Alternatives to Mesalamine?

Just wondering if any of you knew if there were drugs coming out that would be an alternative to Mesalamine.  For those who can't take it but really don't want to do the immune suppressors and biologics, I wish there was something else.  Something that worked like Mesalamine at taming the inflammation instead of messing with your immune system.  Just curious.....

Tried that too and same thing. The only thing I never tried was Rowasa enemas and Apriso...I tried every other one and got deathly ill.

The MDX-1100 discussed here a few times is in trials, and it attacks the inflamation, but at a different point inthe immune system then other drugs. It is one of 7 drugs/therapies in a PowerPoint presentation at the CCFA.org site.

http://www.ccfa.org/chapters/losangeles/media/pdf/Keynote.pdf

itsthepits I totally understand your perspective but I don't even go into all the reasons here why I hesitate on the immune supp drugs...I'm not ruling them out either.... thanks for you input

Manhattan Mama
There is some improvement but slower than I'd like. Blood is less, passing less liquid, tenesmus is not really happening and stool although I seem to have them often ...many look formed and there were even a few with no visible blood. But then like last night I passed pinkish/brown mucous on it's own and have been pretty much every night. Sometimes it's browner or just whitish mucous. The very end is still not healed I can tell. I'm still on 35mg of Pred.

I posted to you last night, so you are doing Remicaide instead of 6mp? Just curious how you made that decision. Would love to know your thoughts..... hope you are doing well soon

thanks for your perspective somedude but we are all different about how we approach our care. Again I never said never....

Nevermind what was said here, you had UC from 2004?? How did you get in remission from then? Did you get in remission?

My opinion....No one would be set upon this earth to suffer on purpose or to learn a lesson through disease, etc.
We're all flawed and can get disease, suffer, die or live a perfect life with little to no hindrance.

You have UC.... The unfortunate thing is you might not be able to find a medication to control it. You're definitely a great researcher and are working on feeling better.


q

Quincy thanks, I am doing the best I can. I do believe that there is a purpose in suffering as much as I hate it.

Jayguitar
Yes I have tried it. Was thinknig of adding it back but I didn't want it to interfere with absorption of meds so I had stopped. I may add it back again at some point. Thank you!

I always appreciate all your advice and input.

manhattan mama hi! how r u?

I also cannot tolerate mesalamines but have been able to maintain remission. I haven't yet had the need to experiment with LDN. But I would favor it with its few side effects as a maintenance med over conventional meds with their toxic side effects.

Most veterans of this disease, even those on heavy meds, eventually find thru experience that they must avoid triggering foods to remain in remission. It wouldn't hurt to experiment by avoiding the usual suspects such as lactose and gluten.

Most veterans also use probiotics. Examples of effective brands are VSL3, S. Boulardii, and Culturelle. I take all of the above.

Apparently some find that slippery elm to be of benefit. But it hasn't helped me and I could not find any studies proving its effectiveness. However the following supplements have helped me personally and are proven thru pubmed studies to be effective for maintenance:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22085500
current evidence suggests that improving vitamin D status and/or using vitamin D receptor agonists may be useful in MS and IBD

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10022641
CONCLUSIONS:
Plantago ovata seeds (psyllium seed dietary fiber) might be as effective as mesalamine to maintain remission in ulcerative colitis.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19878610
Curcumin suppresses p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, reduces IL-1beta and matrix metalloproteinase-3 and enhances IL-10 in the mucosa of children and adults with inflammatory bowel disease. We conclude that curcumin, a naturally occurring food substance with no known human toxicity, holds promise as a novel therapy in IBD.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11355324
Oral therapy with the Boswellia extract or AKBA significantly reduces macroscopic and microcirculatory inflammatory features normally associated with indomethacin administration, indicating that the anti-inflammatory actions of the Boswellia extract in IBD may be due in part to boswellic acids such as AKBA.

babe in the woods and probiotic THANK YOU!

If I were in your shoes and could not tolerate mesalamines, yet did not want to try biologics just yet, these are the things that I would try:

1. psyllium seed powder

2. probiotics, and if you are interested, make your own kefir. Trillions of probiotics in a cup full, cheap and sooo easy to make. I cannot believe more uc'ers dont make and drink their own kefir

3. making your own retention enemas, such as the vit e enema, kefir grain enema, heck maybe even a vsl3 enema

4. fecal transplant at home

5. bee pollen, propolis, boswellia, curcumin, clay(just saw a post about this)

6. diet mod for sure, keep a food diary.

7. ldn

now you may or may not have tried any or all of the above, i was just brainstorming for ideas, trying to put myself in your shoes. 

** hugs** hope you feel better, uc sucks. 

sheilasuperstar: I am new to kefir making myself but hopefully I can tell you enough to get started,  you may want to check out doms keifr making website(google it)   this guy is a kefir making guru. anyway. a member here sent me some grains.  basically i take 4 tablespoons of kefir grains, put them in a glass jar.  i use a washed out glass container that formerly held spagetti sauce, you can use any type of glass jar, mason jar etc. its about a 25 ounce jar, i fill it 2/3 full with milk.  and i am lactose intolerant but the fermentation  process removes the lactose. stir with a wooden spoon, then i cover with a coffe filter, secure with a rubberband and let sit for 2-3 days, shaking or stirring a few times.  then i strain in a plastic colander, and put the finished kefir in another glass jar in the fridge and start all over again,, over time the kefir grains multiply.  

there is a learning curve to this, i did read alot about it as well as get some advice from some of our members here. the first several batches were terrible and i had to toss them but now i have a routine going and i drink kefir 5-6 mornings a week , i throw it in a blender with some frozen fruit.  its not bad, proabably more of an aquired taste. the kefir at the store tastes better but this is healthier.

let me know if you have any more questions