Posted 9/27/2007 5:56 PM (GMT -8)
I can echo yp's sentiments. I'm one of those people who start having side effects before the pill has even reached my stomach. Everyone is different, but I can tell you my experience... I'm currently on 12mg of entecort and have been on either 9 or 12 mg since March. I'm hoping to taper off soon, but I'm not sure.
Becase Entecort is mostly released in the small intestine, it has fewer systemic side effects than prednisone and is generally better tolerated. however, you might have some trouble sleeping or wake up at night, it can make hot flashes worse if you get them. You can ask your doc about a very low dose of something like Xanax if sleeping is a problem. I took 6MP for 3 months. I stopped becuase I became anemic. HOWEVER, another doctor (at Mt. Sinai) felt that I was more likely to have been anemic from the CD, not the 6MP. I ended up getting iron infusions to bring my levels up, but that was a year after stopping the 6MP.
Something to keep in mind when you look up drugs on the web... when these drugs are in clinical trials, EVERYTHING that happens has to be recorded. That's why things like nausea, dizziness and stuffy noses show up everywhere. if someone gets a cold during the trial, it's noted and becomes one of the possible side effects.
When you take an immune modulator like 6MP your blood count needs to be checked on a regular basis. Just watch yourself when you're around sick people, and try to relax.
YP- what's Glycolax???
Susan