new form of meslazine - much better imo

well, maybe not super new, but semi-new...

i've been prescribed mesalazine (salofalk or pentasa) granules.

i have been researching it on the net today and found that it is a far superior way to take mesalazine instead of the tablets.

taking so many tablets a day of mesalazine has been indicated to cause exacerbation of UC.  even though it is made specifically for UC.

The vanilla-flavoured granule formulation is easy to swallow and allows for simpler dosing thereby improving compliance, particularly with the larger doses of mesalazine needed to manage this condition. The unique layered granule formulation both delays release of mesalazine until the granules reach the higher pH ileal-caecal region of the GI tract, and prolongs it over several hours. Furthermore the mesalazine granules allows uniform distribution over the inflamed intestinal mucosa, systemic absorption is low, reducing potential side effects.  Non-compliance can lead to a disease exacerbation.

anyhoo, something to maybe ask your doctors about since it takes you down to one dose a day that equals 12 or so pills.

hope it helps!

they taste alright too.  no gagging. woohoo.

 

here is just one link about a study done on it http://www.pulsus.com/cddw2008/abs/323.htm

 

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imo = in my opinion (in case you were wondering what that meant)

Just a quick note: this isn't actually Asacol, it's Pentasa. Same drug, but Pentasa is formulated to be effective at the very beginning of the colon, so may be less effective for treating the left side of the colon, rectum and sigmoid.

i mentioned in the my first post that it is pentasa or salofalk as the brands. i didnt mention asacol. i dont even know what that is being over here in australia.

that is unfortunate that you cant get it in america.

you empty the sachet of granules onto the tongue and wash it down with water or juice. they are like the little candy dots on donuts or cupcakes. that size. and taste sweet. very easy to take.

they make it ALL the way into the colon and are made to disperse evenly throughout the WHOLE colon to the end.
NOT just the beginning. the pills only go part way, hence the switch to the granules, so they go all the way.

my doc wants me to take the salofalk enemas but they make me very sick and i cant tolerate them. so he did try.

these granules are so much better than taking a million pills a day. i quite like them and am hopeful as the studies on them seem to be very very promising.

I was taking the granules for 8 months and we discovered that it was making my UC worse, though I seem to have a bad reaction all the Mesalazine family of drugs.

The only one I seem to tolerate well is Colazide (Colazal in the US) which is based on Balsalazide.

Thanks for the info, kazygirl. I wish I could try it but I am in the U.S.