Entocort and hand numbness

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Wndrwmn
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Entocort and hand numbness

Post by Wndrwmn »

I started entocort 9mg a day 2 weeks ago. On Tuesday my hand went numb. I have since stopped taking entocort via recommendation from my doctor. I was wondering if anyone else has gone through something similar, how long did the numbness last, and what medicine did you try next? I am pretty bummed cause it was helping, however since stopping it I haven't had any stomach issues to speak of. Thanks!
Becky :neutral:
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Post by JLH »

http://www.drugs.com/cons/entocort-ec.html

I never took it so I have no personal experience.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.

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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Becky,

I don't recall anyone on this board mentioning having that particular side effect of Entocort. If my math is correct, you took Entocort for 10 days, at which point your hand became numb, so you stopped taking it. Since then 4 days have passed, but your hand is still numb. Right? Does your hand seem to be improved any amount at all?

If Entocort caused the paresthesia, then it should pass relatively soon. It takes a few days to get all of the Entocort out of the your system, but your level should be getting fairly low by now, (unless you didn't s top taking it on Tuesday). When the Entocort wears off, you will know it, because your GI symptoms will probably return at that point.

Was the numbness in one hand the only adverse symptom that you noticed? If your GI symptoms resume, but your hand remains numb, for longer than, say, a day, then something else may be going on.

Were you tested for celiac disease?

Tex
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Post by grannyh »

Never had any side effects from Entocort.. I did notice they added a warning in the past year or so that was never on the bottle before.. not to ingest grapefruit in any form while taking it. Not a grapefruit person so that is not a problem for me:)
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Post by Joefnh »

I have been taking this since April and so far I have not experienced and significant side effects including numbness. It has given me a little more fat distribution around the neck as steroids are known for. This will go away once the medication is stopped.

I believe the reason that you should not drink grapefruit juice is that a compound in the juice uses the same enzyme vector in the liver that the Entocort relies on for elimination from the body. If you are drinking moderate amounts of the juice on a regular basis the levels of Entocort in the system would be higher than desired. I believe the warning for the grapefruit juice applies to several medications.

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Post by grannyh »

Thank you for the explanation for the restriction on grapefruit. It is always nice to know "why":)
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Post by Gloria »

I've had numbness in my hands, but have never associated it with taking Entocort. I believe I had the numbness prior to taking the drug. It usually occurs while I'm using my laptop, so I suspect it's related to the position of my hands.
Tex wrote:It takes a few days to get all of the Entocort out of the your system, but your level should be getting fairly low by now, (unless you didn't s top taking it on Tuesday). When the Entocort wears off, you will know it, because your GI symptoms will probably return at that point.
My body is like clockwork in the return of my GI symptoms after reducing or going off Entocort. My symptoms return after 35 days of changing the dosage. This past relapse followed the same pattern. I've always assumed that it's because it takes that long for it to be completely out of my system or, in the past year or so, to be reduced to the level that it's not as effective. I believe that we've noticed that 5 weeks or 35 days is the magic number for one to be symptom-free after going off Entocort. Once you pass the 5 week mark, you can assume your diet is working. I've gotten to the finish line, but have never been able to cross over it. :???:

This may not apply to Becky, however, since she's only been on it for two weeks. She may not have built up a substantial level of Entocort in her system yet.

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Post by mbeezie »

The numbness and tingling in my hands was bilateral and was definitley related to gluten (also had it in feet and lips). I had numbness for 18 months and got off gluten and it was gone in a few days. During my last flare I was off of gluten but eating tapioca and had the same reaction. As soon as I got off tapioca it went away and hasn't returned.

Mary Beth
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Post by Wndrwmn »

Thanks for all the messages. The numbness seems to be getting a little better, either that or I am getting used to it. :wink:

Tex - I was tested for celiac, negative. Althought after reading over my test results I found out they only took 1 biopsy for the celiac and then only 2 in my colon. I was rather irritated by this. I mean if you are in there take more than 2 for goodness sake! Oh well.

I will give it till Tuesday a full 7+ days and if it still is numb I will ask them to do an X-ray or MRI or something.

I wasn't able to get back in to see my doctor till Sept 3rd, so who knows what type of meds we'll try now.

Becky
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Post by tex »

Becky,

I'm glad it seems to be improving. The reason why I asked about the celiac testing, is because, as the others mentioned, gluten can cause that symptom, for certain people who are sensitive to it, and the problem should be more prevalent for celiacs, than for people with MC.

As stingy as your doctor is with the biopsies, I'll bet he or she misses a lot of diagnoses. :roll: That's sad.

Tex
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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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