Asacol tapers

Hey Ellen, "forever" seems a bit premature to me. Personally I would wait more then 2 weeks. I have been switched from Asacol (3 2x a day) to Lialda due to cost. I am at a higher dose of the lialda (2 2x @day- 1.2g. each) due to my flare, along with, every time I lowered my prednisone, especially to 15 mg and below, I had problems (bleeding, etc.). I added the mesalamine retention enemas and have been able to lower the prednisone. I see my GI on the 24th of this month and will see what he says about lowering the Lialda. For me the Lialda, or Asacol, is less damaging and I am in less of a hurry to lower it. Better safe then sorry. Are we the only ones awake? I am off to sleep (and enema... woo hoo...) now.

49/F/North Carolina/Artist

I'd wait another 2 weeks as suggested. Then taper by eliminating one pill per WEEK.

It was stressed by my doc to taper by one pill a week...fyi.

Yes, I think you're a med-lifer probably....I'll be on Asacol forever, with pleasure unless I can't take it any longer.

q

yeah, it's knowing the options of what the meds can offer that allows the "freedom". I see it as freedom, anyway, realising I can increase if needed, both oral and rectal 5ASA.

I function, I'm learning tools for my future however long I may live. yes, I fear losing function....I'll try to maintain as long as possible.

The options of other 5ASA meds, better formulas and delivery that could work better....etc.

It's not all or nothing.

quincy

You do realise that hair only grows a certain amount at a time, so you really won't notice it growing back at this point with the recent drop.

Shorter hair usually looks thicker....

You're playing the risk game dropping from 12 to 6....and even though your evaluation from the doc at this point may be "fine"....a week or two later might not be.

Again...all you can do is try, but don't be surprised or desperate if things to an about-face.

Just be prepared.

q

12 Salofalk is tooooo high from my perspective. You need the enemas...again...my perspective.

If you can't get the enemas, then the 2 supps is the best next thing.



q

maybe thats why I got better so fast..I went from being on humira and not being so strict with my salofalk..4 some day..6 another, 3 another whatever..and now i have been taking 9 every day for about a month and feeling a lot better but not perfect...

I've never had any luck reducing my dose without getting symptoms quickly. You can experiment but if you feel like you're getting flare symptoms, know when to go back up to the higher dose.

I lowered my Asacol dose too quickly last year and flared, requiring pred. When I started the generic Colazal at 9 a day I tapered more slowly down to 6 and was fine for quite some time, but began flaring horrifically after taking an antibiotic. Back to the pred. With this flare, I'm back up at 9 a day and hoping the Rowasa enemas kick it so I don't have to go to pred again - and if I go back into remission, I'm not going to reduce from the 9 a day, no matter what. I'd much rather take more of the Colazal than have to take pred again. Good luck.