HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lialda vs. Asacol

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/26/2008 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had experiences with both of these? I'm currently on Asacol and it worked really well up until a month ago (it kept me mostly in remission, no side effects). Now, it's not helping my flare at all even though I increased the dosage. My GI wants me to swtich to Lialda, as well as adding proctofoam.

I think I've read that people who have had side effects with Asacol do better on other 5-ASA's. But I haven't had any side effects with Asacol. Has anyone had side effects with Lialda? How huge of a pill is Lialda? Should I maybe try the proctofoam with the Asacol first before switching to Lialda?

Thanks.

Posted 4/26/2008 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Start using the rectal meds asap.....I would have firstly suggested a 5ASA rectal med.

What's the protocal of the Proctofoam as per your doc?

q
Posted 4/26/2008 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
quincy, I used Canasa for a week but then it caused side effects (diarrhea) so I stopped it. I also took an enema (I think Rowasa) right after I was diagnosed. But it caused more bleeding, so I had to stop that as well. And ever since I stopped the Canasa, I've been getting A LOT of bleeding--it's not as bad as before/when I was diagnosed, but it's pretty close.
Posted 4/26/2008 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on both asacol and now lialda.  I havent noticed much differnece between the two - good or bad.  The side effects are very similar for me on both.  Lialda is a bigger pill (about the size of a multi-vitamin), but its easier for me because there are less pills involved.

Posted 4/28/2008 10:51 AM (GMT 0)
I am in the middle of a flare. My doc just switched me to Lialda after taking Asacol for 13 years. I see no difference. I am taking the same dosage as Asacol just less pills. However I am questing the switch without increasing the asacol to the MAX amount per day.

I also take Rowassa and am currently on Predisnone 20mg (taper)

Post Edited (Mrsarcasm) : 4/28/2008 4:58:13 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/28/2008 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
I used to be on Asacol but asked my dr. to switch to Lialda.  He put me on Mezavant (same thing) and I don't see any difference between them.  However, taking them only once a day is a huge thing for me! I'm on the max dose (4 pills) and prednisone taper right now.  I love the fact that I take all my pills in the morning and then forget about it until the next day.  I would often forget to take my pills in the afternoon when I was busy with life and kids and school and.......

Posted 4/28/2008 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies.

I think I have to stick to the Asacol b/c my insurance is not covering the Lialda for some reason.

Posted 4/29/2008 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Asacol for months with very little response. I went on a new drug study of Lialda and I was feeling much better in a few weeks, not 9 months later I am in a full remission. I praise Lialda. I worry about paying for it when I no longer have medical insurance and go on medicare.
Posted 4/29/2008 6:47 AM (GMT 0)
I think Lialda is a newer drug, so maybe thats why insurance doesnt cover it. if you need it, cant your dr. help you out with the insurance company...some sort of appeal?
Posted 4/23/2010 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
While I haven't taken Lialda, I've been on Asacol for several years, and recently I had a flare that Asacol alone couldn't handle, even at the 12 pills per day dose.  My GE put me on Prednisone in addition to the Asacol, and within 4 days the flare was subsiding.  By the end of two weeks I was able to discontinue the Prednisone and begin reducing the Asacol to my maintenance dose (4 pills per day).  I don't know if that's an alternative to discuss with your doctor, but I'm back in remission.  Whew!
Posted 4/23/2010 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
Proctofoam worked incredibly well for me. But it is a steroid, so my doc only gave me a 2 week course to put me into remission. It worked fantastically well, but long term steroid use causes big trouble, according to doc. No immediate side effects or me though...
Posted 4/23/2010 8:13 AM (GMT 0)
They are all basically the same medicine. But I had different experiences with each of them.

I took Colazol with my second flare, which was a very serious flare. It worked great at first. Then it stopped working.

I took Asacol with my third flare. It made my flare worse.

I took Lialda with my fourth, very small flare. It helped me get into remission quickly. Only it gave me terrible gas and a huge amount of bloating. Plus, I had trouble getting off it. My symptoms kept returning until I tapered off the medicine.

If I start to flare again, I would like to take Colazol. Only I have prescriptions for Lialda. That's what my GI is pushing right now even though I don't care how many times I have to take the pills per day. The next time I visit him, I'll have to ask for a Colazol prescription instead.
Posted 4/23/2010 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't noticed a difference between asacol and lialda, other than lialda being much easier to take due to only having to take it once day.

