NSAID's

Otherwise known as Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatories. e.g. Asprin.

Now I am told that Asacol is like an Asprin but for the Colon....

I have been having stomach ulcers (twice now) in the 18 months I have been taking Asacol. Does anyone else have a problem with anti-inflammotories and does this mean I have go the natural route?

Mesalamine is the medicinal component of Asacol and Pentasa. Mesalamine is thought to be the theraputic part of the sulfasalazine molecule. It is somewhat related to sulfa medications. Mesalamine is metabolized in the body to N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid. Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. That is why you were likely told that Asacol is like aspirin.

People with CD or UC are usually told to avoid NSAIDs. The main reason is that NSAIDs are known to cause intestinal disturbances in people that don't have IBD, so the problem can compound IBD problems. Also, NSAIDs have been proven to cause ulcerations in the small bowel making it difficult to differentiate between Crohn's and NSAID ulceration.

Side effects of Asacol on the GI system [taken from the prescribing information]: "Gastrointestinal: Anorexia, pancreatitis, gastritis, increased appetite, cholecystitis, dry mouth, oral ulcers, perforated peptic ulcer (rare), bloody diarrhea. There have been rare reports of hepatotoxicity including, jaundice, cholestatic jaundice, hepatitis, and possible hepatocellular damage including liver necrosis and liver failure.

So Asacol could be causing your stomach problems. Have they done an upper endoscopy to biopsy the stomach ulcers? Crohn's itself can cause ulceration in the stomach. There are other medications to treat CD besides the mesalamine products. If your doctor decides that Asacol is the problem, he/she will have other things to offer.

Well, Asacol can't give you the bacteria that causes a stomach ulcer. It might be contributing to the gastritis. I'm not sure if the gastritis makes one more susceptible to H Pylori.

There are alternatives to Asacol. However, your physician would prescribe based on your medical history and the location and extent of your disease. If you want to see a list of other medications often prescribed for CD, check these out:
http://www.ccfa.org/frameviewer/?url=/media/pdf/FactSheets/aminosal.pdf
http://www.ccfa.org/media/pdf/FactSheets/biologics%20sept%202008.pdf
http://www.ccfa.org/frameviewer/?url=/media/pdf/FactSheets/immunomodulators.pdf
http://www.ccfa.org/frameviewer/?url=/media/pdf/FactSheets/steroids.pdf

I can handle Asacol fine, I think it's really helped me stay in remission. However I can't have any kind of NSAIDS. Before being diagnosed I used to take aspirin daily for work stress headaches. Between that and having Crohn's I ended up with a terribly deep ulcer at the end of my small intestine. Almost bled to death, they had to in and do an emergency colonoscopy to fix the ulcer.

So they are two very different things for me! One helps and one is a big no no!