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alternatives to asacol

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/2/2011 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I've been doing research about alternatives to asacol since asacol is very expensive.

A cheap alternative is sulfasalazine (azulfidine), but many have allergic reactions to this medication.  It has sulfa in it.  One person recommends the enteric form of this drug.

Lialda isn't cheap, but they have a patient assistance program for it right now.

Colazal may be an alternative, and there is a generic form called balsalazide disodium which will cost much less.

Other drugs that may be used to treat UC are:

olsalazine (dipentum), mesalamines (which is what asacol is), pentasa, apriso, rowasa, canasa (in Canada canasa is called Salofalk)

 

I've been gathering this info for a few days.  I got it from the Internet so I would definitely consult your doctors about accuracy.

 

Also, some recommend buying Canadian Asacol.  I might be going that route.  One person recommended universaldrugstore.com  Another recommended canadadrugs.com

Also, there is a thread titled "When is asacol going to go generic?"  There is info in there about ordering Canadian.

God  Bless :)

Good luck!

 

Posted 2/2/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Sulfasalazine works great for me. However recent bloodwork shows two elevated kidney measures and those two are directly effected by a supplement I take so I will halt the supplement and take that part of the test again in 30 days. If it comes back down I stay on sulfa off supplement.
Posted 2/2/2011 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
I lot of people seem to do well on sulphasalazine. I was going to try it a while back when I wasn't insured but I got insurance and stayed with Asacol. I used to order the generic mesalamine from Canada and it worked well for me. It was much cheaper than brand name Asacol.

I have read that Liala & Apriso have pretty good assistance programs.

Asacol HD has a program with a savings card that may help you

Colazal didn't work as well for me as Asacol but that doesn't mean it won't work for you, it works for many people here.

http://www.needymeds.org/
Posted 2/3/2011 4:15 AM (GMT 0)

I've been buying brand Asacol from Canada, and it's running about 54¢ a pill.

Generic mesalamine 400 mg runs as little as 27¢ a pill, but that's for 1,000 pills. Looks like I'd end up around 31¢ to 33¢ for 600 pills, a 3 month supply.

Since I haven't died from Canadian drugs, I think my next buy will be generic.

Posted 2/3/2011 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Lialda's patient assistant program is great, we're fortunate there are competing companies. I have insurance, but with the their card I only pay $10/mo. I think this is the correct link:
http://www.lialda.com/lialda-patient-assistance-program.aspx

I did find that I need to space the 4 pills/day to 2 in the AM the 2 more around lunch. When I took 4 in the AM I would feel achy in the late afternoon
Posted 2/3/2011 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Lialda's patient assistant program is great, we're fortunate there are competing companies. I have insurance, but with the their card I only pay $10/mo. I think this is the correct link:
http://www.lialda.com/lialda-patient-assistance-program.aspx

I did find that I need to space the 4 pills/day to 2 in the AM the 2 more around lunch. When I took 4 in the AM I would feel achy in the late afternoon
Posted 2/3/2011 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
I was on asacol first then switched to enteric coated sulfasalazine. It worked better than asacol but after a month or so I got bad headaches, fever and eye pain. I went on generic colazal in September and that is working fine. I think one of the tricks with colazal is taking enough. I started on 4 pills a day but have had to increase to 8 pills.

Sulfasalazine and generic colazal are the only generics on my plan. $30 a month v. $125 for brand name
Posted 2/3/2011 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
AZYooper, FWIW...Colazal's normal dosing is 9 a day (3 - 3x's a day). A ridiculous amount to tell the truth but if it works then it works huh? I'm glad you found improvement on it.
Posted 2/4/2011 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
thanks notsosickly for your help.

Blessings :)

Posted 2/4/2011 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
np. I couldn't find a co-pay card for regular Asacol 400mg. I looked around but it seems no one is offering a discount :(

I may see if I can get my GI to give me the HD.

what did you decide?

Posted 2/4/2011 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Beachlife for your help. :)

I hope it works out for you notsosickly. I have to see my GI soon to hammer out a solution.
Posted 2/4/2011 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
I actually switched from Asacol to Lialda.  Not because of expense (I'm blessed to have RX coverage) but because my doctor thought it may work better.  And it did, for me. 

I hope that is the case for you, should you decide to go that route.  Good luck!

Posted 4/7/2013 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
just heard asacol was going to be discontinued (frustrating as I just started this). What is everyone planning to switch to?
Posted 4/7/2013 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Please go to this thread on the current topic discussion...

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2689473

q

Posted 4/8/2013 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Asacol hd also has a discount card similar to the Lialda one
Posted 6/14/2013 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Asacol for 21 years, since having a collectomy (with pull through) in October of 1992. I have been purchasing the generic alternative to Asacol, Mesalomine EC, from Canada Drugs for a couple of years, with no adverse effects. The drug is manufactured in Toronto, Canada, by Novopharm. It comes in an enteric coated tablet that is 100% identical in appearance and performance to the ones I had previously taken that were manufactured by Proctor & Gamble.

The only issue with purchasing meds this way is the length of time they're held up in US Customs. You need to make sure you place refill orders at least a month ahead of when you'll run out. You also need a prescription from your doctor.
Posted 6/14/2013 4:47 PM (GMT 0)

Mfargnoli3 said...
just heard asacol was going to be discontinued (frustrating as I just started this). What is everyone planning to switch to?

I switched to Delzicol. It's exactly the same as Asacol except for a change in one inactive ingredient and they put a capsule over the tablet for some stupid reason. It's working for me.
Posted 9/2/2013 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
After reading this thread I am definitely going to get with my gi and see about a cheaper alternative to Asacol HD. It is so expensive for me even with my insurance. Hopefully I can find something that still works but doesn't break the bank
Posted 9/2/2013 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
ChrissySoul, if you find an alternative to Asacol please post it here as I think there are a number of us who want the same thing.

I just got a rx for sulfazine 500mg to try for a maintenance med. I haven't started it yet as I am in a mild, but painful mini flare which I am counting on Asacol HD to kick to the curb. As soon as I can I'll give it a try and post my experience.
Posted 9/3/2013 6:45 AM (GMT 0)
I will if I find something. I just wish I didn't pay so much. So hard to afford with everything else
Posted 9/24/2013 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Sales dude again....admin.alert.
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