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Saw my GI today

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/4/2009 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I had an appointment with my GI today...just a follow-up now that I'm in remission to discuss what to do about meds.  I've been using my Rowasa every other night for about two weeks now, so he suggested I go down to twice a week.  I'm also going to switch to Apriso because I want the convenience of once-daily dosing and because my insurance changed to a two-tier Rx program (instead of a three-tier), so there's no difference in cost to me between Asacol and Apriso.  However, I just got my Asacol refilled, so I'm going to go ahead and finish out this month of it before switching to Apriso and I didn't want the medicine to go to waste.  Plus, he and I didn't want to switch two things at once, so this way we'll know if using the Rowasa twice weekly is going to work and then if the Apriso is going to work.

I go back in three months just to follow up (assuming I stay well and don't need to see him before then).  Hopefully I do!!!

Posted 6/5/2009 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
Twice a week should equate to every third night....congratulations on your graduation! lol!

Takes a while to get it all figured out...hope the apriso works for you.

q
Posted 6/5/2009 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a lot of positive news. I hope you do well on Apriso. Are you going to decrease your dose of Asacol/Apriso?
Posted 6/5/2009 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
I hope Apriso works, too! I'm having a lot of trouble remembering my noon dose of Asacol and if we are eating out, have trouble remembering my evening dose, since the Rx bottle isn't sitting on the table in front of me. My doc said that in his opinion, non-compliance (whether b/c the person doesn't want to take the med and deliberately quits, or just forgets all of the time) on taking meds is the most common reason for flares.

sicklygirl, I'm going to hold steady on the high dose of the Asacol/Apriso for now. I asked my GI about it, and he said that since I was so sick and so hard to get into remission, that he'd rather I stay on the high dose for a year, and if I haven't had a flare during that time, then we could talk about reducing it. He said he's found that patients who stay on the higher doses (especially those who have severe cases) do better if they stay on higher doses. So, because I really want to stay in remission, I'll keep taking the high dose.
Posted 6/5/2009 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I should do the same. I was on the 9 pill dose for months. I really wanted to reduce to 6 but it caused my symptoms to come back. I am doing better now but not back to where I was when I was consistently taking 9 a day. I am going to keep going with 9. My hair loss seems to have improved after the short switch to 6 a day. It's kind of discouraging when you think you're so much better but when you reduce the dose things almost immediately get worse. I am just thankful that going back up to 9 and shown improvement in my condition alrady. My doctor didn't say I should reduce the dose but she said I could try. Guess it wasn't the best idea for me right now.
Posted 6/5/2009 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Well, it was worth trying. And just try to think that you *are* better, even if you are taking 9 Asacol a day! We unfortunately have a condition that requires daily meds, but don't think that because you have to take meds, you're not "well." Yeah, it sucks, but it's just part of life, and a small price to pay to feel good!
Posted 6/5/2009 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Can you not take your dosage twice a day? morning/after supper?

When do you take the zoloft?

q
Posted 6/5/2009 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
I take the Zoloft in the morning. Are you asking about the dose of Asacol? I suppose I could, but it's actually going to save me money by switching to Apriso since my copay will be reimbursed by Salix. My company switched insurance plans, so we now have a two tier Rx program instead of a three tier, where generics are $15 and all others are $35.
Posted 6/5/2009 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
I asked my Gi about switching from Colazal to Apriso cuz of the convenience.  But he was not for it.  He said since I'm in such a good remission on Colazal why do I want to rock the boat.  So I'm still sticking with my 9 a day habit! :)

Hope the Apriso works for you!

Posted 6/5/2009 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
My GI was a bit hesitant about rocking the boat, too, since I'm doing well, but he thought it was more important that I get my full dose each day. Plus, isn't the active in Colazol a bit different than what's in Apriso and Asacol, and doesn't Colazol dissolve lower in the colon than Apriso/Asacol?
Posted 6/5/2009 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yup.  But he wouldn't let me switch to Lialda either when it came out.  And that is the same med that's in Colazal.  I'm pretty good about meds.  I timed my middle of day dose for when the kids come home from school.  So I'm always home and in the kitchen then.  Makes it kinda hard to forget taking it.

Posted 6/8/2009 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Apriso contains Aspartame. There's no reason to put an artificial sweetener in UC med. Salix is distributing reduced-price coupons to entice patients to try it; that also says something negative-- they just want to compete with Lialda. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 6/8/2009 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
I know they just want to compete with Lialda...but the makers of Lialda also have a program that's very similar (I picked up a card for it at a CCFA event a while back), so it's not like Salix is doing something unusual. They disclose the amount of aspartame that's in the pills on their website. I just sent Salix an email asking them why they included it and how the amount compares to what is in gum and soda.
Posted 6/9/2009 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
So I did some digging on my own, and found info that the amount of phenylalanine in 12 oz of a diet soda is approximately 100 mg. The amount of phenylalanine in Apriso is 0.56 mg. So in my four pills I'll take each day, I'll be getting 2.24 mg of it. Still no word from Salix, but if I hear back I'll let you know.
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