Steroid enemas

Do steroid enemas have the same side effects as oral steroids? Since Canasa had side effects and I'm still having bleeding, I might have to take a steroid enema (proctofoam? I think). I've read so many horror stories of prednisone and the like that I've told my GI that I will not use steroids. But I'm still worried about steroid enemas (especially since I have finals coming up soon and I cannot deal w/ anymore health problems!)

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Female, Age 19, Dx w/ UC August 2007

They have a lot less side effects than the pills. Proctofoam is actual foam that is inserted. There are Hydrocortisone enemas.

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Diagnosed with Left-sided UC in 1995 at age 15, Prednisone, Rowasa & Hydrocort. Enemas, Proctofoam, Sulfasalazine, Asacol, Probiotics, Fish Oil, Aloe Juice, Canasa, Enotcort, Colazol, Anamantle, Remicade, etc... had 1 inch deep rectal ulcer 2004, put on Remicade, August 2007:Increased Remicade dosage-700mg every 6 weeks,diagnosed w/ Psoriatic Arthritis & Fibromyalgia Current meds: Clorazepate, Lomotil,  Tylenol pm, Lyrica started 1/17/08, Flagyl 750 mgs started 4/2/08, Humira started 4/4/08

The side effects are WAY less and if taken for short term, you probably will not even notice them. However, if taken for a long time (I would say approximately 3 months or more), then the steroid can buildup in your system but not to the effect of the oral.

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I've taken cortifoam (steroid based rectal meds) for just over a yr straight with absolutely no side effects what so ever...very little gets into the blood stream when taken rectally compared to taking pred orally, which is why there is virtually no side effects, there are exceptions of very rare cases.

:)

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My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it!  LOL  :)

Hi ComedyDork,
Here's another vote for cortifoam. I have used it on and off for years. In the past it has been amazing for getting flares under control. I would not worry about the side effects. I have never noticed any. The absorption into the system -- like pb4 said-- is much, much lower than with oral steroids. For bleeding, cortifoam saves me every time. The trick is to use it regularly until you are really better. I always forget a night or I get lazy about it. When I am diligent and use it every night, I can be significantly better in less than a week. I hope you find that it works really well for you! It's nice to find some treatment that you can count on. For me, it's definitely cortifoam.

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UC for the last ten years
Current Meds: 6MP since 2006, Cortifoam
Past Meds: You name it; I've tried it. (Asacol, Colazol, Pentasa, DiPentum, Rowasa, Canasa, Cortenema, sulfasalazine)
5ASA drugs don't work for me. Canasa seems to make me worse.
Alternative treatments I have had success with: Acupuncture, Hypnotherapy

Thanks for the info! It makes me feel a bit better. The other thing I was wondering if it would be worth a try to use other 5-ASA meds instead of Asacol. The increased dose of Asacol is doing nothing for me. Or is it just that if one 5-ASA med doesn't work, none of them will?
julee, I've seen that you've tried acupuncture. How much did it help? I was thinking about trying it, but my parents are VERY skeptical so I don't think they'd pay for it. Did you insurance cover acupuncture?
Thanks!

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Female, Age 19, Dx w/ UC August 2007

I was on Asacol for years when I switched to Colazal and did great so no, I don't believe that if one isn't going to work then all the others aren't either. If you feel that Asacol isn't doing much for you, then you can try either Colazal or Lialda. Where in your colon is your Uc, do you know? I know that sometimes Asacol will not break down properly to help the lower left portion of the colon. I believe that was the case for me.

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I've been on Proctifoam for ages now and have had no problems.I really do not know what i would do without it.

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                                     keep the faith 

         asacol/proctifoam/Zoton (lansoprazole)/pred/colofac


       

Can you use the proctifoam enemas longer than you can take the oral pred?

Most definitely....I've used the cortifoam for a year BEFORE tappering off of it without getting a single side-effect.

Take pred for a couple of days at a high enough dose and the side-effects can start within the few first days.

:)

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My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it!  LOL  :)

I've used the hydrocortisone (steroid) enemas more than the foam. It seems like the foam doesn't get up as far. With the liquid enemas, it seems like so much more "medicine" gets in there. Plus, the applicator is longer. Am I wrong to make this assumption?

Also, I was on Asacol for a year and I flared constantly. I even use to notice pieces of the pills when I would use the bathroom. That told me that I wasn't getting all that I should have. I've switched to Sulfasalazine. I still feel crappy, but I'm also pregnant. I think this is affecting my UC for the moment.

