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Mesalamine and colds

Posted , 3 users are following.

cjb106
cjb106

I was diagnoses with ulcerative colitis a few months ago and prescribed prednisolone and mesalamine. I have responded well to the drug treatment and the UC symptoms have now subsided. I was soon able to start tapering off the prednisolone and now just take mesalamine 4g per day.

A couple of weeks ago I started a cold. Sore throat and lost voice at first which developed into a wet chesty cough that just won't go away. I think it may be improving but it is very slow. I am usually over a cold in a few days so the persistence of this is bothering me.

I looked on a website for side effects of mesalamine and respiratory problems seem common. Influenza is even listed as a side effect. I don't understand that. How can a virus be a side effect? Is it that the immune system is suppressed making it more easy for viruses to invade and harder for them to be fought off? Anyone else on mesalamine who had experienced colds and coughs that are slow to go?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • daniel08796
    daniel08796 cjb106

    Posted

    hi there I am on the same meds  as you at the moment I was on 8 prednisolone a day for ten days then 6 for ten now 4 for then 3 for a week then 2 for a week then 1 for a week then stop. I am also on mesalazine.

    i also got a cold had it now for two weeks just can't get over it. Think it's the prednisolone they are Streoids and do weeken your immune system. I have double up on multi vitamins. Think people with colitis. Do find it harder to get over the comment cold and other virus. For me when I get a cold it goes straight to my tummy and up sets it for a few days. Thinks it's the snot get down there.

    if you are worried try to see your doctor over the next few days if no better 

    regards

    dan 

  • daniel08796
    daniel08796 cjb106

    Posted

    Ps sorry forgot to say I have been on mesalazine now since April 2015 and this is the first cold I have had so I've just put it down to the Streoids. 

    Mesalazine is one of the best meds to be on so my doctor tells me with little side affects.

    regards

    dan 

    • cjb106
      cjb106 daniel08796

      Posted

      Thank you Dan.

      Yes, this is definitely a cough/cold with a lot of mucus. sad

      I started prednisolone at 30mg per day then tapering after a few weeks. I took my last 5mg tab on Tuesday so I am just off it.

      I read too that prednisolone can lower the ability of the body to fight infection and to avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Hard to do this time of year.

      So seems prednisolone and mesalamine (mesalazine) can both leave the body more susceptible to the cold virus

      I'm holding off calling the docs as I'm worried they'll prescribe antibiotics which tend to upset my digestive system. Having undergone the horrors of steroids for a few months to treat the colon inflammation and bleeding I would really rather not take anything that could trigger a flare so 'll give it a few more days and hope it goes of its own accord.

  • daniel08796
    daniel08796 cjb106

    Posted

    Yeah in the same boat at the moment. Just been taking a lot of vitamins to help the immune system. It's learning for me at the moment the dos and donts.my sister has colitis also she's had for about 15years now so I get a lot of help from her as doctors do help but if you don't have it it's harder to understand. If you know what I mean. Hope you feel better soon 

    regards

    dan 

    • cjb106
      cjb106 daniel08796

      Posted

      Thanks, Dan. You too. Vitamin supplements sound like a good idea. I'm a vegetarian and my normal diet would include a lot of fruit and vegetables but when this flared the hospital consultant said I should go onto a low fibre diet which means I have had to cut out a lot of the good foods I would usually eat. I'm introducing them bit by bit but it sounds likely that my vitamin C intake is down and that can't be helping.

      I'm sorry that your sister has this too but good that you have family support.

  • daniel08796
    daniel08796 cjb106

    Posted

    Yeah you will learn when you are in a flare stay away from hi fibre. Been in a flare now for 8weeks just coming out of it now due to the meds. But I notice. Cutting out greens fruit baked beans and wheat has helped just got to take vitamins to still get the good things in you. I am now on a wheat free diet. It does help.

    thanks 

    dan 

  • cjb106
    cjb106

    Posted

    Just an update to this. I had a chat with a pharmacist who said it's the Pentasa rather than the prednisolone which is causing lowered resistance to the cold virus. I have never had a cold last this long, four days at most and this is now three weeks and making me feel very low. I am trying to get some advice about this, whether I can come off the drug. From other threads here, people seem to be taking Pentasa long-term presumably to stop the the inflammation coming back. However, I've also read on drug websites that the course of treatment for Pentasa is usually eight weeks and I've now been taking it for longer than that. Naturally, I do not want the UC to flare again but equally I feel so unwell taking this drug (many other unpleasant side effects as well as the cold) I really don't know what to do. Would like to hear from anyone who has stopped taking Pentasa and what their experience has been. Thanks.
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