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question about ASACOL upset stomach ..and D's

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Posted 1/15/2008 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hello 

I just switch from colazal to asacol ...and i am having stomach pain ....trips to the bathroom

i just got a new drug coverage and they wont cover colazaL ...but will cover asacol ..so untill the generic hits the streets i will be on asacol .

My question is this did any of you expierence this and was it temporary ....please help ...thanks 

Posted 1/15/2008 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
I did not experience any of that with Asacol. No side effects from day one. What about Lialda? Would that be an option under your insurance?
Posted 1/15/2008 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
Side effects of Asacol from WebMD:

Flu-like symptoms, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, weakness, headache, constipation, abdominal/back pain, upset stomach, diarrhea, or gas may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Alot of folks have problems with Asacol. If yours continue, talk to your doc about switching back or to something else.
Posted 1/16/2008 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
When I first started takeing asacol I would get a little stomach pain but it didnt last very long maybe a week are so and the pain for me wasnt all the time just every now and then threw the day. hopefully it will get better,
Posted 1/16/2008 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
I actually had to reduce my asacol intake to get completely into remission.
But there are many people who can't tolerate Asacol, so maybe give it a few days then discuss it with your GI if you don't improve.
James
Posted 1/16/2008 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I had to move over to Colazide (Australian name for Colazal) because the standard 5-ASA drugs like Asacol made me feel sick in the stomach and made my D far, FAR worse. This never improved for me.

Best thing that ever happened was to move over purely to Colazide. I pay for it, but its so many kinds of worth it!
Posted 1/16/2008 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your replies

I am filling better already i posted after i took my first four pills ....seems to be getting better ...i go see my GI in two days ...and in two weeks i will get my 4 remicade infusion :-) :-)
Posted 1/16/2008 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Don't know how many you are taking, but you might try taking smaller doses throughout the day instead of 4 at once and also try to eat something with them. When I first started taking them I couldn't take too many at a time(I am on only 6 a day, my doc said to take 3 twice a day, I broke them up to 2 3 times a day). That only lasted a couple of weeks and now I can take all 6 at once with no side effects.
Posted 1/16/2008 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
I just switched off asacol yesterday. I was taking 3 pills, 4 times a day, and for 10 months I had absolutely no problems. about 2 weeks ago I started having lots of nauseous, and my GI thought it might be the asacol. my GI said that some people's D does worsen on asacol, so you should keep an eye on it. It might be that this passes once your body adjusts to it, or it might be that you just can't tolerate it. I will say that within 24 hours of switching off Asacol to Colazal I feel much better. no nausous. so, just watch it.

also, I don't know what your GI is like, but given that colazal is supposed to come off patent soon, would he/she be willing to just give you some free for a month or 2, to hold you over, if it turns out colazal works better? maybe they can provide you the drug just until it gets out on generic??? just a thought. The GIs get so so so much of this stuff via samples that yours might have some to spare... never hurts to ask.
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