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Hi everyone.  I just joined here today, and am anxious to find out how much I can learn from everyone here.  I was diagnosed with UC about 16 years ago.  I now have a bad flare up for a few months now which my doctor was trying to control with Asacol, rowasa enemas, canasa suppositories and hydrocortisone.  I told him I didn't want to be on any steroids, but now after a couple months on my meds, i'm still bleeding and having many bowel movements daily.  He told me that he wants to put me on 6mp and steroids.  He also mentioned remicade and humera.  I have to make a decision very soon, and not sure what the safest is to take.  I know that all these meds have harsh side effects, but can anyone let me know they're experiences on these different meds??  I've been on prednisone before and didn't like the side effects that's why I don't want to be on it again.  Anyway, thank you for taking your time out to read this

 Reply posted for FishnCowboy.

Thank you all so much for your feedback!!  I have an appointment with my doctor next week to discuss what I'll be going on.  From what I read here, maybe the steroids with 6mp.  I really sure hope I get the disease under control again. Thanks again everyone!!!  I'll keep you all posted

 Reply posted for Sandramom.

Thank you all so much for your feedback!!  I have an appointment with my doctor next week to discuss what I'll be going on.  From what I read here, maybe the steroids with 6mp.  I really sure hope I get the disease under control again. Thanks again everyone!!!  I'll keep you all posted

 Reply posted for Sandramom.

My daughter was diagnosed with UC almost 5 years ago at 16 years old.  Her path has been very similar to Fish's post.  She was on many meds also.  She had to stop Azathioprine because she was getting step/tonsilitis 6 times and had to eventually get her tonsils out.  She was on Asacol at the beginning but has switched to Lialda.  She takes 4 Lialda's per day.  Two probiotics Ultimate Flora Critical Care 50 Billion.  She was on one per day but since she stopped Azathioprine her IBD specialist wants her to take one in the morning and one in the evening.  Her IBD specialist said lots of UC patients get "bacteria overgrowth" and cutting sugars out helps also no coffee, no alchohol, water down fruit juices.  My daughter watches her diet:  no junk foods, no processed foods, no sugary foods.  She has had a flare up for the last 2 months.  She decided to completely take dairy out of her diet and she started having normal forned bm's and is finally feeling better.  Have you tried cutting certain foods out of your diet.  Keep a food diary and poop diary.  What works for one person may not work for everyone. 

 Reply posted for Sandramom.

Sorry to hear about the flare.

So I was diagnosed almost 2 years ago with Crohns colitis.  I started with Asacol (12 pills a day), then added Rowasa enemas, eventually needed to go to prednisone.... prednisone worked, but flare came back after I got off... so I went back on the prednizone for a short dose and started azathioprene.

The azathioprene (generic for Imuran, similar to 6mp) has been great.  No side effects.  There are tests they can run before hand to see how your body will process the drug.  The 6mp (or whatever you take similar to that) takes a while to get into your system, so transitioning with prednisone or something else will help.  I was on the azathioprene for 3 months, felt great, had a flare.  They ran a follow up metabolite test (Prometheus labs) to see how much of the medicine I was really getting.  I was below the amount recommended, so they upped my dose.  Another metabolite test (Im really glad they exist, the more data the better).  Flared again 3 months later, upped again.  Now Im on 200mg of azathioprene a day, and my levels are finally at maintenance therapy doses.  Lots of blood work, but all my tests are coming up roses, so Im happy.  Recent flex sig looks great!

I wasnt thrilled about switching to something stronger than the simple 5ASA drugs, but the idea of pooping blood 6-8 times a day isn't appealing either. 

I'd recommend trying an immunomodulator (suppressant, whatever) like aza. or 6mp before jumping to anything stronger like remicade or humira.  It may take a while to try the dosage, but in my mind its worth it.  Try not to get too skewed, as most people who tend to go online to comment are venting.I found lots of comments on line where people rate different drugs, and many of the comments for azathioprene were very good.  I dont have any side effects with the azathioprene, my system is working better, and Im happy. 

Good luck.