HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Question about types of medication...

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/19/2008 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, here I am again.  After using Canasa first, adding Colazal 6 a day, switching to Rowasa every night for three nights and adding 3 more Colazal - my sweating and nausea has gotten worse.  So, company coming I stopped the Rowasa for two nights and back to 6 Colazal.  With the nausea, gas, sweating and worsening back pain - the stool got better, no to little blood, so improvement in that area.  Also, cramping is better.

Now, my main question is - any of the medications contain similar to aspirin as the symptoms seem like what I have when taking aspirin - oh, yes, AND ringing in my ears (aspirin does that too)  Thanks.  I have to call my NP and see where to go next as I need a new prescription for some kind of rectal medication. 

ElaineNY

Posted 8/19/2008 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Mesalamine (asacol, colazal, lialda, pentasa, rowasa, canasa) is chemically similar to aspirin.

It sounds like 9 Colazal and 1 Rowasa a day is too much for you.
Posted 8/19/2008 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
maybe ask if they think cutting back to the 6 colazal and 1/2 the Rowasa at night would work again? Wasn't that working for you when you first started the Rowasa or were you getting the asprin side effects already at that point? I just think it would be terrible for you tostart seeing that blood you hated so much again if you stopped it all.
Posted 8/19/2008 5:59 PM (GMT 0)

Yes, for two days I went back to 6 Colazal a day and last night I started the Rowasa again.  I can only get about 1/2 or 2/3 in anyway.  Nausea was not as bad this morning but still there.  The sweating is like "night sweats" from menopause which most of you have not reached yet.  They are not severe but I throw the covers off for about 10 min. to cool off.  Another idea might be to use the Rowasa every third day and Canasa or protofoam other days as they did not seem to cause the side effects - just weren't getting all the way to my "problem".  I took Imodium yesterday and as always the day after - one BM well-formed and no blood that I could see (but then I have "senior" vision).  

I think you are right on - may take longer to really get into remission but more comfortable so I can get some sleep and do what I have to do.  I have to go with my husband for his ct scan to see how his lung cancer is tomorrow.  It is stressful and I take Xanax to help with that but sure it does not do everything for the UC that I would like.  Planning on calling NP Thursday to get her and gastro doctor's next move.  Generally, I feel a lot better - less pain, less cramping, etc.

Thanks!

ElaineNY

Posted 8/19/2008 10:19 PM (GMT 0)

Elaine, Asacol, Lialda, Rowasa, Canasa, Colazal are all in a class of medications called 5-ASA's. This is not the same as aspirin (ASA), but is similar in that they all contain salicylates. If you have a sensitivity to those, you may not tolerate any of the 5-ASA's. If you can tolerate sulfa drugs, sulfasalazine could be an option. It was one of the first drugs developed for IBD, but is less used now because a significant number of people have adverse reactions to sulfa drugs. Failing that, there is still the family of immunosuppressants (Imuran, 6-MP) and the biologicals to (Remicade, Humira) to try.

I hope you find your right combination and are quickly feeling better.

Posted 8/19/2008 10:29 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks.  I looked up sufa drugs and I don't remember taking any of the ones I found listed for anything so I don't know if I am allergic - mostly I am just "sensitive" to medications such as aspirin, Motrin, ALL pain killer drugs such as Percocet, Ultram, etc.  May just have to find out the max I can take of what I am doing and try that for while. I do know that I WILL NOT take steroid pills unless all else fails and then I might not. 

ElaineNY

Posted 8/20/2008 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
What about hydrocort enemas? They are like the proctofoam, but in a liquid form, like Rowasa. Would that maybe reach up to your problem area that the foam wasn't hitting?
Posted 8/20/2008 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
I'd also suggest the steroid enemas if you can't use 5ASA meds.

Sulfasalazine contains sulfa and 5ASA...so that would be out as well.

q
Posted 8/20/2008 1:03 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks!  I used the Rowasa again two nights in a row.  I did not see any blood yet today - one regular BM.  Makes me mad about the sweating and nausea - little about 4 a.m. - not too bad but seems to get worse every night. 

Isn't the proctofoam a steroid - I was using that but doctor thought it would not get up far enough - maybe another with a steroid.  I will call NP tomorrow.  Waiting to see how one more night makes me feel. I like that Colazal and Rowasa are doing for my UC.  I did cut back to 6 Colazal on my own for now. 

ElaineNY

Posted 8/20/2008 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, proctofoam is a steroid foam. Hydrocort enemas are a steroid but liquid (like Rowasa, except a steroid). That's why I thought it might reach far enough up, if your doc thinks Rowasa will.
Posted 8/20/2008 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Rowasa also comes in a 2g dosage..same amount of liquid, but might not make you as "hot".

The Rowasa does that to me too somewhat..especailly if I haven't used it in a few days.


q
Posted 8/20/2008 6:18 PM (GMT 0)

Not sure what you mean - 2g not as strong but same liquid?  Anyway, can live with the sweating if it does not get worse but the nausea was terrible after three nights AND wakes me up about 4 am. which is the worse.

Putting in call to NP right now as I have to have a prescription for something - I have two Rowasa left and Colazal so I will ask her next step.  She will probably check with doc and call me back!

ElaineNY

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply