Maximum Daily Dose Of Canasa Suppositories

I note that the so-called "usual" daily dose of Canasa rectal suppositories is one, 1000 mg. My gastroenterologist has me on two, 1000 mg suppositories /day in addition to 3600 mg of Asacol. I note with interest that the Cleveland Clinic's dosage tables for 5ASA drugs list Canasa at 2-4 g/day, which would seem to indicate that some patients are on as many as four of these suppositories daily. Has anyone on the forum ever taken any more than two Canasa/day?

I take two 1000 mg Canasa suppositories daily now (one in the morning and one at night) and I am on 4800 mg of Asacol. When I filled the Canasa prescription the pharmacist freaked out and said he has never heard of taking more than 1000 mg/day and he couldn't find any documentation on it. He called my doctor and my doctor's office said I wasn't allowed to take 2000 mg Canasa per day for more than a month. The pharmacy made it sound like I was in danger of overdosing. I have to admit, though, the first couple days I used 2000mg I felt a little nausea, but that has gone away. I would like to know how much Canasa other people are using, also.

A few weeks ago, I called the office of the manufacturer of Canasa to get guidance on dosage. Nothing I could find on the web made reference to anything more than 1000 mgs/day. Their technical people said that they knew of nothing that would indicate that more than 1000 mgs/day would be harmful and - as one might expect - deferred to the prescribing physician. They explained simply and without elaboration that 1000 mgs/day was the "normal dose". As I mentioned above, the Cleveland Clinic sees dosages of 2000 mgs-4000 mgs as acceptable:

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/gastroenterology/inflammatory-bowel-disease/#s0045

But how to apply, two at a time, twice a day, or one four times a day? Frankly, I simply couldn't image sticking more than one of these at a time into the royal aperture. And, as to duration, my gastroenterologist's instructions were clear enough: Use two/day until the bleeding stops, then revert to one/day.

quincy,

My bleeding is confined to the rectum, its not left-sided. Mine is a pancolitis that is being successfully treated with Asacol except for this rectal involvement. My gastroenterologist would seem not to wish to treat an area topically that is not flaring which is perfectly understandable to me. We have another appointment on the 14th. If the bleeding hasn't been arrested by that time, and I strongly suspect that it won't be, its likely that I'll undergo another colonoscopy. After that, God knows where things may go. I know my physician has a high regard for Rowasa, feels that it is superior to rectal corticosteroids for distal disease. But he hasn't determined that its right for me at this point. As to the prescription, its for two a day. Happily, my insurance pays for both since they are prescribed. And, yes, nestled in my underpants at this very moment is a Depends pad. I go through two of them a day. They add a certain confidence when those special feelings of wetness intrude upon an otherwise tranquil moment.

Post Edited (Captain Ca-Ca) : 2/3/2012 1:24:45 PM (GMT-7)

I actually prefer the suppositories to the enemas. I think they are easier to use. Of course, non of it has worked for me. I had an allergic reaction to Cortenema and Rowasa and this is my second time on Canasa and no results. Good luck with your appointment, Captain Ca-Ca...maybe the enemas will work for you.