Frustrated! (Need advice)

Hey everyone!
I got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis on June 1st. After a short 5 day stay in the hospital, I was released and starting taking 40mg of prednisone. Never felt so good in my life. Two weeks later, i started to taper away the steroids. When i reached 25mg, things started to go sour (bloody diarrhea 10 times a day) so my GI pushed me back up to 40 mg. things were okay once more ( 1 bowel movement/ day, Although still bloody diarrhea)

3 weeks later, I visited my GI again, who prescribed me Mesavant, a mesalazine anti-inflammatory pill that I should start as I taper the prednisone. I'm 2 days into the Mesavant, and both days have been the same. I take 4.8g in the morning, and at night everything goes to hell. Terrible cramps, bloody diarrhea 10 times over 2 hours.

Am I just going through an adjustment period or am I allergic to this new drug?
This mix of pain an mood swings from prednisone and inhability to sleep is sucking my life away, and any advice would be amazing.

Hi BigRedd,

Welcome.

I don't have experience with the drug, nor allergies to drugs, so I can't talk specifically about this, but I would encourage talking to your GI, or nurse over the phone. Perhaps they can recommend a dosage adjustment. At any rate, they'll be able to confirm whether it's a reaction to the drug, or if you're not getting enough of it. Sometimes it's better to take a medication in several doses, rather than all at once. I'm wondering if that's the case with you and this drug. Just a thought. Don't change your regime without talking to your specialist.

I did take prednisone last year and I'm on it again now and can identify with the sleep issues. My mood's not really affected, but it's a low dose that I'm on. Some drugs do take a bit to adjust to. It's a matter of determining the benefits versus the risks or the side-effects and your overall quality of life.