Entocort trigger the flu

Can you/did you experience the Flu/Cold repetitively while on this drug?

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Entocort side effects serious or mild

What were your side effects if any on Entocort? How long is it supposed to take to work?

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90 pills $1345.00 for my Entocort. Is there an alternative dug?

by Elyad
(NC)

I was just diagnosed with Colitis. Dr's Rx was 3 pills a day of Entocort. Costco price $1345.00 for 90 pills (a 1 month supply).
I have now reached the "donut hole" in my Medicare Rx program and have to pay the next $4200. out of pocket.
Has anyone had success with another less expensive drug for Colitis.
Thank you
Elyad

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Has Anyone Ever Taken Entocort EC?? I'm Scared

by Mia
(Queens, NY)

Hello,

I have wrote on here before when I was first diagnosed in November 2007. The GI doctor I have been seeing was horrible and my primary care doctor sent me to another GI specialist a couple of weeks ago. He did some blood work and a test to see if it was definatly crohns disease because the other GI doctor started to think it was celiac disease because I have no pain in my stomach (just constant loose stools for over 2 years now).

Anyway, I'm seeing a new GI doctor who is very nice and seems to be much better then the last one. He scheduled for me to have a colonoscopy on December 16th (even though I had One in the beginning of this year but I guess he wants to see for himself and he wants to do a biopsy). Well, he called me last friday to let me know my blood work came back and everything looked good but the test he did for crohn's was positive. He told me he wanted to start me on Entocort and called it in to the pharmacy. I went to pick it up but after reading the side effects I am so scared to take it. I have to see him next week so he can see how I am doing on it and I haven't started it yet.

Is there anyone out there that has taken this medication? If so what should I expect as far as side effects because I am really scared. The only medication I have had to take since I have been diagnosed was Asacol. He wants me to take 9 mg. a day (which is 3 pills in the morning).

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Have i got crohns? NEW
by: Anonymous

i was prescribed entrecort five weeks ago 3mg three times a day for 6wks the twice daily for two weeks then once daily for a week however my specialist didnt mention he thought i had crohns?

he wants to do another colonoscopy as i havnt had one fir six years.

im confused tho as the details say its for treating mild to moderate chrones dk i hav it then?
Have i got crohns? NEW
by: Anonymous

i was prescribed entrecort five weeks ago 3mg three times a day for 6wks the twice daily for two weeks then once daily for a week however my specialist didnt mention he thought i had crohns?

he wants to do another colonoscopy as i havnt had one fir six years.

im confused tho as the details say its for treating mild to moderate chrones dk i hav it then?
I have taken Entocort for 6 months now
by: Bobbie

Hi, I am a 64 year old female diagnoised with chron's disease in July 2010. I have been on Entocort for 6 1/2 months now. I have had no real side effects from it so far. I was very concerned before I would take it to but I knew that I needed it to help me feel better. I pray that you can take it without any side effects. I have gotten so I just take what he gives me. I don't want to go back into the hospital again for the 14th time. Each time I had a blockage and had 2 surgeries. God bless you.
Entocort is ok
by: Anonymous

I also wanted to tell you the first dr. my son saugh put him on 3 meds. He was taking 14 pills a day. I was not a happy mom. My son only has cramps once and this was the cause of out first dr's visit. The second dr. took him off all meds and started him on Entocort 3 times a day. No side effects!! I was a happy mom :) Like i said before, the dr. took him off Entocort just yesterday because he is doing so well.
Even though my son is 17 he is still my baby and I would never give or let him take anything I was not comfortable with.
It's ok to take Entorcort
by: Anonymous

My son has been on Entorcort for 9 months. He has done really really well. He was taking Prednazone perscribed by his first dr. I got a second option and the second dr. put him on Entorcort. It has no side effects that we have noticed.
I was very scared as you are. After all I am the mom who my child should trust, so if I tell him to take meds I better feel comfortable with it.
He has gained his weight back and looks great. He has very few brake outs unlike the Pred. he was on before that broke him out really bad. The break outs were one of the reasons i took him off of it.
Plus, Entocort only releases in the lower parts, it does not filter thru you liver or other parts of the body.
The dr. just took him off Entocort yesterday because he has been doing so well. I was not comfortable having him stay on roids for a long period of time. 9 Months was long enough.
I'm concerned...
by: Anonymous

So I haven't been diagnosed just yet because it is uncertain. I either have collagenous colitis or Inflammatory bowel disease. I had a Sigmoidoscopy and it showed some inflammation but the biopsy showed microscopic colitis. My GI doctor was baffled because I'm only 28.

