Increasing Rectal Meds

I am currently experiencing a pretty minor flare. I have between 2 and 5 BM's per day some consisting of blood, some not. The consistency is almost always D although sometimes it is a bit harder.

I am taking 175mgs azathiaprine and am taking 1x 1gram Pentasa suppository before bed. I emailed my consultant yesterday as things still hadn't improved and asked him whether I could increase the rectal meds. He said that's fine and I can take anywhere up to 4 grams Pentasa per day, in any combination of suppositories or enemas (enemas are preferred).

My question is therefore, how much should I increase my intake to? Should I do it in stages, say start taking 1 gram enema before bed and perhaps 1 gram suppository once I get home from work (8pm or so?) to start off with? Also I think the only times that I will be able to take these meds will be in the evening as I tend to go to the toilet in the mornings (once first thing in the morning and then 2-4 times once I get into work (therefore can't insert anything before work, and I don't think I would be too comfortable inserting anything whilst at work quite frankly!). After about 12:30/lunch time I am fine until the late evening when my bowels begin to rumble with gas so I tend to go then once before bed). Therefore, is it good to take say 4 grams of Pentasa in the space of say 4 hours between 8pm to 12am?

Not really sure what to do, but either way I am going to get a whole load of enemas and suppositories from the doctors/pharmacy tomorrow and then just experiment to see what happens. Similarly, should I be on Asacol as well? I was taking 6x400mgs before this latest flare although I stopped taking them a while back as I tried Mezavante as well as Pentasa oral tablets. Similarly, are there any other oral meds I should try in conjunction with the aza and the rectal Pentasa meds? I had a colonscopy a month ago and it confirmed that the inflammation is located at the end of the colon (proctitis) therefore I am not too sure how useful oral meds would be for treating this...

I am really just keen on getting rid of this flare as it has been dragging on for nearly 6 months and is beginning to get on my nerves!!!

Thanks.

J

i think if your dr said to do it, it should be fine krissyuc.

I use a 4g/60ml bottle of mesalimine every night - I started into a bad flare in December. I am now living pretty much "normal" When I get back to maintenance doage, it will probably be every other day. I also take 6 Asacol pills each day. I very much agree with what many on this forum say - treat from both ends !

I will have to bring them to work then..:S