canasa question

I'm just coming out of a Flare and tapering off Entocort.  I also take Asacol and Canasa.  I take Asacol every day and usually take the Canasa during a flare with the Entocort.  I flare so often.  Last time I was only able to go  eleven days when I flared again.  The time before that I was able to go 3 weeks before I had another flare.  My question is, does anyone take Canasa every day, even when not flaring.   Maybe taking it every day would help me.   Thanks for being there.

Thanks Red_34, Will give my doc a call on Monday. I just feel that what I'm on isn't working for me. If only we could all go into remission. What a wonderful thought.

AlabamaBabs sounds like you flare up as often as I do. I'm going to taper off Canasa a little slower until I talk to doc during the week. Just trying to find the magic potion that will work and have all this gone out of my life. Thanks for the info.

Quincy--just a quick question--does the retention enema go up higher and/or stay in the rectum area longer? When I call the GI nurse Monday, I want to tell her about my 'hit and miss' trials with Canasa. I wonder if GI doc would prescribe Rowasa?

AlabamaBobs....the liquid goes higher..it's meant to treat up to and into the sigmoid...it probably goes a bit past, but at least the most difficult areas to treat will be dealt with.

For some, they're difficult to retain...some cannot at all, I've used them for over 19 years without a problem.

You should request the Rowasa...not wait for the doc to prescribe them.

Don't fall for the "you have pancolitis and it won't treat the whole colon" bs if you're given it. Since UC starts at the rectum, it'll need all the help it can get.

The dosage of Rowasa is 2 grams or 4 grams of mesalamine in a 60 ml amount once it's shaken. The 4 gram dosage is what's mostly prescribed. Canasa s 1 gram (1000mg)...you can already see the difference in concentration of medicine directly to the area.

Canasa is good for tapering or even for maintenance...it's not really a good enough amount for treatment..although it's better than nothing and can be used up to 3 times a day.

Let me know if you get them...don't wait. Better to know if you can use them...best to get with an effective treatment option that's only been around for over 20 years. They're expensive, and come in a box of 7 enemas. You may have to use them for a while, but the pay-off is huge if you can use them.

quincy

Hi Quincy;

When you say you have used the enema for over 19 years, I don't supose you mean daily for the whole period ??  What is the longest period you have used them for ?

Also for those who have a problem retaining them, this may be of interest.  I was prescribed the ememas 21 years ago when I was first diagnosed with UC and as much as I tried, I could never retain them.  I was given the supository form instead.  Now 2 years ago, it got so bad that I decided to try the enemas again.  I cannot give you the reason why, but I have no problem at all retaining them now, but I only use them at bedtime. This would be the only positive difference I have noticed while aging tho.....lol

I am in remission - and I am currently taking Canasa daily.   Along with all my other meds of course.  I restarted them a few weeks ago after being off for almost 2 years because I had a little bump in the road - tiny amount of blood in the toilet.  Didn't want to let it get out of control - and the blood was bright red so I knew it wasn't from further up the colon.  Stayed on them 2x daily until I saw no blood for a week straight - then went down to 1x daily at bedtime.  Have been doing 1x daily for about 2 weeks now and am considering dropping to every other day.  The key to getting off these things is a very slow taper.  Go too quickly and all the symptoms come right back.

tipoil....as my signature states....increased for treat, tapered to maintain...it's a process. I'm at one every 4 nights...and won't go past every 5 nights anymore. Spring is a stressful time for me (although hopefully not this year).

The longest I've used them nightly is for 4 months. Very bad time for me...

I tapered off them in the first few years.....alas, not worth it for me.

It's great you can retain them.....to me, the 5ASA retention enemas are a miracle med. My flares have never been worse than the first years...and my last c-scope was awesome...happily.

quincy

ColitisIsTheWorst - yes, the 5ASA retention enemas are Rowasa (or the generic is called Mesalamine rectal suspension).

quincy...Thanks for the info. Instead of stopping the Canasa I will try it for 3 X a week and then go to 2 X a week and maybe this will help me. If this works, Bless You. Well even if it doesn't work, Bless You. I notice reading all the posts that everyone knows so much about their colon. I feel pretty ignorant when it comes to that. Next visit to the doc I will find out more. Thanks

Lenie - starting at 3 sounds fine if you are bleeding pretty badly.  However, I would not drop down to 2 or 1 until you are seeing no blood for at least 1 week straight.  If you drop down the dose too quickly the bleeding will come right back.  And if it at any time during your taper you see bleeding again - jump back up a level - meaning if you dropped from 3 to 2 and saw blood again go back to 3, dropped from 2 to 1 and saw blood, go back to 2, etc.  And start the cycle again.  Good luck!

lenie...can you clarify how you're going to do the canasa again?

If I read yours correctly, you mean to use them 3 times a week?
If that's what you say.....it's not enough.

Do them at least twice daily...one at night, one in the morning until you have absolutely NO symptoms. Then continue for another week....

You could maybe go every second then third day of the morning ones but stay on the night ones for at least a month...then work on tapering them.

q

Regarding the Canasa, do you realize they come in 500mg and 1000mg.  You need to be careful about doing too much, just like any med.  I do 1000mg 2 times a day during flare ups. I'm not sure if it's ok to do 1000mg three times a day.