He prescribed Entocort EC 3mg 3xday but i feel scared because I don't have a clear diagnoses...
He said, he wants to see how I do with it and maybe get a colonoscopy later if it doesn't help.

I'm just so uneasy about the whole thing...
Should I be worried?
entocort is good
by: Anonymous

Don't be afraid of Entocort! You MUST take it! You might get headaches at first or feel a little nauseated, but after 10 days (or less) your body will adjust to it, and you'll be fine. Be honest with your doctor. Tell him your fears. He sounds like a good guy. I take Entocort and it works.
entocort is good
by: Anonymous

Don't be afraid of Entocort! You MUST take it! You might get headaches at first or feel a little nauseated, but after 10 days (or less) your body will adjust to it, and you'll be fine. Be honest with your doctor. Tell him your fears. He sounds like a good guy. I take Entocort and it works.
Pipestone Minnesota
by: Heidi Gorter

I haven't had much luck with entocort been on it for three months. I am very moody. I had to go on a super low card diet and that has helped with my nausea. Yes it is scary taking this drug i'm with you on that. I've been trying to get into the mayo clinic but my insurance in not in the next work so I am on my third docotor coming up July 23. I have Chron's disease in my ileum and ileocecal valve when they diagnosed me my valve was so swollen it was alomost swollen shut. MY internal medicine doctor said not to go on it because i could have major complications. Also I am anemic severely for the third time in a year and half and have to get iron infusion. Being anemic is common i found out if you have Chron's disease. I wish I could get off this drug to becaue i been having worse sleeping problems and have horrible mood swings. Hope this helps. Heidi
Addendum to
by: Anonymous

Turns out the fact that my teeth were getting discolored was actually from some sort of green slime on my tongue, not a lack of calcium. My naturopath thinks the green on my tongue is probably from an intestinal overgrowth. Nonetheless, I am happy to be off of Entocort now, as I was worried about my calcium levels--osteoporosis runs in my family.

Also, sagemedlab.com worked for me for a while, then I flared up again. I recommend Elaine Gottschall's specific carbohydrate diet instead. It should break the vicious cycle that is causing the food allergies in the first place in many cases. It's said to work for at least 75% of people. I'm on Pentasa right now and trying that diet. Some people who try it are able to get off their medication.
Entocort & Calcium
by: Anonymous

Hi there,

I've been on Entocort for over a year. I've heard from several places that you are not supposed to be on it for more than 2 or 3 months, but my doctor did not seem concerned about that. I am thinking about asking him to put me back on Pentasa now, though, because my condition seems to be doing a lot better and I think I am having some side effects.

I don't have any immediate side effects, but it just wears down on you. You see, Entocort is also used to treat people who have TOO MUCH calcium in their blood or something, and it is consequently reducing the calcium in my blood. I mean, I drank tons of milk and had tons of calcium supplementation, and my calcium was still on the low side in my last blood test. I've gotten my first cavity ever while on this and now some of my teeth are starting to be discolored--and I don't drink coffee, tea, smoke, or anything like that. Maybe I didn't brush enough or ate too much sugar as far as the cavitybgoes, but I am just suspicious of using this drug over three months, as there is no reason my calcium should have been so low in my blood test. Plus, Entocort can affect your skin, and I have been having problems with acne on my chest. I had it before, but I am wondering if it is worse now because of Entocort.

So, in short, use Entocort if you need it! It's fine for a few months, but after that--get off it if you can! It has harmful side effects in the long run. And take lots and LOTS of calcium supplementation!

By the way, go to sagemedlab.com and look at their delayed food senstivities testing. I had that done and I think it is making me better to the point where I feel like maybe I can go off the corticosteroid and on to a less aggressive medication.
Entocort
by: Mia

*UPDATE*

Well, I just started taking them (Entocort) yesturday (1-15-09) because I couldnt take feeling sick anymore. I don't know how long it supose to take before you notice side effects but this is my second day and so far I haven't noticed anything, Thank God. I just hope none develop as the days go on.

