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Switch from Uceris to Entocort?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/30/2015 12:26 PM (GMT -5)
I have been on Uceris for 2 weeks. It is helping. I had to drop down to every other day because the anxiety/anger/depression was overwhelming. I know it helps because the day after I take it things are much calmer.

My GI prescribed me Entocort if I can't handle the Uceris. I know they break down differently. Would I be rocking the boat if I made the switch? I have brand name Entocort...read that the coating on name brand helps it get through the colon like Uceris.

Any thoughts?
Posted 9/30/2015 12:47 PM (GMT -5)
Yes you will rock the boat. They say they ate the same but Uceris worked And generic enticort did not. Also they say you R not supposed to get anger issues ot things like that because it only affects the colon area the way it is drlivered.
Posted 9/30/2015 12:50 PM (GMT -5)
I think you are misunderstanding the term "breaks down differently". The two have exactly the same medicine inside. The only thing different about them are the enteric coatings. Uceris's coating is designed to make it farther down into your system before dissolving and releasing the medicine inside. Entocort will release farther up in a different area. Entocort is more for Crohn's patients while Uceris was designed more for UC patients. Entocort probably won't make a difference at all with your side effects because the medicine inside is exactly the same as Uceris but if it dissolves farther up in an area where you aren't really having any problems then your condition will get worse. Since you have left sided UC, it is more than likely going to make you worse since it probably won't reach the area it is needed and you will still have the very same side effects. Your doctor should be smarter than that.
Posted 9/30/2015 1:01 PM (GMT -5)
@gary no I thats what I meant. They break down in different parts of your colon. I specifically asked my GI the Crohns vs UC use. He said that it will work the same. Plus being able to 6 mg vs 9mg on Uceris may help with side effects.

@DMC yes that is what they say...no side effects like that but the labels do read it is possible and I am unfortunately extremely sensitive to steroids.

Pred makes me crazy but I never felt this anger/depression on it. Its bizarre. It started with the Uceris so I know its not anything else I'm on.
Posted 9/30/2015 1:20 PM (GMT -5)
I would stick with uceris for the reasons Gary said
But I would get a low dose of something like Ativan to help with the side effects
Posted 9/30/2015 2:15 PM (GMT -5)
Your GI is just flat out wrong when he says that the two will work the same even though they dissolve in different parts of the colon. That doesn't even make any sense and that's why they made Uceris in the first place, because they needed an oral topical steroid for UC that dissolved farther down in your GI tract where the UC is, because Entocort dissolved too far up in the tract, which is often where Crohn's is. They wouldn't have needed to make Uceris at all if it was the same as Entocort.

How does the 9mg Uceris do for your UC? If it doesn't do well enough then taking smaller doses of Entocort, even if it reached the same area (which it won't), is not even going to do as well as the Uceris did. I know the side effects of the 9mg uceris is the main reason for your post but you really need to reconsider taking Entocort. While you might have less side effects from a 3 or 6mg Entocort as opposed to a 9mg Uceris, your UC is very highly likely to get worse.
Posted 9/30/2015 2:38 PM (GMT -5)
Gary I really respect your knowledge and input on UC in this forum. I just wish you had more couth in your delivery of it.

I respect my GI. He bends over backwards for me and knows what he is doing. Enough said on that.

And to top it off we all know that these meds don't work the same for everyone. Otherwise we would all be in remission. Just looking for input from people who may have made a switch or used both.
Posted 9/30/2015 4:27 PM (GMT -5)
I don't think I would switch. Dikid had a good suggestion to get something to counteract the side effects you are having. Since it's already working for you I would hate to see you go backwards. Entocort dissolves at a lower ph level that Uceris:

Entocort ph >5.5
Uceris ph >7

"The technology of budesonide ER tablets differs from that of budesonide EC capsules in the pH of dissolution. Budesonide EC capsules dissolves in pH >5.5, therefore drug is available for absorption mostly in the small intestines. Compared to Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis is restricted to the colon which requires more distal distribution and absorption than budesonide EC can provide, limiting its utility for ulcerative colitis."

http://www.pbm.va.gov/PBM/clinicalguidance/drugmonographs/Budesonide_UCERIS_ER_Tablet_Monograph.pdf
Posted 10/1/2015 12:09 AM (GMT -5)
Oh yeah I remember now, uceris comes in a dosage that you can't taper but endocort comes in 3 mg pills, easier to taper. Yes everyone does get affected differently! :-(
Posted 10/1/2015 5:15 AM (GMT -5)
I would stick with Uceris. I've been on it for 8 weeks and it brought me into remission. I also started Imuran at that time. Which maintenance med are you on?

I know the feeling about being angry and depressed while on a steroid and Uceris. I helped myself with lots of valerian root. Keep in mind that it is temporary and once you're in remission you'll feel better.

Hang in there
Posted 10/1/2015 8:31 AM (GMT -5)
I'm on Lialda and Remicade. I've had one infusion during the flare and it didn't do much. I have my next in 2 weeks and we are upping the dosage. I've been on enemas nightly.

I've decided to stay on the Uceris. Its been such a roller coaster. I'm going on 14 weeks of a mild patch of inflammation right at my rectum and sigmoid.

I'm so happy to hear the Uceris worked for you Andrina. What does the valerian root do?
Posted 10/1/2015 9:18 AM (GMT -5)
I've only used 6MP and, along with Lialda, put me into remission.
Posted 10/1/2015 9:49 AM (GMT -5)
In a way you can "taper" Uceris to take smaller amounts. When you get to the point where you think you can take less then just don't take it every day. Like week one you could take it 6 days, then 5, then 4, etc. You could eventually take it two days on, one day off, every other day, or take it one day and then two days off. If you took it every other day then the effect would be like taking 4.5 mgs every day instead of 9 mgs. Taking things to try counteracting the side effects was a good idea, if you can find something.
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