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Asacol HD - indigestion/side effects anyone?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/21/2011 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, can anyone please tell me if you experienced any side effects after switching from 400mg Asacol to the 800mg HD version? Also, WHY are doctors pushing the HD?

I was doing fine on the 400mg, but the Dr. wants me to take the 800mg HD now. Makes no sense. I have been taking them for a week, and I feel weird. Stomach irritation that feels like indigestion, abdominal cramps, and now sort of constipated which I don't need with my proctitis.

I think I am going to call and ask to be switched back to 400mg, but I just wondered if I was alone in the weird/indigestion/gassy odd feeling in my stomach/intestines...I can't even tell where it's coming from. I just feel different & miserable. Thanks much!
Posted 9/21/2011 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Asacol HD since Feb/Mar of this year. No problems to speak of with it. I'm not exactly sure it has any benefit for me though.

I would suspect the pharmaceutical company is pushing HD on doctors because regular Asacol will go generic soon and they are looking to protect their revenue stream...just a guess.
Posted 9/21/2011 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
What you're also describing is part rectal inflammation. You should call the doc, ask for rectal meds to deal with that part of the inflammation.

No oral meds treat the rectum fully. Especially if it's limited.

q
Posted 9/21/2011 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Oops, I should have stated in my post that I am also on Canasa. I had briefly stopped the Asacol 'cause my prescription ran out, and that's when the Dr. changed me to Asacol HD. After 3 days on the HD, that's when I noticed the weird indigestion/crampy/stomach pain starting. They wanted me back on orals because the Canasa still didn't seem to be totally helping my urgency. They think I need to hit it from both oral and rectal routes.

I can't understand why the HD would be causing me issues since it's basically the same med as the 400mg, but I just don't feel right.
Posted 9/22/2011 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
I have actually been on HD for awhile & have had no problems with it.  Sometimes when I forget to eat my stomach might hurt and for the constipation issues you might want to try a probiotic.  Walgreens makes a wonderful probiotic.  It's called "Super probiotic with 20 billion active cultures.  I do find that when I haven't went to the bathroom at least 1 time a day that I have a bad flare-up the next.  smilewinkgrin
Posted 9/22/2011 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
When I flare, I'm in denial and I seize on something that happens to be going on at the same time, like a new med (antidepressant for example) that is causing the symptoms. But it never is. It's always flaring.

I too don't know why my doc is pushing HD. I just ignore him.

You're flaring likely, like Quincy said.
Posted 9/22/2011 7:09 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe ask the doc for retention enemas and say you want to get back onto the Asacol.

How are you taking them...twice a day? With meals or not?

q
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