Do you know how long it will take before I will stop running to the bathroom? I have slowed down but still am going. I haven't had a normal bowel movement in over 2 years. I really hope this medication helps me without side effects. I am also on Asacol (but I've been on that for a while and it hasn't done anything to help me that I know of).
The only thing that I have noticed the last couple of days is a headache but that happened the day before I started the entocort but now it just won't go away. It could be from my blood pressure because when I went to my GYN doctor on Wed. (because I think I have a rectovaginal fistula) my blood pressure was 158/101. It's been up and down since I was pregnant with my almost 3 year old and I don't know why the doctors haven't put me on medication for it. They all just tell me to tell the next doctor. What happened to the good old days when it felt like doctors really seemed to care.
entocort
by: tod

I have been on and off entocort numerous times. It is much milder than Prednisone or even Cortenemas and to date has produced no side effects except helping to keep my Crohn's under control!
Thank You
by: Mia

I just wanted to thank the people who wrote me. It made me feel a little better about taking it :-). I just got really scared when I read the side effects and I don't want to pass out or anything (especially because I have small children in the house). I also was nervous that it would increase my anxiety because I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. They always say that steroids will increase anxiety and depression. Well, I am going to do my best to start it tomorrow morning (monday). I will probably have to come back here to read what you wrote to me again to give me the boost to just go ahead and take them. If anyone would like to email me please feel free, sweetnakira@yahoo.com. Thank you so much and I really hope I take those pills tomorrow so I won't be scared to eat anymore because if I hear one more person tell me how much weight I lost I'm really going to get depressed. Oh, has anyone had problems sleeping at night?
-Mia
entorcort
by: jo

hi plz dont be scared i had my entorcort for a month !before taking cause i was worried so start it and u feel better after a good week go 4 it hunni u will be fine keep me posted of ur progress u can email me !! wonderfulwyatt@yahoo.co.uk gd luck jo x
Has Anyone Ever Taken Entocort EC?? I'm Scared
by: Anonymous

I did not used Entocort before, but Asacol and Metrotrexate that has more side effects. Your GI will not prescribe medications that will harm you. Entocort is a steroid that reduce the inflamation and it i not been taken up in your blood stream but work directly on your intestines and colon. You can continue with it, and it is safely.
Entocort EC
by: Kim

Hey don't be scared. I was on Entocort for over six months. It was actually the only medicine that actually made me feel better. There were no side effects from it that I know of. The only reason that I am not still on it is because I now take Humira. Anyway, like I said "don't be scared." By the way, I was diagnosed in November 2007, too, after going through a colonoscopy. If you ever just want someone to talk to, email me anytime- shanawitt1204@msn.com.

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entocort

Any comments on Entocort vs. Pentasa?

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pentasa
by: Lee

Hi there,
I have had crohns since 1997 had a resection surgery and was just released from hospital today for an obstruction. Everything the specialist has tried has not worked forever and i think that is what this disease is all about. you go into remission just like cancer with it and no matter how long you are on a certain drug it will always come back. I have done some extensive research with this disease and feel that it is a lifestyle that people live that makes it come back and when it does it usually comes back ten fold. i have been put on pentasa back in 03 when i had my surgery and again since i have been released from hospital but without predisone it really wont do much for too long. As any crohns patient knows you cant take a steroid forever due to complications with bones and stomach lining so the best advised i can give would be that when you feel the symptoms flare up make sure you have 5 days of predisone on hand and also a month worth of pentasa on hand so u dont end up in emergency room with your stomach half open having you intestines ripped out. flare ups are for more than 7 days up to a month if not longer if treated. if you have thes2 meds on hand and it has been more than a week with a flare up take perscribed amount which is usually 40mg of predisone for the first week and decrease by 5mg weekly after the first and pentasa is usually 1000mg 4 times a day. Stay on soft diet low fibre while in flare up. hope this helps

Lee
(canada)
i <3 entocort
by: Anonymous

When I was first diagnosed, I was given entocort for 3 months, before my azathioprine had a chance to kick in. It was amazing. It really reduced my pain, and as far as I could tell, there were no side effects. I was sad when I was supposed to go off it. Nothing else is as consistently awesome (but I also don't want to be taking steroids forever).
Entocort vs. Pentasa
by: Vanisha, NZ

Well, I can't say much about Entocort so for that my advice may very well be useless.
However, I do have some advice on Pentasa. I have been taking Pentasa now for around 8 years non-stop and during that time I have had 2 flare-ups - one of which lasted 4 years.
I recently got put on Azathioprine and still I felt sick. One day I decided to stop taking the Pentasa as it always made me feel nauseas afterwards. It's been more than 2 months and I now feel free of my earlier symptoms and I have a healthy appetite in which I can eat anything I crave - including spicy food.
So I'm not saying that Pentasa is bad for you but I listened to my body in terms of nausea and I now feel on top of the world.

