I have been on Asacol since Jan 09. In May while 5 mos pregnant I became very anemic and had a blood transfusion and put on Prednisone. Since thenmy doctor has tried weining me off the Prednisone, however they symptoms flare every time i get down to 20 mg. I am going to start Mercaptopurine tomorrow while continuing the Prednisone for 3 mos while I decrease off the dosage. Has anyone tried similar med's and what results did you have?
Has anyone used Asacol and Mercaptopurine for moderate to severe colitis? What results?
- Posted:
- 13 May 2010 by Tammy Morgan
- Topics:
- asacol, colitis, blood transfusion, mercaptopurine, prednisone, pregnancy, blood disorders
Details:
Responses (1)
13 May 2010
I have been on asacol, and prednisone for severe, late stage crohns disease. I had a real tough time coming off of prednisone and in fact was told I would be on it the rest of my life. with careful slow weaning, I was able to get off and stay off until years later and another flairup. The everyother day doseage decrease at and below 20mg worked best for me but it would depend on how high your dose has been and how low you can go. Later when i had a flairup, my doctor put me on asacol. It helped but not as directly as the predinsone. It took longer, didnt work as well but came with less side effects. I prefer asacol if/when possible. right now, i take nothing. I found that stress reduction worked the best for me.
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar questions
Can desferal and exgade be taken togerther?
can i take exjade during the week and when i go for transfusion they can administer desferal iv while the blood transfusion is taking place.
1 answer • 10 Jan 2011 • 
Can I be having a reaction to Niaspan after taking for several years?
I had a blood transfusion three weeks ago. When i came home that everning i had red, hot, itchy skin from my neck/face down to my thighs. I took my ...
1 answer • 9 May 2011 •
Can Asacol make you more likely to develop pneumonia?
I have collagenous colitis and had been taking 2 tabs asacol (800 mg) 3 times daily since Aug 31. I started and stopped taking asacol twice because ...
1 answer • 1 Oct 2011 •
I had a kidney removed 10 years ago is asacol safe for me to take for micro colitis?
1 answer • 4 Feb 2012 •
Why Asacol not working for Ulcerative Colitis like it used to?
I was recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in the beginning of this year, and when Asacol was prescribed, my fever and bloody stool were gone. ...
1 answer • 12 Apr 2012 •
I am actually on both the Asacol and Prednisone at 40mg/day and just started the mercaptopurine today. I will be on the pred & merc for 3 mos while I wien off the pred, however I am told I will always be on the Asacol and Merc if I can tolerate it. I have yet to actually be "well" for more than a few weeks at a time, and that has only been since I have had my baby who is now 7 mos old. I'm wondering how difficult it is to tolerate the Mercaptorpurine? and how bad the side effects from this med are?
I was on them seperatelty. Never both at the same time. I did however have the symptoms when I was pregnate and probably should have stopped at one child but they didnt get a diagonsis until after my 3rd chilld. I never took the Meta... drug. I cant help you with that. I can say that learning to reduce stress was by far, the best thing i could do and probably the most healing thing for me. I had weighed in at 73 pounds having been quite sick. I also kept a positive attitude, and tried with all my might to fight it. I believe I am one of hte lucky ones. I have no symptoms anymore on a daily basis... instead, I havy sypmptoms when things get out of control My last flairup was when my mother died. I wish you the best on your journey, Shop around and get a second opinion as well! 2 eyes are good, 4 eyes are better... etc.
Hang in there and be determined!!!
MY SON RIGHT NOW IS ON 40mg PRED. 1600mg ASACOL & 25mg 6MP. HE HAS TOLERATED ALL OF THIS WELL, HE HAS ONLY FLARED WHEN WE TOOK HIM OFF THE ASACOL. WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO ASACOL & 6MP AND NO PRED. THE ASACOL IS EXPENSIVE & THE 6MP IS CHEEP, BUT MADE FROM CHEMO DRUGS. BUT WHAT WORKS IS WORTH IT!!
Hi,
I was diagnosed with crohns in April 2010 and have been on Asacol and prednisone since then. Every time I tried to wean off the prednisone I too had the symptoms come back. I would go from 20mg down to 5mg and the symptoms would come back around 10mg. I just recently stopped taking Asacol and started 6mp last Thursday. So far I have had no side effects but am worried about the long term cancer side effects. I too have two small children (8 and 4 1/2). How are you feeling now on the mercap???
My son is on 6mp, and has been for about 7 months. He also taking Allopurinol to help the 6mp be more effective. He was on prednisone and is now completely weaned off of it. He had some high liver enzymes until the 6mp level was reduced and the allopurinol added, but since he has been on the combination of the two his test results are coming in good. Our Dr. is very adament about him staying on the the 6mp, as he says it is the best treatment they currently have for Chrone's disease.