Please have blood tests if taking medication - Pentasa.

[TomYorke]

My GP prescribed me Pentasa for my Ulcerative Colitis. I took this for approx 10 years. My GP never requested any blood tests in this time. This medication was slowly killing off my kidney function. In 2017 I was admitted to hospital with a 9% kidney function. I stopped Pentasa and my kidneys improved to 20%. They have slowly deteriorated and I’m back to 9% again. I’m now starting Peritoneal Dialysis as I feel so awful. I’ll be on dialysis every day until I can get a kidney transplant

Please do make sure the medication you are taking isn’t causing you harm x

[bantam12]

I’ve been on Asacol ( same as Pentasa) for 25 years, kidney function fine but liver not so good, these meds effect us in different ways or maybe the problems would have happened anyway.

[Dalebury]

Sorry to hear of your kidney problems, no medicine is without side effects but we all should have regular blood tests if on long term meds. I have UC and have been on salazopyrin for many years, I was also on ferrous sulphate for low iron levels, after continued use my feritin levels came back very high and only a very good GP noticed this in my results. This causes liver problems and I spent the next 30 months having regular blood taken from me approx 600mls every six weeks.We must take care of ourselves and don't be afraid of asking your doctor if you are at all concerned about your health, after all they are there to help us.

Take care and hope you get your transplant very soon.

😄😄

[jackdup]

That is awful, I’m so sorry to hear that. It certainly is unfortunate that your doctor didn’t have you do regular blood tests. I hope and pray you are able to get a kidney transplant soon and that it goes well. Thank you for warning others of the potential issues and to have regular blood tests.

[Dg54vuf]

I was on Pentasa for over ten years for crohns in my small bowel. I saw a consultant at one point and mentioned that the Pentasa didn’t seem to help in any way. He replied that it wouldn’t as it’s slow release and would not work until past my problem area! He said he didn’t know why I was on it. He put me on it ten years earlier before actually having a positive site for my crohns. That taught me to look up all medication and check why I was taking it.