Talk Cancer » Cancer Hospital » Pred. stopped, alternative urgently needed.
Pred. stopped, alternative urgently needed.
Question:
Hi, After twenty five years with CD and taking Pred. I have suffered Catastrophic bleeding of the gastrointestinal system which has been blaimed on the Pred. I am awaiting surgery (too weak at present) but the CD without the Pred. is running riot. I am taking Asacol 2,three times a day Lomital 2 three times a day Food just drops through me, My Doctor is looking for ideas (I am his only CD patient) the Consultant at the hospital has written to my Doctor telling him I must not take Pred. Any suggestions very welcome — Ian Douglas
Response:
After twenty five years with CD and taking Pred. I have suffered Catastrophic bleeding of the gastrointestinal system which has been blaimed on the Pred. I am awaiting surgery (too weak at present) but the CD without the Pred. is running riot. I am taking Asacol 2,three times a day Lomital 2 three times a day Food just drops through me, My Doctor is looking for ideas (I am his only CD patient) the Consultant at the hospital has written to my Doctor telling him I must not take Pred.
Layman’s opinion: you sound like a candidate for 6-MP, which allows many to get off prednisone. Since you can’t afford to wait the two or three months it normally takes to reach therapeutic blood levels of 6-MP with the oral meds, your doc could try the newer method of putting you in the hospital and giving it IV in high doses, with frequent blood checks, until you reach a therapeutic level, after a few days. Then you go home and continue the oral meds. This procedure is pretty new for IBD, but apparently has been used for a long time in treating kids with cancer. Any up-to-date pediatric oncologist would know the details. —