5-ASA meds?

I'm just wondering if I switch my 5-ASA drug if I may have a better outcome? I'm on Lialda 2 pills twice/day and still flaring. (plus canasa and I just quit pred 20 mg.'s cold turkey- I know- not the smartest thing, but that's another post.) When 1st diagnosed, I went on colazal and got better, but then had really bad side effects (I lost control of my bowels). Does the brand name really make that much of a difference, even though they're all the same med mesalamine? I wonder if it's worth a shot to try asacol? I can't stand the prednisone!

Asacol and Lialda are the same drug. Colazal is a different drug in the same family - much as ibuprofen and aspirin are in the same family. We may have good, bad or no reactions to Mesalamine (Asacol/Lialda) or to Colazal (Balsalazide.) Unfortunately, just to mess us up more, sometimes the "non-active" ingredients in tablets or capsules can also give us reactions. It couldn't hurt to try Asacol before going to stronger drugs, it just could work.

Hi. Thanks for your posts.

Symptoms= bleeding, cramps, diarrhea, gas

I just had my dose increased on 4/24 to 4 lialda/day. I wonder if it'll just take a while to kick in at this dose. I'd read in other posts that some 5ASA meds don't work for some of us. I was wondering if that was the case for me w/lialda.

I've always been hesitant to try the rowasa, because I'm embarrassed and not sure what to expect. Is the rowasa 4000 mgs? I'm starting to reconsider.

Lialda is 1200 mg....so, that means that 1 lialda = 3 asacol. That's it.

The method of deposit is retarded...meaning that it dispurses throughout the colon at different ph levels. If one's ph level isn't as per the coating requirements, it might get dissolved later or not at all.

Some 5ASAs depend on the bacterial level....so that's were the differences of some are.

There are different 5ASA meds....not all mesalamine/mesalazine.

START THE ROWASA....YES...I'M YELLING BUT IN A NICE WAY!!!
I must have no shame because I've used Salofalk enemas for over 19 years. My husband had to put the first one in...that's it.

quincy

Have you ever tried Azulfidine? If you are not allergic to sulfa, it may be a good choice. I know this was the drug that was commonly used quite a few years ago. I don't know why the Doc's just seem to write scrips for the much more powerful drugs without first trying this. It has definitely worked for me when Asacol didn't help at all. I know there are others on this forum who also have good luck with Azulfadine......Somebody on this forum gave me a link to a site that a GI swore by Azulfidine for UC. This particular GI really felt this was the best medicine for UC. (and I don't remember what the site was) I know that some people can't take it because of the sulfa. My newest GI didn't prescribe this to me because she said that since I was dx'd 27 years ago, they have come out with new and improved meds, and put me on Asacol. I was on that for 2 whole years with no change at all. Once I was back on the Azulfidine, I went into remission within 2 months. I don't think that is a coincidence. I'm not saying that this is the best medicine for everybody. We all know that what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another. "New and improved" doesn't alway mean it's going to work better. I just wonder why this drug isn't tried alot more often, considering the side effects are so much more minimal than some of the other drugs. I would go into detail about the benefits of Docs writing scrips for higher priced drugs etc.........but it would fall under "conspiracy" which I believe is not allowed here. I wish you luck with whatever you choose to do. I only wish everyone who suffers from this dreadful disease could enjoy a very long remission.

Drug Therapies
Although medications cannot cure ulcerative colitis, they can reduce symptoms and help you control your condition. Sometimes, they can induce remission of the disease for a period of time. Medications commonly used to treat ulcerative colitis include:

AMK77....Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) -- An older drug that reduces inflammation during acute flare-ups and is usually taken with folic acid. Side effects include abdominal discomfort, nausea, and lowered sperm count. Sulfasalazine can be effective, but newer drugs are available.

Mesalamine (Asacol, Rowasa) -- This drug reduces inflammation during acute flare-ups and helps prevent recurrences, and generally has fewer side effects than sulfasalazine.

Balsalazide disodium (Colazal) -- A different formulation of mesalamine that is designed to deliver the dose directly into the colon. It has fewer side effects.

ASA (aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid) is NOT 5-ASA (5-aminosalicylic acid).... both are salicylates...both are antiinflammatories...different formulation...different reasons for use.

Some people cannot take any salicylate meds. Know what you're talking about and be clear about the formulations.

quincy

Years ago I was having the bleeding, gas, diarrhea, etc.  My doctor had me on Azulfadine and Librax and it really helped me a lot.  It's not the newer stuff but it would now be less costly since it's generic and, as I said, it worked for me.

 

Sherrine

MMMMNAV, slow yourself down and don't jump to conclusions.

Please don't assume anything I say is snippy and don't make any apologies for me.

I can be snippy and you'll know when I do.  I don't sugar coat with hearts and kisses and you darn well know I support members.

Ask me for clarification and allow me to speak for myself.


Respectfully,
quincy

Wow. This is a lot of info! I am certainly glad that there are a lot of choices. I've been flaring for the better part of the last 4 years. (I was misdiagnosed after my 1st colonoscopy, because I wasn't flaring at the time, and didn't get treatment for 2 years.) I'm gonna look into the Rowasa, Azulfadine and Librax. I also need to be careful, because I have a positive ppd and can't take certain classes of drugs. I feel better knowing that with the right medical care, I'll be able to find a coctail that works!

The funny thing is, after all this discussion, I think the 4 lialda/day is starting to kick in! (Cross your fingers.)

What I really like about this site is that you can get info from a lot of different sources and perspectives. My experience has always been that of info and support. I appreciate that and that's the reason I choose to continue on this site. I'm sure posts can be interpreted in different ways, but I have no doubt that people here have the best intentions for others.

MMMNAVY- I didn't know you read this forum, too. I appreciate your input on both.

Traci,
I read several forums. I sure hope you have found some relief for your pain. Still concerned about that other issue, since you really did not get a really good answer. I am sorry the option I suggested did not work out.
There are plenty of options for you in regards to your IBD (since you are not really sure of your dx right now <or has that been confirmed since we last chatted?> I wonder about getting an EGD done?) and we always welcome more questions.
Most importantly I hope you have gotten the relief you need.
Navy

Let's talk about numbers.

On average if a person has UC then the chance of a flare in a one year period is 0.5. This is a broad sweeping generilisation but lets work with it for the time being. On average if you take only a 5ASA over a one year period the chance of a flare reduces to 0.33. Thus a 5ASA drug offers you 0.1667 or 1 divided by 6 chance of extra protection per year on average.

Now 1/6 looks a pretty good gamble for someone with maybe mild symptoms but if someone suffers from UC pretty badly I cant see them take comfort from merely 16.67% extra protection.

Plus i'm sure this 1/6 is boosted up by the market surveys carried out by companies. It would be noble but highly unrealistic to think that the numbers quoted are as good as that. The actual extra protection offered by 5ASA could be nearer 10% per annum.

The source of my figures above come from literature produced by Asacol distributors.

D

PS: I think that some people above need to look at forum rule 3 including the moderators.

That refers to oral 5ASA.

It doesnt matter how many docs use 5ASA once there is a signifcant number then the mean of both the subgroup who use them will equal the mean of the actual population who use them. So given a large enough sample size then the statistic holds. And we most certianly have a large enough sample size in this case.

D