chronic pouchitis and prednisone

clz81Member

I've been treating my pouchitis by rotating antibiotics and Pepto Bismol. This has been working pretty well for me, however, I noticed that the Augmentin really was not doing the trick this time around. I was ready to rotate off of it after just a few days. The PB is working better for me than the Augmentin for the time being. Long story, short...I had to take a 6 day methylprednisone pack for my shoulder. Boy, did it to wonders for my pouch! I know prednisone is a scary word from most of our pasts. But I was wondering, what's the lesser evil...antibiotics or a 6 day pack of prednisone? Just curious if anyone else with chronic pouchitis throws in the steroids a few times a year to calm everything down and get a break from the antibiotics. Thoughts are appreciated :-)

7/6/1210:28 AM

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CTBarristerMember

I am taking Entocort right now and supposed to wean off the antibiotics in 1 week and see how that goes. The question you raise of what is the lesser evil, steroid meds or antibiotics, is an interesting one. I have tolerated the antibiotics well for many years but someone else suggested they may actually be causing the inflammation in my ileum. So far I am doing well since starting Entocort, but the big question is what happens when I drop the antibiotics starting next week. We shall see.........

7/6/1210:48 AM

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SubskyMember

Prednisone has always been a miracle drug for me. I'm on 30mg right now, going down to 25mg tomorrow. I was on 40mg when let out of the hospital. I've also done very well on antibiotics, I did a 14 day course of cipro/flagyl with zero side effects, and I've been off them for almost 2 weeks and don't have any pouchitis symptoms right now.

Long term I think they are both pretty harsh on your body, the cipro apparently takes out knee joints over time, and prednisone will also trash your bones/joints.

I think a 6 day course of prednisone isn't going to be bad for you, I'm on this stuff until into the first week in august, and I feel great. I wouldn`t ever consider taking antibiotcs long term, I think flora play a very important role in our diseases so I don`t want them always to wiped out for me not to have symptoms.

About 5 days after stopping my antibiotic I had pouchitis symptoms return, pain in pouch, urgency pain, night time leaking, I got scared my pouchitis was back. I waited three days and to my surprise, it started to go away on it`s own! I was stoked because another day or two and I would`ve started another course of antibiotics, and wipe out all the probiotics I have been taking for two weeks. I didn`t have to, now the new probiotic I`m taking can continue to build up in my system!

I'm looking at biologic treatment in august before long term steroids or antibiotics are talked about.

7/6/121:13 PM

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JDShawMember

prednisone is the only thing that has been working for me. I came off it two weeks ago when I started Cimzia since then I have been in terrible pain most nights. I don't want to go start back on prednisone my face has been swollen for months but if the pain does subside I may be back on it shortly. 40mg usually knocks out the pouchitis completely after three days.

9/12/127:03 AM

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LauraLeeMember

Hi guys, I really need some help. I been dealing with Pouchitis (we think it is because my symptoms) and after trying Cypro (worked for a while and then not anymore) and Flagyl with no success, my GI doctor put me on steroids (started with 40 mg and down to 20 mg now). I think my inflammation is better because in general, my condition has improved, but I'm still dealing with so much soreness, burning sensation on the Jpouch, pressure, bloating that makes me think is bacteria overgrowth that is not going away with Prednisoe. Can I take antibiotics at the same time I'm taking steroids? I'm pretty desperate because I'm being sick for over a month and I'm not able to function with all this pain and pressure on my abdominal area.

Please anybody help. Any suggestions are welcome

3/31/1612:24 PM

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Scott FMember

There's no particular reason you can't take prednisone and an antibiotic at the same time, though you may have trouble figuring out what's helping. Have you tried any other antibiotics besides Cipro and Flagyl? Prednisone is an unusual way to treat pouchitis. Have you had a pouchoscopy to better see what's actually going on?

Treating pouchitis based on symptoms is fine. If the antibiotics don't work then ensuring the correct diagnosis becomes more important.

3/31/1612:43 PM

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