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Stressed and Canasa Side Effects

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/30/2012 9:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hi To All,

Thank you for your patience and your suggestions!

I am under so much stress.  shocked (I don't usually stress about much...but am now! Wow!) I have not had a flare in a very long time and I am suddenly having one just before an important trip. I have not taken a trip in years and well... cannot believe this is happening just now!  (I'll bet this it true for everyone when flares occur!)

I even had a friend whom does massage come over to do a massage last night, to help me with the stress.  It was very helpful then!

I need this certification and this is the only chance for it this year.

My husband is scheduled to go with me, which could be helpful; yet, there are no refunds on this trip, which doubles the loss if I cannot make it.  He is very patient in general.  We have negotiated our way through over 20 years of multiple unpredictable AI conditions.  Yet, I can see he is so stressed, too, due to my status. cry   I tend to be the encourager, the optimistic one of the two of us.  I am feeling exhausted! I have told him I need him to be encouraging at this time.

The good news is the Canasa suppositories prescribed by the ER doc are helping! They are helping quickly! :-)   I feel lucky this way. 

I am having some strong side-effects though.  I am feeling overwhelmed with cognitive slowing...word-finding difficulties and trouble simply functioning and headache.  I am also just very tired from having been ill with explosive D for three weeks prior to other signs showing up, leading to this diagnosis just three days ago.

I cannot think well, at all, on this Canasa. It may be a sedating side-effect and am sure my overall fatigue level is not helping.

I have tried to consult with a doctor again, and it just is not going to happen before I have to leave on Wednesday AM.  I cannot get a med change, or even a dosage change on this Canasa before I have to leave on this trip.

This, along with diet, has been so helpful, I need to continue the Canasa. Yet,with side effects so strong for me--even more so today, I need to decrease the dosage. 

Canasa 1000 mg. suppositories were prescribed.  One at bedtime.

 

Has anyone tried cutting these suppositories in order to decrease the dosage? 

Again, thanks so much for your patience and understanding!

~Hopeful Heart~

Posted 4/30/2012 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
I think the what you are experiencing is more likely due to the flare really catching up with you rather than the Canasa. Rectally-delivered mesalamine (the active ingredient in Canasa) is very poorly absorbed.
Posted 4/30/2012 10:05 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Fruitgirl,

Thanks so much for your response! :-)

The overall fatigue is significant, no doubt! I understand why you may think this is the worst of it. Yet, in this case, I disagree.

I am incredibly sensitive to meds, to foods, to all kinds of substances... to so many things.

Interestingly, the headache and the troubles with cognition improve significantly approx. 18 hours after having used a suppository. A truly significant improvement.  This has been the case every single time I have used this.

I have two personal friends whom are pharmacists and they confirm the side-effects I have mentioned, as has the doctor's office. The pharmacists have each said the side-effects with Canasa can be significant, even serious. Must get absorbed well enough to cause issues for some people?  

The doctor's office agrees and simply figures its a "trade-off" for the positive effects of the Canasa. 

I am not sure it has to be this way.  I need to cut my dose to see if it works at a lower dose for me.  I can never take the recommended/usual dosage of any medication. I always have to take less, if I can tolerate any med at all.  The list of drugs I cannot tolerate, in any form--including external transdermal delivery-- is so very long. 

Its important for us to remember, especially on a forum/community, the fact that everyone is different in how they tolerate meds.   :-)   

With Gratitude,

~Hopeful Heart~

Posted 4/30/2012 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I'm quite aware that not everyone can tolerate all meds.
Posted 4/30/2012 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to post this information for people, incase they are prescribed a larger dose suppository than they can tolerate.

If your doctor agrees to a lower dosage and you have a supply of the 1000mg. Canasa suppositories on hand, please check with your pharmacist about whether or not it is okay to cut the suppositories you have on hand, dividing them into a different dosage.

My doctor had agreed to the dosage reduction IF the pharmacist agreed the formulation of the suppository allowed for the suppository to be physically cut.

(Sometimes, when meds are specially formulated, or time-released, it is dangerous to cut into them.)

With both parties agreement, I can try a lower dosage!

With Gratitude,
~Hopeful Heart~
Posted 5/1/2012 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder if the mesalamine enemas would work for you. They come in a variety of strengths and treat the whole area, rectum and sigmoid colon.
Posted 5/1/2012 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kazbern!
Thanks for the suggestion! I will ask my doctor! All info is helpful to me. I have not had to use mesalamine or anything other than a steroidal suppository before. So this is all new to me. I sincerely appreciate your input!
With Gratitude,
~Hopeful Heart~
Posted 5/1/2012 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Canasa suppositories are mesalamine.
Posted 5/1/2012 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hopeful Heart,

I remember reading a post by some member that whenever she used the canasa suppositories, she slept like a babe...

So I'm sure that could be affecting you the same way perhaps?

Posted 5/1/2012 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
are you still on prednisone?

q
Posted 5/1/2012 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
When I took Canasa it made me very tired.
Posted 5/1/2012 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kazbern, InSoFla, quincy and Michelejc! :-)

Thanks for your responses!

Yes, the Canasa is very sedating, makes me very dizzy, impairs my cognition, gives me a headache. It renders me dysfunctional at the dosage of 1000 mg per night.  (This may be worse due to my other meds. I don't know yet. I have only added Canasa to an otherwise, long-term regimen that I have been able to tolerate.)

Otherwise, it has been helping, tremendously!

I did not use it last night, at all. I just could not, as I have so much to do today and I need my mind in order to do it. My husband could see me clearing up from the side-effects early evening (yesterday) and said he thought the change in my ability to talk, think, etc, was very much improved and that I even looked much better than I had all day long.

That being said, I skipped it all together last night. I am back to very soft stools this AM.  I am concerned.  However, may try a smaller dose and/or alternating nights of treatment.  The MD was clear about not changing anything else at this point. So, I will do my best to get on the plane and go forward with this trip.  I will be in a hotel, sitting through a conference.  All of my meals and everything are in the same complex. I will rest as much as I can.  I hope to leave on schedule in the morning.

Am I on prednisone?  Yes, I am on 6 mg only.  I have been at this dosage for 6 months now. I have been on a very long-term taper.  Having trouble getting off of it. It was, when originally prescribed, for severe inflammatory pain and swelling related to Psoriatic Arthritis.

Nobody wants to increase this, at this point.  We really need to keep the taper going, even if slowly.  I have to get off of this!  Will see if my adrenals can take the taper, over time.  

Thus, my plan is to cut the dose and/or alternate nights of using Canasa while traveling, while at the conference. I do see a change in just one night of totally skipping the Canasa.

With Gratitude,

~Hopeful Heart~

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