JUST Diagnosed and Doc Prescribed Uceris

Hi all,

Very new to this disease - was just diagnosed last week after a colonoscopy with proctosigmoiditis. They also noticed some inflammation on the other end of the colon - it said something about "probable cecal patch" something or other. Rest of the colon was clear. Have been experiencing blood, gas and needing to go to the bathroom multiple times a day - not much diarrhea.

Anyway, the doc has prescribed Uceris tablets and Rowasa enemas but from what I've read on this forum, it seems a more usual first treatment would be some kind of 5-ASA pill (I think that's what they're called - sorry I'm new to this!) and the enema. Is it weird they they are going straight for the Uceris steroids? Could it have something to do with that other inflammation on the right side of my colon? A little confused and want to make sure I'm not going to start taking a steroid if it's not necessary. Any advice??

Thanks!

Steroids (in your case uceris) are given as an emergency rescue medication to relieve us from the worst of ulcerative colitis flare symptoms, while our other medications work. You're correct that a typical uc patient receives both oral and rectal-route anti-inflammatory mesalamine medications. It's odd that you were not. I'd recommend calling your gastroenterologist and asking for a prescription of an oral mesalamine (lialda, asacol, apriso, pentasa, or delzicol). As you'll get the quickest and best results by treating from both ends. A typical oral dose is 4,800 milligrams a day but some of the aforementioned medications have lower doses (apriso for example).

Technically, a rowasa enema would treat all of your active inflammation as it will consistently reach both your rectum and sigmoid colon. However, oral pills treat higher up to prevent spreading. Also, I'm sure that eraxh route reaches the inflammation at different times.