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Finally started Colazal - questions?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/11/2008 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Well, after using Canasa for a few weeks my doctor has given me Colazal starting slow 3x2 a day.  I am on third day.  No real difference but woke up not feeling so great.  Seems to come and go - nausea, headache, but nothing extreme. 

Any experience with this medication is appreciated.   I was instructed to take with breakfast and dinner and should see some results in two weeks.

ElaineNY

Posted 7/11/2008 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Those side effects may go away after a little time on the med. I hope it helps!
Posted 7/11/2008 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Drink a lot of plain water throughout the day/eve. Staying well-hydrated is important to tolerating Colazal, I find-- (especially during hot weather) though I cannot take it at full-dose for longer than 10 weeks w/o experiencing side effects. Luckily, it works for me at lower doses & in less time when I have flared. It has treated me better than any of the older oral 5-ASAs. Hope it will help you, too. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)

Posted 7/11/2008 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Colazal for years and have never experienced any side effects (that I have noticed). It has been wonderful in helping me to maintain remission. I originally was taking 3 pills 3 times a day and when I went into a flare my doctor up'd the dose to 4 pills 3 times a day. I have since gone back into remission and I have slowly weened myself down to 3 pills twice a day which has really worked for me. I did notice that I had more urgency/frequency when I was taking 12 pills a day as opposed to the 6 I take now.

Your body just might take a few weeks getting used to Colazal being introduced into it. Good luck!!

Posted 7/11/2008 6:58 PM (GMT 0)

Maureen, Old Hat ...

Thanks so much!  I feel much better today and I went to store without panicking about finding a bathroom.  All is going pretty well on 6 a day.  All my life I have been extremely sensitive to medication - 1/2 Xanax works for me and 1 Tylenol for examples.  I also use a Canasa before I go to bed.  Had a dream that the two medications did not meet in the middle and I had one little stripe of ulcers in there bleeding!  Sure have some funny dreams, don't we.

The other day the NP told me that my gastro doc and her think I probably have had colitis many years - labeled spastic colon in the old days and IBS - just never had any blood until a year ago and then for a short time.  Stress seems to make it worse, right?  I also believe my Mom had it because she often had diarrhea and took  like gallons of pepto bismal. 

As for drinking water - thanks for reminding me.  I do not go out in the heat but I also do NOT drink enough water.  I can't drink it on an empty stomach (makes me nauseated) and just never think with meals.  I will try harder. 

Thanks again, ElaineNY

Posted 7/13/2008 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Your comment that drinking water on an empty stomach nauseates you makes me wonder if (1) your local water is chemically treated with something that irritates you, or (2) your gall bladder needs some medical attention. Try drinking bottled water for a week or two to see if that helps. When I was 1st diagnosed with UC in 1980, my gastroenterologist advised me to drink bottled water to avoid particle matter (such as iron) from inside the old city pipelines. I've never regretted following that advice. / Old Hat
Posted 7/13/2008 5:30 PM (GMT 0)

Just to comment on our water.  We have well water which is tested and filtered (Culligan).  Bottled water does same thing - on empty stomach. 

Nausea has been a problem for years - before UC.  I wake up early morning nearly every day with nausea - don't have it much during the day. 

I don't have a gallbladder anymore.  Elaine

Posted 7/14/2008 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
The nausea can be from your GERD. I get that too when I drink water on occasion. But it can be that your body is adjusting to the Colazal. When I started on it, it took about 2 weeks for my body to adjust. I had a floating feeling - like I was walking in a dream, headaches, stomach upset and fatigue until my body got used to it.
Posted 7/14/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Red.  I do have GERD and take medicine for it.  I have always had this problem - as far back as I can remember. 

You state that you could not tolerate Asacol.  What symptoms did you have?  This is my 6th day on Colazal and seems my system is going backwards.  I have more bloody diarrhea this morning than for a week.  I am only taking 3 a day and the probiotic.  Geez, thought I would start to feel better soon.  Had to take my Imodium as we are going out soon.

