If it doesn't, please feel free to ask, and I'll try to do a better job of explaining the situation.
Tex
And normally, most of us don't continue to take a very light dose of budesonide after we wean off the treatment. Continuing to use a very light dose is only necessary for someone who chooses to restart a budesonide treatment multiple times. The reason for that is because published research shows that each time a budesonide treatment is stopped and then subsequently restarted again, it becomes less effective each time that occurs, and eventually budesonide will stop working altogether as it completely loses its efficacy. In other words continuing to use a small dose of budesonide is simply insurance to prevent it from losing its effectiveness for patients who continue to stop and then restart another treatment, numerous times.
Psyllium has no anti-inflammatory properties. It simply serves to thicken watery stools, giving the impression that it's helping. But unfortunately, it thickens stools at the risk of causing the diarrhea to continue, because like most fiber, psyllium irritates the epithelium of the colon.
I hope this clarifies your understanding of these issues. If it doesn't, please feel free to ask, and I'll try to do a better job of explaining the situation.
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.