Also the Lialda pills are huge. Think horse pills. 1.2 grams each.
Posted 4/24/2010 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Lialda is considered a Tier 3 (out of 4) drug by most insurance companies ... I am getting my prescription from the drug company itself. Go to needymeds.org and find Lialda through there. You can get it discounted or free based on your income ... Lialda is not that big. Like someone else said, it is the size of a large multi-vitamin. It is not quite horse pill size. Lialda has kept me in remission for over a year now - two pills a day for me. After about a week of getting accustomed to the dosage, the bloating and gas side effects went away. I started taking Lialda at night and it was much easier for me to tolerate.
Posted 4/24/2010 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Even though I realize this is an ancient thread I'll chime in anyway. When I first got diagnosed I was on Colazal. I didn't notice any effects at all, either negative or positive, though I did go into remission so who knows how much of a role it might have played in that. Regardless once I got better I stopped it cold turkey - probably shouldn't have. When I first started my second and current big flare I asked if I could be put on something a bit less cumbersome to take, that is, less doses less often, and my normal doctor (before I went back to my GI) put me on Asacol. Asacol made me dreadfully sick... I was already in bad shape, but it made me go way more often, with very bloody diarrhea, and worst all I had by far the worst gut pains I've ever had - as in, I was sitting there barely able to contain the pain. After a few days of that I stopped it and went back to the doc, which is when I got on Lialda. My Lialda experience was much like my Colazal experience, underwhelming in its perceived effectiveness, but at least it wasn't making matters worse. I've been on Lialda ever sense. I realize that they're both mesalamine but my GI figures the difference in delivery methods between the two may be a factor, though he said he usually prescribes Asacol and hadn't see many if any issues with it himself. That's my experience.
Posted 5/27/2010 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor started me on Asacol which worked just fine for me (when I kept up with all the pills, that is) and I didn't really notice any side effects.

He switched me to Lialda about 4 months ago so I wouldn't have to take as many pills. For me, it hasn't worked as well. I still get diarrhea on a semi-regular basis (although without the cramping or pain that usually comes during a flare-up). I've also had a few undesirable side effects while on this medication. I have excessive gas, sometimes even painful, and extremely bad bloating. Also, it has made my urine turn really dark since I've been on it. I'm personally considering switching back to Asacol. The gas is embarassing and annoying, the bloating makes me self-conscious, and everything combined is uncomfortable and makes exercising a lot harder for me. I think more pills and less side effects is the way to go, but it's different for everyone.

Posted 5/27/2010 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
riotgirl...welcome to the forum.

You should also be on rectal mesalamine retention meds...

q
Posted 7/25/2010 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello - I was recently diagnosed with Crohns. I had a 5 day stay in the local hospital for what they originally thought was colitis due to antibiotics. By day 3 I was in terrible shape and finally got a second opinion and colonoscopy confirming that they were treating the wrong thing and the antibiotics caused a major flare up.

I was perscribed asacol hd 800mg /3 times a day and prednisone 10mg/morning (taper every 10 days).

I got better within a week still had diarrhea but no blood/cramping.I felt great.

As soon as I reduced the prednisone from 40 to 30mg I noticed a decline. I would be fine until about 3pm and then get cramping /diarrhea after three days of this decline I had a flare up complete with fever & bleeding. My Dr. switched me to Lialda 1.2g /2 pills (am & pm) and back up to 40mg of prednisone but this time 2 morning & 2 evening to space them out. After 48 hours I am still repeating the same symptoms. I am good when I take the pills in morning and by mid-afternoon I am cramping and bleeding. After I take the pills again in the evening it reduce the frequency but I am still spending a lot of time in the loo.

Has anyone had an issue with prednisone wearing out mid-day?
I thought the Asacol was working for 2 weeks and then the prednisone reduction caused the flair? Or is it the opposite...if the Asacol was working the prednisone reduction would not have cause the flair?
So far the Lialda is not doing anything for me...how long does it usually take to kick in and help alleviate the flare?

I am very new to this and apologize for all the questions. I don't have medical insurance through my work. My Dr. said that if the Lialda isn't working I will need to go back tot he hospital for more testing? I would really like to avoid that if possible.
Posted 7/25/2010 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
I used to take Asacol and after a year of remission, I flared up. My doctor gave me Colazal to see if that would combat the flare but no luck, I still had symptoms and I couldn't taper off prednisone. I then tried Lialda and had a similar experience. I didn't have significant side effects from any of these drugs but none helped reduce my symptoms. The only thing that has helped me has been prednisone. I hope 6mp is effective.

