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Asocol not working?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/26/2011 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
So it's now been 3+ weeks that I've been dealing with a flare-up...doc put me on asocol and I swear my condition is worsening. .over the past 2 days my sense of urgency has increased and I'm still dealing with even brighter red blood and few formed stools...I had 10 days worth of hydro enemas that didn't do much and now have my refill prescritption. Not sure what to do but getting discouraged. I had 2 "blow outs" on Christmas eve and didn't make it to the bathroom on time. Shouldn't the asocol and enemas be helping improve my condition? should I stop taking the asocol to see if my conditions improve?
Posted 12/26/2011 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
The Asacol should have taken effect by now, I think. There are some people whose symptoms actually worsen with some 5-ASA meds. Call your GI and let him know about this as soon as you can.
Posted 12/26/2011 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
He's off next week...should I drop the asocol and test until he gets back? Obviously if my conditions improve I know who the culprit is!

Also, should I not use the rowasa enemas for the same reason?
Posted 12/26/2011 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Are you taking any probiotics? What dosage Asacol are you taking and how many times a day?
Posted 12/26/2011 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
2 400 mg tablets 3x per day......

I have not been taking any probiotics...should I be?
Posted 12/26/2011 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Probiotics might not hurt, many find them helpful.

I've been having a similar experience with Asacol though, recently (Novemberish) I was switched to it from Sulfasalazine, and ended up in a flare although the flare was likely on it's way. Asacol doesn't seem to have any effect on my system and I recently started taking a part dose of what's left of my Sulfasalazine and I'm starting to feel better. I have been on Prednisone this whole time as well though and it wasn't having much of an effect. I am waiting to get on Remicade. I was also on the same dosage as you with the Asacol.

Good luck
Posted 12/26/2011 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
800mg 3x a day is only 2400mg, that is a maintenance dose. Normally people who are in a flare take 3600mg or 4800mg. If you really thinkt he Asacol is makig things worse, you may want to stop it to see if you improve but it does sound like you're under treating. You should also be using rectal mesalamine suppositories or enemas. That said, I have dealt with flares that did not erspond to asacol so it's not a cure-all. You may do better on another 5ASA, such as Colazal or Lialda but I didn't. Once I stopped responding to Asacol, I had to start 6mp and since, I've been doing better. I also had to take a course of oral prednisone which I was unable to taper off of because Asacol wouldn't keep me in remission without 6mp.
Posted 12/26/2011 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have been using the hydrocortisone? Enemas in addition to asocol....I do have an RX for rowasa but the 2 times I used rowasa I had a difficult experience with them and saw little improvement in the AM...are they supposed to provide quick results?
Posted 12/26/2011 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
I find that healing is never quick. It takes time to see results with this illness.
Posted 12/26/2011 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Never worked for me. thats for maint anyway

librax
suflasalazine
mebeverine

that can help get you out of a flare, worked for me when prednisone would not.
Posted 12/27/2011 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
optimist12

My husband had the same problem and it turned out he needed a longer course of Hydrocortisone enemas in addition to the Asacol.

His blood and urgency did increase even after the Asacol started but some people do need a longer course of cortenemas. I don't think 10 days is nearly long enough and you may need to even try morning and night to get the flare under control.

He used hydro enemas for about 1 month and then changed to Rowasa and that helped. It can take longer for the Asacol to work but you may need the hydro enemas to really decrease the inflammation.

He is still using Rowasa but was able to go to an every other day administration of Rowasa in additon to Asacol.

I think he feels best taking both,,,but is happy to only do Rowasa every other day- by the second day he knows that he needs it again as the urgency creeps back a bit.

He is also on VSL#3 and feels that it does help him!

Posted 12/27/2011 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Quick update on my experiment. Yesterday I stopped taking asocol. At 4pm I did a hydro enemas and for the remainder of the evening was urgency free....about 2 am I awoke with some gas and liquid, but very little blood. Same at 3 am and 7....I plan on taking this week off so I will try doing an am enema and a pm enema right before bed....
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