Good day everyone!  Now that you’ve read my last post on what Crohn’s Disease is about, I would like to inform you of the many medicines that are associated with Crohn’s. I am sure there may be a couple I have missed and your reaction to taking these may be different, however, these are the ones I have taken and experienced:

Antibiotics:

Flagyl (mesalamine) – The only good I have figured this drug to do is when I’m really down with a high fever, it gets rid of it.  However, you can’t take it for too long or your diarrhea will get worse.  Other side effects that I have experienced with this drug is a very yucky metallic taste, everything I eat taste like I’m chewing on aluminum foil! Also, I get a heavy coating on my tongue that I call my “fur tongue”.  Ain’t no amount of brushing that can get rid of that fur!

Cefdinir – Kills certain bacteria in your gut.  I am currently taking this and I call this drug my miracle pill!  Love it!  It seems to get my poop more formed than any other drug I’ve taken.  However, I suggested to a friend of mine to talk to her doctor about her getting on this and she told me she was on it before but she had an allergic reaction to it.  It goes to prove that everyone reacts to drugs differently.

Cipro (Ciproflaxacin) – Didn’t work for me.

Levaquin (Levofloxacin) – Didn’t work well for me either.  It ended up giving me Tendinitis.  Not good.  I’ve taken it twice, got same reaction.

CD Meds:

*Pentasa (mesalamine)

Sulfasalazine (Azulifidine) – Also good for Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Didn’t work well with me for helping my Crohn’s.  No reaction.

Predinisone – Suppresses the immune system and reduces inflammation.  This seems to be the only kind of drug that works for me, however, of course you can’t stay on them for a long period of time.  It gives me a moon face with weight gain, makes my heart beat faster and sleep deprivation.  One good note to this is my house has never been cleaner!  It’s nothing to see me cleaning house at 1:00 am when I’m on this med!

Immuran (Azathioprine) and 6MP  – These drugs suppress the immune system also.  I absolutely cannot tolerate these because they mess with my liver enzymes.  My liver enzymes skyrocket when I take these!  I had to have a liver biopsy because of this med!  However, I do know some people who this med is good for..

Entecort (Budesonide) – My favorite!  This is my drug candy so to speak.  It works that same as Predinisone, however, it doesn’t give out the side effects.  It does give me lots of energy though.  Love, love, love this drug!  I should note that both the Prenisone and Entecort are corticosteroids.

Remicade (Infliximab)  Taken through IV.  Take a look at some information about this drug. Remicade. This drug worked for me for a while but then my body got used to it and it stopped working plus ended me up in the ER with serum sickness.  Not fun!

Humira (adalimumab) – Taken as a pen shot.  Hurts like hell also!  It worked for me for a while, then stopped working.  Take a look at Humira. I asked for the prefilled syringes and it felt much better going in than the pen.

Entyvio (vedolizumab) – Taken through IV also.  This drug really never worked right for me.  No reaction to it.  Entyvio information.

Stelara (Ustekinumab) – Taking now.  My doctor says it’s helping, but I don’t feel it and I am very close to having another surgery.  Stelara information.

Cimzia (certoizumab pegol) – shot form.  No reaction for me.

Methotrexate – Very strong medication.  It is used as a cancer drug also.  Made lots of my hair fall out.  Still taking this, don’t think it is working anymore but doctor says it is..

*A coupon for Pentasa.  Also you can look at their Patient Assistance Program.

 

I hope I gave you a little insight of many of the medications out there for Crohn’s and Colitis.   I also pray that you can find the right one out there for you.  Just remember, everyone has a different reaction to the medications out there.  What may be working for one person, may not work for another.  Unfortunately, it seems as if we are guinea pigs sometimes, just waiting for the next med to try.  Remember to keep a positive attitude, I can’t stress that enough, and we will get through this one day at a time.

I would love to hear some feedback of what works for you and some of your experiences with the medications!

 

Chow for now!