How long to wait before trying different meds?

I was diagnosed with UP a few years ago. Since then, apparently it's gone into full UC throughout my colon. Fun times! I recently had a colonoscopy that confirmed this through a new GI doc. We're now trying out Lialda as our first step at treatment before moving onto something new.

Just curious to know how long people typically wait before moving onto a different medication? He told me that the 5ASA drugs are all similar but people react differently to each so no two are neccessarily the same.

I'm doing a bit better on the Lialda, but that may be because I'm smoking again. Seems like things got worse when I quit smoking. My main symptoms still are a gurgling feeling in my colon, mucus, minor blood, and rectal pain. I asked if I should be taking suppositories which I was prescribed years ago and he said we'd check into that at the next visit, but for now to just stick with the Lialda since it can hit that far down through distribution. His theory of rectal burning was due to the fast transit of food through the colon and too much acidity hitting the rectum. We'll see...

Currently taking 4 lialda a day.

I will look into the rectal route. I wish I could just take suppositories but I don't imagine that to hit the entire colon. Maybe a combination of the lialda and canasa?

The only bummer about rectal meds is I would hate having to do an enema every night. Years ago I tried enemas for the proctitis but didn't react well to it after the fourth or fifth night. Seemed to make me feel more cramped and had more frequent bowel movements.

Rectal meds are not meant to treat the entire colon....so that's not even a thought you need to revisit. Rectal meds are meant to deal with the inflammation in that area...quick and effectively. Retention enemas will go as high as the sigmoid and maybe farther.

Remember that rectal symptoms will be worse since that's where UC starts....keep that in mind...it'll be the first place to start (you had UP)....it's the last place to heal. It will help that poor area which gets the most assult through having stool or diarrhea forced through the raw inflamed area (add all the wiping as well).

You should be on them....the Lialda isn't meant to deal with the entire colon...when one has diarrhea or inflammation in the colon, sometimes it's not fully dispursed and will be forced out with the stool/diarrhea.

Call the doc and request the suppositories at least....I don't understand him allowing you discomfort.

If he doesn't give you any and forces you to WAIT till your next appointment (when is that by the way?)...pure torture on purpose from my perspective.....go to the store and see if you can purchase any low dosage hydrocortisone suppositories. It'll be better than nothing.

Call the doc and request.....you should be using both oral and rectal 5ASA meds.

quincy