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Please Help Regarding Entocort Ec

by Mia
(Queens, NY)

I know I asked about this over a month ago but Here I am again. Can someone please help!

Hello, I have lost so much weight and can't really eat anything so I can gain weight. I lose weight so fast and it is so hard for me to gain weight. My doctor prescribed Entocort EC (3mg- 3 pills every moring so actually it would be on 9mg a day). I am so scared to take it though. I have had the pills for over a month and haven't taken them yet. Being that it is a steroid I am very worried for a number of reasons. One, is because I have 5 kids who are always getting colds from the cold weather and being in school and from what I have read about the medication it says to avoid being around people who are sick because your immune system is lower while being on steroids. The second reason, i suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and I'm so worried that the steroids will increase the anxiety because from what I read it can cause you to suffer from anxiety and you can have problems sleeping at night from feeling anxious and restless. I want to take them so I can stop running to he bathroom and feel normal again but I am so scared. I also heard that when you try to get off of entocort your symptoms come right back and sometimes can actually be worse then whe you started the pills.

I have lost so much weight that my doctor also gave me a prescription for Ensure (which is like a milk shake). The only problem with drinking them for me is that it makes my stomach hurt and I don't know why because it's lactose free. I try to eat pasta and mashed potatoes to try and gain weight but I haven't gained 1 pound because as soon as I eat I am in the bathroom.

I really want to be able to take the Entocort and not be scared so if there are people out there that has taken it and it has helped them can you please give me some of your stories. Does taken Entocort help you gain weight? What side effects have other people experienced? Thank you so much in advance.

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help
by: Anonymous

OMG!!! Entocort is the best thing since sliced bread. I was on it for 6 months last year. My doctor says it is not a 'long term' medication so i can't stay on it. He put me back on it for 2 months this year and back off of it. He expected this medication to correct my issues and it did but i can't stay on it. I am back to square one now and still having tests done to figure out what the heck is going on with me. Take the entocort, even if its just for a few months. At least you'll have a little bit of sanity and quality of life. I had no side effects. It was the first time in ten years that i had a regular bowel movement. Good luck!!
entocort ec
by: Gloria

I have been on entocort ec for about 2 1/2 yrs now. I definately feel much better. I do have flare ups but its so much better than what I was going through before. My side affects: I have gain some weight but nothing to cry about, my vision is a little worse and I bruise more often. I am afraid to stop using it because I do not want to be disappointed and sick. Btw, I am also on low dose anti-depressant to help with my stresses and anxiety which in turn helps my stomach. I hope my story helps and good luck.
user
by: Anonymous

Iormal and demand that they find out what is wrong have taken entocort for almost a year and am presently down to 2 pills in the am and it seems to be fine. I have had no side effects that I know of. I,m going to demand more test to actually find out why I have this collitis. After the doc. did the scope up my rectum he decided I had interal hemmorroids and collitis but only said the collitis was an inflamation of the colon. I asked why and recieved no acceptable answer. If were you I would take the entocort and get back to normal and demand that they run every test they can to find out why?
ocean bluff
by: Anonymous

Hi I am currently taking entecort and have been for about 7 months I took 3 pills a day breakfast, lunch and dinner. I felt alot better within several days. Iam now only on 1 pill a day and I am doing ok. What you are eating is causing some of the running to the bathroom. I have found what I eat makes a difference in bowel movements and how many times I am in the bathroom..lately I have been eating several pieces of wholwe wheat bread with real butter not margarine..several hours later eating a banana.. and try to maintain a healthy diet. I found out not to eat beef,pork I only eat chicken and turkey I feel so much better doing that too, I do walk everyday so I did not gain weight. I am almost 54 years old now and I think positive give this a try. Good luck
Help Regarding Entocort EC
by: Kim

