new med apriso

Interesting, I'm gonna email my GI doc and ask about this. I'm currently only treating my crohn's with Asacol, so this may be something for me! Once a day is better than having to remeber it 3 times a day. Thank you for the heads up!

I just switched from Lialda to Apriso on Saturday. Biopsies from a recent colonoscopy showed inflammation in my small bowel.  I can't take steroids (bad reaction), so my doc suggested trying Apriso.  I was skeptical since it's the same active ingredient as other 5-ASAs (mesalamine), but was willing to try anything.  The big difference between Apriso and other 5-ASAs is that it releases earlier in your system based on pH levels.  I noticed a remarkable improvement within the first 24 hours (from pain and 8-10 loose BMs/day to pain-free and 3-4 formed BMs/day).  Since it was Memorial day weekend and pretty much stress-free, I thought some of the improvement might have been due to that and was waiting for symptoms to start up again on Tuesday once I got back to work.  I've now been through 3 extremely stressful work days and am still doing good.  Since the point of release seems to be the key here, I suspect that an individual's success with it would be dependent on where their crohn's is located.   heatmiser - There is a savings card for Apriso - if your doc doesn't have one you can sign up for it on the Apriso website ( www.apriso-uc.com  - click on the information and savings link in the upper left corner).  For some reason my savings card didn't work on the first shot (I activated it just a few minutes before picking up my script , so it may have been too soon), but between insurance and the savings card it should be free.   Bluize - It seems like there are different dosing options.  At first my doc said to try 2 in the am and 2 in the pm and if i was feeling better to switch to 4 in the am.  Then she changed her mind and said to start out taking all 4 in the am.  I didn't ask her why, but I'm guessing some of it is skepticism on the doc's part about having a constant stream of the meds in your system. (Lialda was suppossed to be once daily too, but my doc had me taking 2 in the am and 2 in the pm.)

She told me to take 4 in the am and 4 in the pm.  I'm waiting for a call back.  I took 4 in the am yesterday with a new pro-bioitic and 4 again today and my intestines are not angry for the first time in years.

I have angry intestines.  I can't believe one or two doses could make a difference but if it's all about the release and the ph then I'm all for it.  Pentasa really never did the job.  I have moderate inflammation in the neo-ileum and patchy mild inflammation in the colon.  I also have some ulcers around those areas.  Finally I have mild inflammation and ulceration in my rectal/anal area but nothing major.  She said this med will work on those areas. 

I am also going to supplement with Canasa suppositories if I can bring myself to do that.

So instead of overdosing I'm just taking 4 in the am and waiting for her to give me clearer instructions.

that's why I'm not taking more.  I know what she said and I think she's very aggressive so it could be her way.  I'll do what she says because so far it's working.

 

She said within 2 weeks I should know if it's working.

 

I hope and pray that this is something I can stay on and will work and continue to be effective.

 

I never realized just how much pain I was in.  Because I can share here, I have to say I've only pooped once today!  That's down from 4-6 times. 

 

Ok, TMI..thanks for reading.