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should I be taking the canasa suppositories?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/3/2011 10:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, just a question of the canasa suppositories that my doctor prescribed for me on my last appointment.  i was diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis about a month ago and was on the cortifoam foam nightly for 30 days and on asacol 400mg. 2 tablets 3 times a day.  I no longer have blood or mucus and have also changed my diet to more fruits and fiber and drinking aloe juice and coconut water.  Anyway, doc prescribed the canasa suppositories to take every 3rd night, but why should I take these if I already see a difference.  I stopped seeing the mucous and blood probably about 10 to 12 days into using the cortifoam and asacol, but I continue to take asacol tablets but now down to 1 tablet 3 times a day.  The instructions on the canasa suppositories reads that they are for an active flare, which I do not have right now, so why would doc tell me to use them every 3rd night?  I do understand he does not want me to get the blood and/or mucus again, but isn't this overkill?  Thank you for listening.

Ceecee600

diagnosed 5/23/11 ulcerative proctitis

multivitamin, calcuim, fish oil, vit C

align probiotic

aloe juice

coconut water

 

Posted 7/3/2011 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
Ceecee,

Welcome on board.

I'd guess the doc would want to make sure that you're heading for remission. A Canasa every 3rd night sounds very mild increase to your medication regime. What do you lose taking it?

I'm happy to hear that you're faring well.

PS I love coconut water.
Posted 7/3/2011 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply KiWi44.  I guess I thought maybe I was on too much medicine as I seem to have gotten better.  (fingers crossed)  I, of course, will do as doc says, although I am not sure I have a good doctor for this condition.

  

Posted 7/3/2011 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
IMHO if you have proctitis you will want to be on rectal meds for maintenance. I would go ahead and start the Canasa and request to stay on them or on Mesalamine enemas for maintenance. I find Canasa does a better job for the very last 3 inches or so but the enemas reach higher and are more medicine. You might be able to stop the oral meds and just use rectals if your UC doesn't progress upwards. :o)
Posted 7/3/2011 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the others. Canasa is a great medication, easy to use and for me, preferable to oral medication. If I could use Canasa and a low dose of oral mesalamine or Canasa alone, I would definitely go that route over pills. Unfortunately, my UC has spread too much to be managed with Canasa alone.
Posted 7/3/2011 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I'll add this because it's just happening with me. My rectal symptoms were under control on the Canasa, and I personally have no problem using them every day. My doctor told me to stop using them. To make a long story short, my rectal symptoms came back, and I'm having a heck of a time getting it under control. Keep using them!! :-)
Posted 7/3/2011 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Staying in remission can be easier than getting into remission in my experience. Using Canasa to keep you in remission sounds like a good idea to me.
Posted 7/3/2011 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
ceecee600,

so why would doc tell me to use them every 3rd night?

As others have already said: Maintenance, and to  keep you from going into a flare, and to keep you colon/UP in status quo balance. Better to keep it at maintenance, than having to go through a flare and THEN get it to go into maintenance.

It's not such a big deal. especially if it can keep you from flaring,no?


 

Posted 7/3/2011 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
For my, Canasa worked great during the remission. I took it occasionally, when I had some "symptoms" and my GI recommended it as the best way to heal and maintenance for the rectum inflammatory. It works directly in the rectum so it doesn't hurt your stomach or liver. If I were you, I'd use them as prescribed.

Hope you'll be with no symptoms soon.
Posted 7/3/2011 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
You'll soon figure out why the use of rectal meds is appropriate. Seems you don't understand that concept yet....it's definitely trial and error.

Your doc actually should have had you start on nightly for at least a week or two, taper to every second night and then every third.

BUT...if you do see any increase in symptoms...call him right away. don't wait too long.

Is he planning on having you lower the Asacol to 0 eventually? If yes...I suggest that's not the best plan.

q
Posted 3/19/2012 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Ulcertive proctitis a few months ago.  I was prescribed canasa nightly and lialda 2 pills once a day.  The lialda did not seem to stop the flare alone.  When I began to take the canasa it worked very well.  After a month I was told I could stop taking the canasa.  Within 2 days I was having abdominal pain.  I started taking the canasa again and feeling back on track.  The lialda does not appear to work for me.  I would prefer to take a supository versus a pill that could affect other healthy organs.   My nurse told me that I should cut back on caffeine as it is a restrictor.  For enflamation of the bowel it makes sence to avoid that.

 

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