Octasa

[Jj01]

Finally diagnosed with mild to moderate UC. Such a relief to no I haven't been going mad after 15 years. I have been prescribed Octasa 800mg 6 tablets per day. Has anyone felt a little odd after starting to take these. I have had a headache since starting the course on Friday and I have felt kind of whoosy (I don't know how else to describe it).

[bantam12]

It may take a while to get used to the new meds, it’s not unusual to feel a bit odd when starting something new, you could try a lower dose for a few days to see if that’s easier then work up to the prescribed dose.

[Jj01 in reply to bantam12]

Thank you for replying. I was thinking and hoping that's all it is. I'll give the IBD nurse a ring in the morning just to be on the safe side.

[Dalebury in reply to Jj01]

Hi ,

I was on Octasa for a short time but they didn't suit me at all, didn't experience the same symptoms as you but they didn't help me at all, we are all different but I think you would be wise to contact your IBD nurse for some reassurance and advice.

Good luck and take care.

[Dottiedot]

Morning I was on the same dose for 90 days and I also suffered from headaches whilst taking them once I had finished that course I was changed 2 pentasa 2g a day which I could tolerate however this was increased to 4g a day about 3 weeks ago and the nausea is horrendous you don't feel like eating or drinking anything

[Frasina]

I was put on Ocatasa 800mg 6 tablets a day (3 morning and 3 evening taken before food!) This was October when diagnosed with patchy pancolitis. The max dose is 6 tablets a day at 800mg and normally people are given this high dose for a month/6 weeks to help with D or whatever your main symptoms are...In my case, Octasa was reduced after 1 month as it was not working sufficiently on its own. So, I was put on Cortiment (an 8 week steroid course) that has much less side effects than Prednisolone. After that, I was (and still am) on the maintenence dose of Octasa 2.4mg (3 tablets) a day. I did get headaches at first and also I felt a bit 'light headed' at times. Got the same feelings when I was on the Cortiment but do not have any issues now on the maintenance dose (except skin is a bit itchy sometimes that is all).We are all different and meds do take time to work; especially with IBD. I would continue but do speak to your IBD team for reassurance and if Octasa does not work alone, you will be given steroids of some sort to help.

[Jj01]

Thank you all for your replies. It's nice to know there is support out there. Side effects didn't seem so bad today. Hopefully it was just my body getting used to the tablets.

[Jj01]

So thought I was ok with the side effects but at work today I got really whoosy, could hardly see the computer screen. Anyway spoke with IBD nurse and she said to come off the Octasa for a day and try a lower dose. Hopefully, it is just the dose.

[Susiiscute]

I was also diagnosed with mild to moderate UC, x4 years ago. After experimenting with a few things, I now take Octasa. I started on the highest dosage, which did give me a few side effects, such as itching skin. I started a year ago and can’t remember all the effects, but there were a few. I had a phone conversation with my consultant and I asked if I could lower my dosage. He agreed. It seems to work fine now.