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For those that take Rowasa

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/17/2011 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Do you take it once or twice a day? Is there a preservative free one? I just got my prescription filled and its for twice a day and it doesn't say preservative free. I thought the nurse at the GI doctor said they were filling it preservative free and it doesn't say that on the label.
Posted 5/17/2011 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
I would call the pharmacy who filled it and ask them.

I believe there is a sulfite free version. Does the label say sulfite free?

I've used it once a day or twice a day depending on how I've felt. Usually I don't like to use an enema in the morning and prefer a suppository or foam but if I felt a flare coming, sure, I'd use the enema in the morning. It is more effective.
Posted 5/17/2011 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi.  I agree with notsosickly to just call the pharmacy and ask about the sulfite free one.

I have only ever used one at night but I would not be opposed to trying 2 a day if I thought I needed to.

Posted 5/18/2011 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I assume you're talking about the suppositories since you mentioned that in another thread?? Yes, you should use them twice a day.

In reality, the enemas would be better...better dosage and area treated.

just try them to see how you do....

q
Posted 5/18/2011 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm taking the enemas twice a day
Posted 5/18/2011 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
I've only taken them at night. I think I took them twice a day a couple times, but it's inconvenient to take in the morning because you have to lay down for 30 minutes after adminstering. I don't know about a preservative-free version. I just use the generic.
Posted 5/18/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
In the U.S., there is a sulfa free version of Rowasa called SFRowasa.

It's been a godsend for me. My colon is finally healing up after flaring for a year. The only other thing that helped was steroids, but I couldn't get off them. The normal Rowasa with sulfa (potassium metabisulfite as a preservative) made my symptoms worse.

When I first got a prescription for SFRowasa and went to pick them up at the pharmacy, they had just ordered in the normal Rowasa! I spent a good half hour fighting with them about it until they realized their error.
Posted 5/18/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think you need the enemas twice a day. You should, however, also be on an oral such as Asacol.

q
Posted 5/18/2011 8:43 PM (GMT 0)

quincy said...
I don't think you need the enemas twice a day. You should, however, also be on an oral such as Asacol.

q

Not necessarily since I only have proctitis. From what I understand, oral medications don't always reach that far down. Its better to treat it locally, if possible. I'm sure if I don't resound to the enemas, then they will put me on oral medications
Posted 5/18/2011 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
How bad is your flare at this point?
I still don't think you need them twice a day, but once you start to improve, taper off the morning dosage and stay on the nightly for at least a month.

q
Posted 5/18/2011 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
I had a difficult time getting the sulfite-free Rowasa filled as well. I think it has to be brand name sfRowasa; none of the generics are sulfite-free. Be persistent and if it helps, you might try giving them the NDC code, 68220-022-14.

Good luck, don't give up!
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