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How long to "try" & wait to have a bowel after taking mesalamine?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/9/2009 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
So I usually end up having to go to the bathroom at least a couple hours after taking the med. I'm wondering if a lot of it is coming right out because I see a little bit of white in the toilet from the mesalamine and the whole color of the bowl is a lighter brown rather than darker liquid as usual. Sorry for being so detailed I don't know how else to go around it hah. Any help is appreciated.
Posted 2/9/2009 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
I try to use it late at night or after my last BM so it stays in all night. I always assumed that if you have a BM after using rectal meds that you have lost most of the effectiveness of the meds. When I was at my worst, there was no way I could hold the meds in all night unfortunately. Hopefully I am wrong and it doesn't all go in the toilet.
Posted 2/9/2009 9:33 PM (GMT 0)

I don't know what the official time rule is for keeping in the mesalamine, but for me I am usually pretty pleased if I can keep it in for two hours or so.  I find that the more I need those "insertion" meds, the harder they are to keep inside and since you are taking two doses a day, you may be getting enough benefit especially if you are keeping in one longer than the other. 

With the suppositories, if I could not keep them in longer than an hour or two, I would insert another after I had voided. 

I also really concentrate on squeeeezing those sphinster muscles and do some deep breathing because sometimes after a minute or two the cramps pass and I can hold off voiding for another hour.

It is truly a humbling method, but the benefits of rectal medication make it almost worth it!  No, I joke.  It is totally worth it.

Posted 2/9/2009 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
You should be able to look up the minimum time on the instruction sheet (or the company website); sorry I don't remember, but I think it's around 2 hours. Of course, the longer, the better.

I assume you're talking about suppositories. I use mine right before bed, and still see suppository in the toilet bowl in the first BM to follow (which is often 10-12 hours later), so I don't think what you're seeing is cause for concern.
Posted 2/9/2009 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
My instructions that came with the enema's say 20 minutes is how long you are supposed to lay with out moving. GI doc says to hold in at least 2 hours if possible... all night is better.
Posted 2/10/2009 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
My GI always said that even if you can only hold it in for like 10 minutes, a lot of the med still stays inside you, lining the walls of the rectum & colon. And it's so true- the wrose you need the meds the harder it is to hold 'em! I could not hold those darned steroid enemas for anything... & I was flaring pretty badly when I had them. What a waste- I would literally put it in, squeeze like half the bottle, then jump right up & sit on the toilet. I think I wound up on oral pred anyway... The rowasa are easier, but then again, they don't do much for a severe flare. I tend to think of them more as maintenance, or for little "blips".

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