undissolved meds

I did. The number of pills you take may be one reason, but not the main one, I think. I took about 6 a day, and also noticed some pills. My doctors were quite surprised when I mentioned this to them. They think this is caused by small intestine/stomach as the icing of pills should already be destroyed when getting to colon, namely, the medicine of pills are inside the icing, and the medicine should not be absorbed by small intestine.

What I guess is that the icing is designed for the average case (stomach PH, the length of intestine, etc), so the stomach of some people (like me) can not break the icing and thus the pills come out completely. I also guess this is why enema is always more effective than pills, because the absorption of oral pills is a lot lower than enema.

killcolitis said...
Would it be more effective if you crushed then and put them in your food, like they suggest kids do? They might be more effective this way?

That sounds a bit scarey.  Aren't the pills made to release in a specific part of your gut not necessarily in your stomach?

Durango Kid,
Good point, I don't know acutally. My daughter's on pentasa and the GI told us to do this with her pills (we don't because she can swallow them). Not sure if that's correct or if it's different with asacol?

killcolitis said...
Durango Kid,
Good point, I don't know acutally. My daughter's on pentasa and the GI told us to do this with her pills (we don't because she can swallow them). Not sure if that's correct or if it's different with asacol?

Yes, I'd ask my doc first.  I see what look like whole pills in my stool occasionally.  I don't worry much about it.  As long as I'm staying on schedule as far as dosing I figure that's the best I can do....

I have the same problem you do. I discussed it with my GI last week and they had the opposite reaction: they were not suprised. They said it was normal and not to worry about it.


You can search for "undigested Asacol" here and read other threads about this. I did that and read that at least one GI said that even though you saw the pill intact, the medicine had diffused through the coating. So I got a picture of two or three that had gone through my system that you could not distingush from some that had just been pick up from the pharmacy. She was a little suprised by that. They basically said since your symptoms are better, it's not a problem at all, but if it continues to be a problem, we'll switch you to Lialda." ???????



Anyway, I'd say I see about 60-80% of my Asacol pills pass through with about 30-50% of the meds still in them.



If I had a pill that I could take 40% less of (25% in your case) and still get the same potency, we'd save quite a few dollars.



Off topic, but I really wish they were'nt that orangish-red brown whatever color. I mistake it for blood sometimes.

I was having the same problem. My GI told me to expect to see the shell of the capsule in the toilet, but like you, I was seeing a lot of them with the white stuff still in them. I switched to Apriso because I read that it starts dissolving at a lower pH than Asacol, and that people with UC tend to have more acidic guts. I haven't noticed anything in my poop, but Apriso is constructed totally differently. And, Apriso is blue! :)

Not any real connection, I suppose. I was in remission when I switched (in June or July...can't remember), but my remission did seem to get more solid after I switched. Before, I was having 1-2 (mostly 2) BM's a day, and now I have 1 and sometimes none. Whether that's because I'm just further from the flare and am therefore in a more solid remission, or Apriso made the difference, who knows.

I agree Steph.

I notice the Asacol shells...they're a red/orange colour and kind of flattened a bit. I can safely say that they're getting dissolved.

songlady....are you taking the Asacol with food?

How often are your doses...2,3 or 4 times a day?

q

I agree that you can't expect them to fully dissolve when you're flaring and pooping multiple times a day, but I was seeing them with medicine still in them when I was in remisson and just pooping once or twice a day. songlady, I would most deinitely try another mesalamine before you move on to 6MP!

Hi...I think you should take it with food and maybe do 3 times a day.....5 pills each time rather (one less will be fine obviously). That might help in their dissolving....worth a try I think.

Again...I'll say rectal meds to also help rectal inflammation.

q

And - thanks, maybe I'll try dividing them up into 3 doses. Worth a try.

LOL - I am doing the Ultimate Flora first thing in morning and last thing at night, and VSL midafternoon.

Yes, I'm wondering about one of the lower pH 5ASAa, also.

Meg