Daughter has Ulcerative Colitis, has become prednisone dependent. We are currently off medication and trying naturopathic supplements of Omega 3/6 fish oils, probiotics, L-glutamine and N-Acetylglucosamine. She still has frequency going to the washroom about every 2 -3 hours. Our conventional medical specialist is recommending re-starting prednisone, tapering the prednisone, and starting Imuran. My question is: Has anyone combined naturopathic supplements with use of Prednisone and Imuran; and what are the side effects and/or problems trying both types of therapy?
Q: Has anyone combined naturopathic therapy and conventional therapy; any drug interactions?
Answers (6)
10/31/08 2:28pm
Hi Judy,
I've been Dx'd with UC for ten years now, but believe I've had for 15+ years. I've gotten it under control using a mixture of traditional Rx meds., mainly Asacol, and vitamins, probiotics, and HUGE changes in my diet.
When buying vitamins and supplements make sure to check with your doctor are pharmacist to be sure nothing will have an adverse interaction with anything your daughter is taking prescription-wise. And, be sure to buy good quality products, preferably not made from products supplied by China - there just are no good regulations on supplements, vits., or Rx drugs on things coming out of that country.
You may want to read some of my Shareposts on this site about doing an Elimination diet (ED) to identify foods that might be making your daughter's symptoms worse. Doctors don't tend to put much weight into diet affecting IBD symptoms but there are plenty of us IBDers out there who find that diet is hugely important to keeping our guts happy and healthy.
Be diligent, but also be patient.
Good luck to you,
Elizabeth
10/29/08 11:36am
I have had UC for about 5 years (I am now 17), and I was in the same situation quite a few times. I too went to a naturopathic doctor, and tried very similar treatments while still taking prednisone, imuran, and being on remicade. I experienced no negative drug interactions, and most of the natural remedies offered at least SOME relief in regards to pain as well as trips to the bathroom.
I highly recommend trying the natural remedies, you should not have a problem with the other meds interacting.
= )
PS..if you have not looked into Remicade, you really should...I had one treatment in the hospital and it sent me right into remission within a week! Some doctors say it is not apprived for UC treatment, but I beg to differ. I helped me lead a MUCH more normal life, with very few bothersome side effects.
10/30/08 7:05pm
Son has ulcerative colitis. He too was prednisone dependent. When prednisone got down to 5mg/day, his doctor put him on 9 mg/day Entocort for 2 weeks then stopped the prednisone and left him on entecort only for 2 weeks then lowering the dosage 3mg every 2 weeks. This is the only way our son has ever been able to be weaned off of the prednisone. Entecort dissolves in the colon so it does not have the bad side effects that prednisone does. P.S. My son is also on Boniva (1 pill a month) whenever he is on steroiods. We've tried the natural remedies but they really don't work- at least not for him. Hope this has helped you.
10/31/08 1:09am
Have had U.C. for 4 years and don't use drugs, only naturopathic/homeopathic items and carefully watch the diet. No roughage, no seeds. Currently have no problems
if I don't violate the strict diet. No dairy, no gluten, no seedy fruits, no broccoli, beets
or similar, no meats. Works for me. Lots of brown rice and rice milk(sparingly).
4/13/09 2:42am
I've had moderate/severe UC for 2 1/5 years, now pancolitis. I've had several flare-ups and have been hospitalized twice needing intraveneous hydrocortisone, anti-biotics and iron infusions.
I've been treated with predisone (75mg and down for a couple of months at a time) on several occasions. The maintenance drug I take is mesalazine (4mg or 8 tablets per day), (allergic to sulphur so can't take sulphasalazine). Took one course of Imuran but was so violently ill I threw up every five minutes for 2 hours) so that didn't work for me. I also take colifoam rectal foam 2 times per day. My doctor says that I will need surgery if I don't stay in remission this time. It has been proven that as soon as I'm weaned off the prednisone, I'm good for a few months and then UC comes back. Usually triggered by something like antibiotics. So, I'm getting kind of desperate and will exhaust ALL possibilites before surgery.
I've been home from a recent hospital stay for 2 weeks and have added some natural remedies to daily pharmaceutial routine. I take 25g of aloe juice in the morning, 5 grams of l-glutamine 30 minutes before meals, 1 probiotic per day and a metamucil at night and in only a short time, I'm going to the toilet less, have more form to the stools and have ALOT more energy.
Could be a combination of everything, not sure. But I say try it. I'm 38 years old, wear low rise jeans so a colostomy bag just won't do! The only bag I'm carrying with me is a hand bag.
Good luck and please, try everything. Play around with it, change the diet, whatever it takes. If it doesn't work, at least you know you tried.
11/ 9/09 12:40pm
I have Ulcerative Colitis. I am off all meds. I take omega 3 flaxseed oil, Intestinal Soothe and build, Multivitamin, Calcium-vitamin D, and VSL#3.
The VSL3 worked better than the asacol so I quit the asacol. VSL3 is a probiotic made by a pharmaceutical company. They have done studies to show that it helps heal the gut and reduce inflammation. People that had side effects from other meds that were taking this, healed within six weeks and maitained remission for twelve months.
The website is www.vsl3.com. The other website is www.naturessolution.com
So far, I have had no flare ups except once.
Try the Dr. David Klein Diet for UC.
This is a raw foods diet and when Dr. Klein was on this diet, his UC disappeared.
1. No Citrus fruits
2. No acidic foods
3. No Gluten
4. Nothing made from corn
5. No highly seasoned foods
6. No black pepper
7. No cow's milk
8. Everthing has to be organic
9. You should make smoothies and get a juicer.
10. The most healing foods are Bananas because they are soft.
11. No Asparagus because this is too rough. No nuts and seeds.
12. You can steam your broccoli if it is too rough raw.
13. No Beef, Pork
14. This is a plant based diet.
I bought a juicer and steamer/rice cooker. This is excellent.
I make lots of smoothies and juices. I mostly stay on soft foods. I do eat raw spinach, carrots, and goat cheese. I drink mostly water.
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By Judy— Last Modified: 06/15/12, First Published: 10/28/08
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can anyone recommend a good book/research about naturopathy and IBD (specifically ulcerative colitis). thx, in advance.