I've been taking a low-dosage of entocort tabs for pouchitis for a few weeks, but my symptoms seem to be getting worse. I also feel the tabs may be causing mood swings.
My doctor had suggested some time ago that I try entocort enemas but I resisted because I was concerned about damaging the pouch with the nozzle . Can anyone tell me how safe it is to self-administer entocort this way ?

The insertion tips for retention enemas are smaller than your finger, about the diameter of a pencil. You should be fine. Topical is the best way to go with steroids, even with Entocort because you get the highest concentration just where you need it.

Go for it.

Jan

Thank you, Jan.
I'm close to desperation at this point.
I've had pouchitis pretty constantly since the final procedure over two years ago, and I can't tolerate flagyl or cipro.
Cheers.
Gary

Emilio, I sure would not refuse to take a medication that may help me because some people have side effects. If everyone had intolerable side effects, they would not prescribe it. Many people are able to take these for years without problems.

The good news is that if you experience side effects you don't like, you just stop the antibiotic and the side effects go away. Granted, some side effects, such as peripheral neuropathy, can become permanent if you continue to take it for a prolonged period after the side effect becomes evident.

I think it is worth trying and it may help with your pain. A lot of people have rectal pain from pouchitis.

Jan

For me the side-effects were nerve damage in my hands and my feet.
It started with a tingling sensation, like pins and needles, then mild numbness, and before I knew it I had what is probably permanent loss of feeling in the front of my feet and parts of my fingers. There are other potential side effects including ruptured tendons in extreme cases.
You can find out more just by Googling ciprofloxacin or flagyl.

Oh, sorry Emilio. I wasn't aware that you were in any sort of early kidney failure. I know you have had stones. I know that I have taken Flagyl for about a month straight without ever having any neuropathies, and I would know to stop it immediately if they developed. One low dose of Flagyl showed immediate results within hours for me, stopping the diarrhea. The main problem with Cipro is a potential of tendinopathy, particularly the Achilles tendon. However, it is not the typical result.

All I am saying is that the inflammation of pouchitis can contribute to your discomfort in many ways, from pain to fatigue, so I would not dismiss it out of hand.

Jan

Emilio--I noticed the tingling but the Flagyl did such an effective job of ending my pouchitis symptoms that
I didn't pay much attention to the problem. I only checked with the doctor when numbness started setting in. I learned a lesson. So when I was on Cipro, I spotted the side-effects immediately.
All the best.

With both medications,
it took several weeks for symptoms to start.
In both cases the dosages were moderate.

Ask your doctor about Rowasa enimas. I started doing them once per day and have had awesome results. I'm told there are no side effects. I started putting them in at night and that was causing me to sleep terribly, but I've transitioned to once per morning and can retain 4-6 hours which is fantastic. My pouchitis has been in control now after 15 years of on again off again flagyl.

I used to use a similar product pre-pouch. As Jan said, the insertion tip is very small and shouldn't present a risk. If you've never administered an enema before, a suggestion:

Lie on your side, legs pulled up, and slowly (and gently) insert the tip with your free hand. Squeeze the bottle gently and slowly to release the medicine.

You'll be fine.