pook: I am sorry you're not seeing too much improvement. I would think the reduction in prednisone is what caused the symptoms to return. My colitis seems to have stopped responding to Lialda/Asacol. Do you know if your inflammation is in the rectum or is it further up? If it's rectal, you could try enemas or suppositories. They seem to help a lot of people, self included. It can take quite a while to stabalize, even on 40mg. It could be a week or two. Try to stay positive and trust your GI. If you are feeling worse, call and tell your doctor what is going on.
Posted 7/26/2010 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Lialda for 1 and 1/2 yr.When i first started using Lialda, i was in the bathroom 13 plus times a day. I was taking 4 pills a day, had to use prednisone once,that is nasty stuff.  I was in the bathroom 5 to 6 times a day, after 13 plus, thought  I was doing great. The doctor, said i could cut back the Lialda to 2 pills a day, same amount 5 to 6 . The next visit, he said that, that was still too much,back to 4 pills a day. I was on 4 pills ,during the last visit, I told him that I don't think they help me I go to the bathroom same amount 5 to 6 times, plus now I ache all over.He switched me to Asacol, 3 pills, 3 times a day. It has been 2 weeks,since the switch,I have been going 1 or 2 times a day. I don't seem to ache as bad either. I don't know if it's too soon to tell if they really are making a difference or not, but I sure hope so. I really didn't think, they would make much difference, aren't they basically the same medicine? I've only had this rotten disease skull for a year and a half. I don't know everything about it. I have gotten a lot of good information from here. Thank you every one and good luck . blush
Posted 9/19/2010 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys. I haven't been on here for a while. I was diagnoses three years ago and recently switched consultants which has worked out really well. My problem is that any of the meds that I take orally make me very very sick, especially Mezavant xl that I was put on recently. Only thing that works is Predsol enema but cannot take that indefinately. So frustrating that nothing works. 
Posted 1/6/2011 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm new to the forum and to the disease. I was doing a search on Lialda vs Asacol and found this thread. It's been a confusing year and since you only know what your doctor and the internet tell you, it takes a while to figure out what is best for yourself. My doctor says I have indeterminate colitis and started me out on Lialda. The side effects were headaches, sharp pain in my abdomen and nausea. I stopped taking it and tried Culturelle, which has helped me without side effects. After a flare up this past month my doctor suggested Asacol. I asked the nurse what the difference was and she couldn't tell me. (She pulled out the instructions and started to read them to me!) The only difference that I can tell is that the Asacol is 800mg and Lialda is 1200mg. I haven't checked the inactive ingredients yet to see if there is a difference. Not sure why this medicine would affect me any differently then the previous, although I guess there isn't harm in trying it. I really don't have that much of a problem so far besides having to go to the bathroom more often. I know that things could be much worse. Anyway, thanks for the input. It helps to know other people that are going through the same thing. Oh also, if anyone knows of a good health insurance that won't decline me because of this disease, please let me know. Thanks !
Posted 1/9/2011 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
i was in remission for 10 years using 400mg of asacol a day. Came out of remission right after Thanksgiving and was in the hospital on the 10 of December. After 8 days there, I left on 70mg prednisone taper and am currently on 50mg until Monday when I reduce to 40mg. My Gi doctor prescribed me 1200mg of Lialda 3 times a day but stated I could use Asacol at the same dose because I had so much on hand at home. I do not see any difference in the two meds and mix them as if they were the same. My side effects are sort of a mix of exhaustion, unclear thinking, bloating, and irregular BM's. Lack of night time sleeping adds to the fog I feel like I am in. I am doing two cortisteroid enemas a day with a Rowasa application. Bleeding has been off and on for 2 months but hemoglobins back to normal right now.
Worse break out I have ever experienced. Lost 30 pounds before getting out of hospital but now feel like a beached whale with all the bloating from the prednisone.
Looking forward to a 10mg reduction on Monday. Maybe some normalcy soon!
Posted 2/3/2011 6:20 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on Asacol for years (Crohns) - am going to try lialda and apriso next.

When I flare (once every 4-6 months) I used to go on prednesone, but it only kicked the flare down while I was on the upper doses. It would come back when I went off.

The only thing that is really effective for me is diet. If I want to kick it I go on this:
http://www.scdiet.org/1about/scdwhatis.html

Can't speak to the science of it, but it sure works for me.
Posted 7/20/2011 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
I see this is a super old threat but I seem to get more info from forums than medical professionals. I've was diagnosed (at the same time) with Celiac, Crohn's and colitis 2 1/2 years ago and still cannot get a handle on the flares. Gluten free has been relatively easy being that gluten is the known trigger. With the Crohns and colitis, my diet has pretty much been whittled down to white chicken and potatoes. I've been on Lialda, Asacol and Prednisone, getting something different out of each. Lialda seemed to give me additional cramping and pains on top of not really helping the existing gut pain, joint aches and major discomfort. Asacol just didnt help and Prednisone was just overall awful.
Everything you read seems to suggest there is no set rhyme or reason to this. Saw someone early state forgoing artificial sweetners helps, so I'll give it a go.
Huge question for everyone I have is if I'm having frequent flares- 3-4 days, couple times a month or if I'm on a long one and just have some days be better than others? I've had active proctitis for the past year (constant bleeding but blood count is still good), potty varying tween 7-8 minimum to 13-15 when its really bad. Getting impatient with trial and error because everything seems to be an error.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12