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Lialda vs Colozal (Balsalzide 750mg)

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/28/2011 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I am in a flare. At first I thought it was the stomach bug that's been going around but now I think its my UC.. MY DR recently switched my meds from Balsalazide 750mg (9 pills a day) to this new Lialda (4 pills a day). I was fine for a couple weeks but now I'm having stomach pain/cramping, diarrhea, no appetite and bouts of nausea. This is supposed to be the same med (mesalamine)so I don't know why this is happening. sad My 10th wedding anniversary this this weekend. We are scheduled to go away but I feel like CRAP right now and don't know if I can do it.
Posted 11/28/2011 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
P-Fit, I think it is common to have these types of issues when you switch medications. Colazal and Lialda aren't the same medication. You may just respond better to Colazal. I have tried Colazal and I respond better to Asacol. Call your GI and let him know what is going on. You may want to switch back to Colazal or try adding some rectal medication to see if that helps.
Posted 11/28/2011 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, that is a good idea. I thought she said they were the same or maybe they were the same family of med. I'm also taking a canasa suppository and Rowasa enema. She said to give it a few weeks but this is just not working for me. Gonna give her a call and see what she says. It's frustrating because I liked the idea of taking fewer pills but my disease was very controlled with my old plan. She mentioned that I may be on too much stuff and switched things around. I guess it's not working.

Post Edited (P-Fit) : 11/28/2011 10:36:00 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/28/2011 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
P-Fit, I have the same situation. I would love to take less pills. I currently take 8 Asacol a day but I tried taking 3 Lialda and my symptoms were worse. I have also been trying to lower my dose of Asacol to 6 pills a day but I seem to get symptoms at 6 pills a day. It's crazy how such a small change can cause symptoms to return.
Posted 11/28/2011 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
The delivery method is different in the two drugs. Colazal is a chemical compound(balasalzide disodium) that is broken down in the colon into mesalamine and a supposedly inert substance. Lialda is a coated mesalamine pill that is designed to release slowly as it travels down the colon. The colazal method might work better on you.

The second issue you might have is dosage. 9 tablets of colazal is approx. equal to 2.4 gr of mesalamine. 4 lialda tabs are equal to 4.8 gr of mesalamine. You could be having a intolerance reaction to the higher dosage.

Third issue is that the coating is causing a problem. Not sure about lialda but the coating on asacol is anything but benign. It is made of Phthalates

4th is that you are getting worse in spite of the drugs.
Posted 11/28/2011 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Just got a call from my doc. she wants me to give it another week on that Lialda but go back to daily canasa/rowasa to see if that helps. I was hoping she would just switch me back. I was doing fine before this med change. I guess we'll see what happens in a week.
Posted 11/28/2011 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Were you on the Rowasa continually before switching from the Lialda?

You can split the Lialda...2 in morning 2 at night to see if that helps.

I'd cut back on the fish oil possibly if you recently added it.

What other supplements did you add?

Fibre supplements might help bulk stook a bit....and the day of your anniversary, taking imodium might give you a bit of a break.

So, what was your schedule of the Rowasa before you switched to the Lialda?

And..how many times a day are you having bms/urges?
q

Posted 11/30/2011 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
I was on 9 colozal, 1 canaza 1,000mg in the morning and the rowasa in the evening. SHe changed me to Lialda, canaza 1,000mg every other day and Rowasa on the days I don't do the canasa. I ended up in the ER today. Woke up to terrible pain last night and it didn't go away. All tests on my gall bladder, pancreas and heart came back normal. They think it is gastritis or maybe an ulcer. I have to call the GI doc tomorrow and set up an appointment with her next week. I've been sticking to a bland diet and green smoothies. I had this happen (the severe stomach pain) about 3yrs ago and they took me off all meds for a week and slowly added them back. There was no evidence of an ulcer then and all my tests came back normal that time too. It is very frustrating for me. Right now I am very gassy and have just peddle like bowels but no blood. They also put me back on Prilosec 2x a day.

I have been on fish oil and USANA multivitamins for a few years. It helps me a lot with my fatigue. I also take CoQ30 and Floridix liquid iron w/B vitamins for my anemia.

Post Edited (P-Fit) : 11/29/2011 9:04:16 PM (GMT-7)

Posted Yesterday 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Well, here is an update:I woke up at 2am in severe pain last night again. Went back to my old meds yesterday and so far no bleeding. Needless to say I was quite forceful with the nurse when I called the office this morning. I cannot wait a week for them to see me. I had to cancel our anniversary getaway weekend because I' weak and it hurts after I eat anything!! I am hoping they can give me at lease SOME relief so that we can maybe go to dinner. I feel so angry right now.
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