ElaineNY

Posted 7/14/2008 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
With any of the mesalamines such as Asacol, Rowasa or Canasa, I get severe abdominal pain, severe D with blood and a flu like feeling. As for the Colazal, 3 a day seems a bit on the low side. Is there a reasoning behind your doctors low dosage? The typical dosing for Colazal is 9 a day but some only take 6 a day with good results. I can't get below 9 or I start flaring unfortunately - but I'm always flaring to some degree anyway so I don't know if it matters or not! lol
Posted 7/14/2008 3:15 PM (GMT 0)

That should have said 3 twice a day.  Doctor knows how "sensitive" I am to all medication so started lower to see if that helps.  Today so far it is bad - worse this week - after 6 days.  I promised to give it two weeks unless I got really sick.  Today is about what it was like most days without medication.  Discouraging to say the least! No really bad side effects - just same old bloody diarrhea and cramps. 

ElaineNY

Posted 7/14/2008 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry that you don't see lasting improvement. If your c-scope found mainly rectal inflammation, you might get relief from Cortifoam. It's a 10% steroid retention foam that looks like shaving lather-- goes in easily with applicator & stays where you put it. As Red says, some UCers do have problems tolerating 5-ASA meds for one reason or another so definitely tell your doctor if you think Colazal or Canasa make you feel worse. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)


Posted 7/14/2008 7:46 PM (GMT 0)

No bad effects from Canasa and probably haven't given the Colazal time to really work.  Having GERD and a hiatel hernia plus my body can't process fat good since I had my gallbladder out is probably working against me.

I cannot use the enemas because I can't reach to "apply" them.  Barely handle the suppositories - embarrassing to explain but I am obese with arthritis - not a great combination.  OLD too! 

ElaineNY

Posted 7/15/2008 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
I think the Cortifoam applicator is easier to insert than a suppository. There is no need to squeeze as with liquid retention enemas, nor even to lie on left side during insertion. (There is also a 5-ASA foam available in UK, Europe, & Australia, but alas, still not on the market in the U.S. Probably the suppository manufacturers are afraid of competition eating into their profits!) / Old Hat

Post Edited (Old Hat) : 7/15/2008 8:25:28 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/15/2008 2:31 PM (GMT 0)

Possibly I could use the Cortifoam - only way I could is on the toilet - do you think that would work - I can barely reach for the suppository.

Ok - one week taking the Colazal and having more blood and diarrhea with cramping - bad cramping.  I am getting really tired of this with no relief.  I am afraid the gastro doc will want me to try prednisone next and I hate that!! Do you beleive not drinking a lot of water can make it worse.  I try to drink more but not much more than usual - maybe 4 cups a day.

Thanks for your information - glad there are people to "talk" with who understand.

ElaineNY

Posted 7/15/2008 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
The Cortifoam applicator is longer than a suppository so that might help your reach + I think that the toilet position would be o.k. You mainly need an operational thumb to push a bit on the applicator button once you have it in place. (It's a sliding plastic tube-type device.) Plus you'd need to apply a bit of lube to the applicator tip for comfort's sake before inserting. (Kind of like a thin tampon insertion, except that what stays in is foam instead of material!) / Old Hat

Posted 7/15/2008 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Cortifoam I think is what I tried back in 2003 for a few months and yes I using it on the toilet works. I am ashamed to say I was 297 at the time (much lower weight now)and "reach" wasn't easy even without the arthritis you have to combat with.  I used a little of the foam as the lube on the applicator, made everything internal and external feel better (tenderness from excess wiping).
Posted 7/15/2008 9:10 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks so much regarding Cortifoam.  I called my NP and she said that was their first recommendation but I had stated reluctance to be able to use it.

She is calling me in a prescription and I am going to try it for a few days.

Sure nice to have all you guys to comfort me and she reassured me that we would get this "under control".

ElaineNY

Posted 7/15/2008 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck Elaine. I sincerely hope the new med will get your Uc under control. Cortifoam is really easy to use - almost as easy as the Canasa. Other then trying to dispense the medicine in the dispenser, I think it's actually easier to tell the truth! Filling the dispenser is a bit tricky until you learn how to do it.
Posted 7/16/2008 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing today.
Posted 7/16/2008 2:36 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks!  So far so good.  Actually, I feel much better than yesterday - no nausea or pain - YET!  My NP has called in the enema/foam prescription (there was some confusion as to which enema she was prescribing) and I will pick it up after 3 and hopefully I can administer it before bedtime and give it a few days try anyway.

Hope you are having a good day.

ElaineNY

Posted 7/16/2008 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
I'll keep my fingers crossed that the pain and nausea stay away for you. . . we all need a good day now and again . . we just need them more often than we get them (o:

Good luck with the foam, it really made things feel better when I had to use it!
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