Does Colazal really work?

Colazal works better for people that have left sided Uc so even though your doc says they are basically the same - it's sort of true. Asacol and Colazal are both 5-ASAs but Asacol is a mesalamine and Colazal is a basalazide. The release mechanisms are differet. If one can't tolerate one or it doesn't work then by all means, he should try the other. I take 9 a day, 3 in the morn, 3 in the afternoon and 3 before bed. I don't know if it matters what time you take it as long as the colon is getting a steady stream of meds. As for being on a 5-ASA, even if it doesn't seem like it's working it's best to be on one anyway because it can help reduce the chances of colon cancer.

And no, no long term side effects are usually seen in Asacol or Colazal. I've been on Colazal for 3 years and before that Asacol for 13 years.

If Colazal is not working for your husband, he should not waste time trying Dipentum, its predecessor. He should consult a reliable IBD gastro ASAP. It's likely that he needs some type of immunosuppressant med, at least for a while, to achieve remission. The latest thinking of IBD gastros is that if one 5-ASA fails to relieve symptoms within a couple months, the patient requires treatment with a higher order med or med combo. See my earlier post "New Online IBD Article Summarizes Current Medical Treatment Options"-- Part 1 on UC-- now on page 8 or 9 here. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)

i think it is the colazal that is helping to keep me in remission. it took me well over a year to get into remission. i dont plan on going off of it anytime soon as the last time i did i flared terribly. it seems to be better than asacol but that is just my gut feeling from all of the 5asa posts ive seen.

I used colazal for a good while. I think it just stained the toilet more than anything, and still have a cabinet full of the stuff. I still had to use the retention enema periodically. I think they do more for me than anything else. It sucks, its inconveniant, and its uncomfortable. It does get to the diseased organ though, rather than trying to get to it by going the scenic route. That is if you have sigmoid/rectum/left sided colitis. Hydrocort enemas got me into remission, once there the liadla, my diet, my chiropractic care (I am a chiropractor too), exercise..... helped keep me there. Now flaring though and looking forward to this flame going out again.

I think sometimes I have to trick my body with the different stuff because it gets used to the same ole thing. I'll throw in some colazal once in a blue moon, use the enema, liadla, I'll run across some old asacol and just go ahead and pop those in. Use pure aloe vera and vitamin E with some distilled water in an empty 60ml enema bottle.... that is very soooothing when really inflammed. I'm gonna try the fecal transplant that's being done in some places as soon as my new baby arrives. A little wierd, but it's a little more wierd having this disease.

I just told my doc I wanted to switch to liadla for awhile and see how it does.

I was originally on Colazal and I had an allergic reaction. I then took sulfasalazine and that did the trick. But I was tired of taking it so many times a day. Now I take Lialda 4 pills once per day.

You shouldn't have to just go along with the doc because he says so. If you want to try a new med, then tell him. You are the boss! If he isn't listening to you or if you don't feel comfortable with him as a doc, then find someone else.

If you guys feel that Colazal isn't working for you, swap the meds and/or the doc!

UC Spouse-- what got me to remission from severe flares was steroid meds. Then I had the problem of what to take to maintain remission because I relapse w/o meds after 3 weeks. I tried a number of oral 5-ASAs, which all had side effects. Rowasa helped me until Colazal came on the market. That's been my best maintainer to-date. I really can't comment as to whether your husband should change doctors again; it depends on how much he knows about IBD treatment and the quality of attention he gives to your husband's case. I think that there is still a lot to be studied about Humira use with IBD; it's a "cutting-edge" med so only a limited number of gastros & IBD patients would qualify to advise on your husband's situation. I can say from personal experience with Colazal that it becomes problematic for me to take 6 or more capsules daily for longer than 10 weeks: my eyelids start to puff up & itch! So my gastro had me try a lower dose, which, thankfully, is helping. That's what IBD gastros call "heterogeneity of response". There's a huge amount of variability among us patients as to how much & which meds work to calm our ailment. / Old Hat

Was your husband on the 5ASA rectal med while on oral 5ASA?

has he been on 12 Colazal since diagnosis?  It seems a high dosage and I would expect it in itself can cause loose stool, etc.

He has nothing to lose trying the cortifoam...many do have success on it.

Not all 5ASA meds work for everyone....the doc should at least have him change to another so that it can be proven it's not just the Colazal.

What exactly are his symptoms at this time? and has there been ANY improvement since his diagnosis?

Thai food...yum....if I'm flaring I would expect to have some a very loose stool the next day.

I'll be having some tonight...hopefully!

quincy

I am over at curezone.com ALOT reading the weird stuff different people are trying. There are several that have tried it with success and others with no success. There are a few different methods out there, and I am gonna give the home version a shot first. I would just search the topic there and read alot if you are interested in it. When I first read it I was a little thrown back on the whole idea, but.... its still more pleasant than the stuff we go through. My name is airun over there so you'll probably run into a thread or to in the UC and a bunch of other forums.

I was talking to one of my patients today who was just diagnosed with leukemia. The ability to relate to people with disease is one thing I have taken from having UC. That and the ability to share my experiences and trials with my UC patients that happen through. Today we discussed not letting the disease create it's own personality. Which is hard, because it consumes us.

Having a spouse of my own, using the rectal stuff can be a little tricky. I like my private time when doing it, so just realize that he probably would feel the same way if he ever uses the stuff.

I am of the belief that God created our body with the power to heal anything inside us. I don't know what gets in the way sometimes, but I'll keep searching until I can drop all the meds!!

Quincy- Yes, my husband was on both 5ASA rectal(Mesalamine-substituted for Rowasa) and oral(Colazal).
When my husband was first diagnosed he was only taking 3 colazals for about a month, due to miscommunication from his first doc. Then he was on 9 pills/day...since there was no improvement, he was put on 10 a day...honestly i can't remember how long he has been on 12 Colazal/day. I would say about 2-3 months straight, however when his symptoms get worse his doc. ups his Colazal. Is loose stool a side effect of Colazal?? How ironic.
Currently his symptoms are: very tired, going on avg. 10-12 times/day, not formed stools, blood in stools(amount fluctuates),& continues to lose weight. :( There was improvement when he was on steroids, but everytime he weaned off of it, his symptoms came back. The beginning of his diagnosis, he was on steroids for about 3 months. When he started Humira almost 2 months ago, his symptoms improved a little (4-7 stools/day) for only about 2-3 weeks. So, there has been no consistency...that's why I had to give this long explanation...I apologize. Btw, how was the Thai food?

kim123-thank you for your support and I really like your motto. I will share that with my husband:) He had typhoid when he was a teenager and he had a nose surgery for a deviated septum a few years ago. Those are the only health issues I can think of. I am checking if you had any antibiotics for his nose surgery. Docs. are slow here though.

vanguard of dub-Thanks for sharing the info. I didn't realize there were so many side effects for Colazal. What did you take instead of Colazal?

D_A- I checked out that site(thanks!)...pretty interesting and tons of info. Have you tried any home remedies? I totally agree with you about not letting the disease create its own personality. I think I am guilty of it more than my husband. I noticed you said that you are a chiroprator and you have UC patients. How often should a UC patient see a chiropractor and what are the benefits? I hope I am not being too inquisitive. Actually, not to give tmi, but I helped my husband with his rectal med. (as per his request) Go figure. To each his own. Your last statement is very true, but what keeps you searching and not giving up??


RunsNdFamily-Did you notice a difference when you took Asacol compared to when u were taking Colazal? How did you figure out that Colazal was causing you to have constant runs? I hope you feel better soon and good luck with your insurance.

Thank you all for your help!:)