Posts In: Treatment

5-ASA SIDE EFFECTS These medications are generally well tolerated. Like all drugs, 5-ASA can have side effects, although not everyone will get them, and some are quite rare. They can include: nausea, vomiting, and watery diarrhea headache and indigestion mild allergic reactions with rash, itchiness and fever, but…

Why am I being treated with 5-ASA? 5-ASA are often used to treat mild to moderate flare-ups of UC. They may then be prescribed to maintain remission and help prevent flare-ups on a longer term basis. The rectal delivered 5-ASA (enemas and suppositories) are really important for helping with symptoms…

Adalimumab HUMIRA® WILL I HAVE ONGOING CHECKS WHILE I AM ON IT? Once your treatment has started you will need regular checks and may need additional blood tests. Monitoring your treatment in this way helps your doctors fit your treatment to your needs. It can also make sure that any…

Infliximab REMICADE® WILL I HAVE ONGOING CHECKS WHILE I AM ON IT? Once your treatment has started you will continue to need regular checks and may need additional blood tests. This can help to make sure that any complications are prevented or caught at an early stage. It is also…

Methotrexate WILL I HAVE ONGOING CHECKS WHILE I AM ON IT? You will need to have regular blood counts and liver tests while you are on methotrexate to check that the treatment is not affecting your blood or liver. A typical approach may be to have blood tests every 1-2…

Ustekinumab STELARA® WILL I HAVE ONGOING CHECKS WHILE I AM ON IT? Once your treatment has started you will continue to need regular checks and may need additional blood tests, and useful stool tests such as Fecal calprotectin. This can help monitor if the medication is working,…

Azathioprine and Mercaptopurine WILL I HAVE ONGOING CHECKS WHILE I AM ON IT? You should have regular blood tests for the whole time you are taking azathioprine or mercaptopurine. You will need full blood count (FBC), and liver function tests (LFT), measuring levels of liver enzymes. Both tests…

Vedolizumab ENTYVIO® WILL I HAVE ONGOING CHECKS WHILE I AM ON IT? Once your treatment has started you will continue to need regular checks and may need additional blood tests. This can help to make sure that any complications are prevented or caught at an early stage. It is also…

Adalimumab HUMIRA® WILL I USE ANY OTHER DRUGS ALONGSIDE IT? Your doctors will advise you on this as they plan your treatment. Adalimumab is sometimes given in combination with steroids to help bring on remission and allow the steroid treatment to be reduced. Adalimumab may also be given…