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Diagnosed w/ UC in Jan 2007

I've been using Proctifoam for 2 years now ithout any issues at all.

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                                     keep the faith 

         asacol/proctifoam/Zoton (lansoprazole)/pred/colofac


       

So after using Proctofoam once, the bleeding has stopped! My GI told me to just take a couple times per week for the next two weeks to get rid of the loose stools and urgency. However, the two times that I have used Proctofoam, the next morning I've had more stool. I don't know if that's happening becuase of my flare and it's just a coincidence or if it's a side effect of the Proctofoam. Any thoughts?

This is a total guess, but maybe since the inflammation is lessening, it is easier for the stool to come though?

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Diagnosed with Left-sided UC in 1995 at age 15, Prednisone, Rowasa & Hydrocort. Enemas, Proctofoam, Sulfasalazine, Asacol, Probiotics, Fish Oil, Aloe Juice, Canasa, Enotcort, Colazol, Anamantle, Remicade, etc... had 1 inch deep rectal ulcer 2004, put on Remicade, August 2007:Increased Remicade dosage-700mg every 6 weeks,diagnosed w/ Psoriatic Arthritis & Fibromyalgia Current meds: Clorazepate, Lomotil,  Tylenol pm, Lyrica started 1/17/08,  Humira started 4/4/08

The amount of stool is pretty much based on what and how much you eat. If your colon has slowed down..even a small amount, stool will have time to firm up...giving the illusion there's more.

It's great to hear the proctofoam is helping...I think using it nightly for at least a week then taper to every second night and then every third would be better, it's not a high dosage of med, and the foam would definitly be easier to retain. But, you have that option if a few times isn't good enough. Curious...a few times would mean what to you?

Keep us posted.
quincy

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Thanks for the input!

I've used cortifoam for years now and think it's great.  Never had any side effects from it and it and it got things under control faster than the other enemas and suppositories that I've used.  Plus you can use it during the day, easy to retain.

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Ok, sorry to post on this again. But can the Proctofoam cause bleeding? I took it last week and automatically stopped my bleeding. I took it Monday night and again tonight, and I've gotten a little bright red blood in my stool a couple times today.
Do you think the blood could be from the Proctofoam or Proctofoam inserter? Or should I start taking it every night instead of every other night?

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Female, Age 19, Dx w/ UC August 2007

It takes a while for the bleeding to stop. Hang tough.

A little bright blood on the stool means that it's very fragile as the stool is passing along the colon and through the rectum.

Yes, the steroid enemas can cause some bleeding and thinning of the tissue if used for a very long time...

What you're experiencing seems normal based on my and others' experiences with rectal meds and healing.

Don't apologise for asking questions...it's unnerving when symptoms are unexpected or change from the usual.

Seems it's helping.

quincy

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Ahhh, the bleeding is getting slightly worse! And I've been using the proctofoam three nights in a row, and before that I used it every other night! My GI said that if it doesn't get any better, then they'll need to see me ASAP, which I'm afraid is going to result in Prednisone. I cannot even imagine how horrible the side effects will be on me--heck, even low hormone birth control pills gave me horrible side effects!
Can a flare get worse if I'm sick in other ways? This has been the worst allergy season for me and now it's developing into a bad cold or sinus infection.

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Female, Age 19, Dx w/ UC August 2007

Hi Comedy Dork, When I started using Cortifoam enemas I experienced the same thing of bleeding so I wasn't sure if it was from the foam or just the colitis.  So I continued with it but I also used the salofalk suppositores.  The foam I used during the day, and suppositories at night and I'm not sure when but the bleeding did stop.  I always made sure that I had vaseline or anusul cream on the inserter just so it didn't aggravate things when I inserted it.

 

It was probably the colitis, I've used cortifoam over the last 17 yrs that I've had crohns-colitis when my proctitis acts up and it's never caused me to bleed....it's aided with the bleeding somewhat in the past, but the bee propolis is what has actually put the bleeding to an end.

:)

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My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it!  LOL  :)

Can you use the Rowasa?

Get the doc to deal with the sinus infection as well.....

q

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does anyone know if hydrocortisone enemas and the cortifoam enemas is the same thine or they are different?? which ones are better?? does the hydrocortisone enemas would affect your appetite?? how long you should use and then taper it off?? my husband's GI has prescribed for 3 months so i am not sure if things start getting better should he taper it off for every other night??

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wife of a UC Patient diagnosed on 3/3/08 started Asacol 3/7/08 2-3x a day