I was on Entocort for almost a year. I can tell you that it does help to relieve Crohns symptoms. It won't take it all away, but I haven't found anything that will. It will not make you feel anymore anxious than normal. I suffer from anxiety too. I don't know that it helped me gain any weight, but I didn't loose anymore once I started Entocort. I was also taking Lialda while on the Entocort. You should ask your doctor about that. Don't be scared to take the medicine. I have two girls who were sick off and on while I was taking Entocort, and I don't remember getting sick anymore than I would typically expect to. If you are still unsure about the medicine, then you need to talk to your doctor. He/she can't help you if they don't know what is going on. Especially if they think you have been taking this medicine for the last month. There will be a lot of trial and error with medicines in the first few years of being diagnosed with Crohns. You have to be very open and honest with your doctor about how you feel. You can't get better until you find medicine that works for you. Maybe it won't be the Entocort, but you don't know until you try. Any new medicine should be taken for at least 3 weeks to determine if it will be useful. Hope I was helpful. Good Luck.
RE: medications
by: Mia

Hi, I am also on Asacol (3 pills 3x's a day) and I have been on that for about a year now. It hasn't helped stop the loose bowel movements at all. On Christmas I was in the hospital because I have been running a low grade fever for a week and they did another CAT scan. It showed I STILL have the thickining in the illium. It's been about a year since I found out I had crohn's and I thought the Asacol would help that. I really want to get over the fear of trying the Entocort before I get worse but I really need to hear some positive information rom someone as opposed to all the negative stuff I have read about it. My GI doctor doesn't even know that I haven't started it yet and I'm to scared to tell him. I haven't had to see him so I didn't lie to him and tell him I have taken it but I am worried about when I do go and see him because I will have to tell him but I'm hoping to have gotton the guts up to start it by then. I'm just really scared....
medacation
by: Anonymous

it will help you go in reamission with your chroghns, but then again there are other medacines that can help also. but till you try your medication you wont know if thats the right one for you. there is qa good website www.chroghns and colitis foundation hope this helps exuse my spelling

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To Mia in Queens, N.Y. about Entocort.

Mia,
I am a Crohn's Disease sufferer and have been for over 40 years, two major surgeries. When I was diagnosed they did not have a name for the disease, just called it Regional Enteritis.

On Entocort, I have been on it for over 5 years and have had no side effects. I think it has helped me to some extent but hasn't kept me out of the hospital. You are on the right track if you are going to a GI specialist because they know just what to do. A colonoscopy helps a great deal to find out how things are really doing in your lower gut..I get one every year. Follow your doctors advice, excercise and eat good food. You are young and should be able to keep your disease under control.

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Crohn's Disease and Entocort EC

by Judith
(Kansas City)

My Crohn's has been inactive for years and I have just had a minor flare up. The doctor has put me on 9 mg Entocort EC daily and I am having gastrointestional flu like symptoms. Severe gastrointestional distress, major gas and am trying not to eat because of the side effects.

Any chance these side effects will resolve over time? I've only been on Entocort EC for two weeks.

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Entocort
by: Anonymous

I am also on Entocort. If after two weeks of feeling sick phone your Dr. Do not stop it without talking to you Dr.as it is a steriod and should be stopped gradually. Entocort might take a few weeks to work. I find that entocort has fewer side effects than Prednisone and you don't get the weight gain and round face. Hope you feel better.
Entocort EC
by: Shelly

I am on Entocort EC also, have been for only 3 weeks. It has worked wonders for me but the only side effects I have had are headache and problems staying asleep at night. If I had flu symptoms I'd stop taking it. Call your doctor. Maybe this doesn't work for you.

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What to expect when taking oral Entocort

by John Fierro
(Mesa, AZ)

My son was diagnosed with Crohns Disease 3 years ago. After several hospitalizations and a bowel resection, he is doing quite well on Humira.
His past two lab results indicated that he was slightly anemic and his gastroenterologist has prescribed Entocort 9mg daily for 3 months to see if this
will eliminate the the cause of the anemia.

He has taken prednisone in the past and hated how it made him feel.
Can anyone shed any light on what to expect with Entocort?

Thanks,

John

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What to expect when taking Entocort
by: Anonymous

Entocort does not have all the side effects of prednisone. It works only in the small intestine and bowel. It relieves inflammation and helps the tissue heal. Obviously the doctor still believes there is bleeding in the intestine which is causing the anemia if he prescribed this. I have been on Entocort for over a year. I prefer it over prednisone. Entocort has been known to help with remission of symptoms relating to Crohn's disease. I hope this helped.

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