HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Uh Oh, Out of Asacol

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/11/2012 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I've been taking 800mg of Asacol 3 x a day since last fall. Doctors have always cautioned me not to get off this med or things will spiral out of control. Unfortunately my dad's current insurrance ran dry because he's inbetween jobs and I won't be able to get a refill until July 1st, otherwise its $400 bucks without insurance. I contacted my doctor and asked his opinion, but I need some other opinions.

Is it likely that I could go into a giant flare from being 15 days off the meds?

I eventually plan to get off of these, as me and my current doctor are talking about, but I still don't know how I will react without them for two weeks, and i'm worried.
Posted 6/11/2012 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
I got off and have been flaring since November. Spend the 4 bills.
Posted 6/11/2012 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Do you have any rectal meds at least to hold you over? Maybe your doctor has some sample pills? I'm in remission but I don't know that I would stay that way after two weeks with no meds. I don't know that it is a risk I would be willing to take.
Posted 6/11/2012 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, take the meds. Or ask your DR for a scrip for generic colazal (pretty close to the same thing). Maybe it won't cost as much.
Posted 6/11/2012 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
sulfasalazine is cheap and is basically asacol with a toxic (sulfa) component. side effects can be headaches/migraines. ask your doctor, i was on it for a long time before moving to asacol when i didnt have insurance.
Posted 6/12/2012 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Great advice, thanks, I think its better safe to be sorry!

-I'll ask for a partial fill
-or ask for samples
-and try to get generic labels.

I think I get the 2-day headaches with Asacol anyway. =/
Posted 6/12/2012 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
I would NOT recommend sulfazine. Note that I am taking sulfazine, but at a pretty low dose and specifically because I have joint pain. It has relieved my joint pain, which is great, but I cannot drink red wine at all without getting a headache (WHILE drinking the wine), I have headaches pretty frequently and my platelet count has dropped below normal. All from sulfazine. If you don't need it for the joint pain, don't take it IMO.
Posted 6/12/2012 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
I would ask for samples if I were you. I am out too but I am hoping I can pick some up tomorrow morning. If I can pick up tomorrow I will only miss one dose!!
Posted 6/12/2012 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Samples is a great idea. Sometimes my GI gives me almost a months worth of Lialda. Maybe because it is fewer pills, but he seem to have a lot.
Posted 6/13/2012 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
I contacted many gastro doctors in the area and all of them said that Asacol stopped sampling or sending brand reps a few years back. There was a whole lawsuit about them going generic and yadda yadda... I had to buck it up and pay the $260 (partial fill) to get me through the month, my doctor said its not a good idea to get off a med cold turkey, and I agreed after thought. Thanks for the input.
Posted 6/14/2012 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
http://cureforulcerativecolitis.com/step-2-slippery-elm-bark-powder

Slippery elm has been described as "nature's mesalamine". Read the info at the above website.
Perhaps you can use it as a stop gap measure until you get mesalamine meds or use it to supplement if you get a small amount.

I use generic colazal (balsalazide) and have been for years with no side effects.

I get Starwest Organic Slippery Elm powder from Amazon.com or Vitacost.com. This is a high quality product that has been much more effective than capsules (for me). Take it every night.

I've even made up a slippery elm enema with directions that I found online. I don't like using the cortisone variety because I get headaches.
Hope this info is helpful.
Posted 6/15/2012 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Very helpful, I'm willing to try natural enemas at this point, as I feel down below is where the healing needs to happen...

I'm trying to ask my local herb store to order more slippery elm because I feel like the help-yourself jar they have has only been adjusted by me since last year. No gelling effect lately. I'm ready to try the powder I think, would like to try that enema if you have a link for those directions?

Thanks
Posted 6/15/2012 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
I still haven't gotten mine filled. I requested it but it's taking forever. Hopefully I can get some soon. I've been out for a few days. :(
Posted 6/15/2012 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
A nurse, from a gastroenterology office I contacted about Asacol, called me back and told me to look into the Patient program (P & G) I think? You can sign up to receive the medication with coupons. It should be that first search in google for (P&G Asacol).
Posted 6/15/2012 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
there is a PAP for lialda and co-pay assist. I don't think P&G offers the PAP for Asacol anymore. They do offer some programs for AsacolHD. I put a bunch of links in the rescources thread that may be helpful in finding direction to some of these programs. I think at this point, Asacol is the least flexible with programs :(
Posted 6/15/2012 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
stereo-
Copied from an earlier post:

I made the slippery elm enema using a recipe I found online. You can google it to verify.
It was actually a recipe for a large amount of mixture, assuming that you would use an enema bag and do a total flush of your colon.

I reduced the ingredients proportionately and made a smaller amount.
I had kept some empty (previously used) enema containers that I washed thoroughly. These come in handy for administering the slippery elm formula as a nightly enema.

The (reduced) recipe I used:
2 cups of warm FILTERED WATER
1 tablespoon of Starwest Organic slippery elm powder.
Mix in blender and STRAIN.
Add 1 quart of warm FILTERED WATER to above to get final mixture.
Use at 100-103 degrees
I didn't worry too much about getting it above room temp as I've never warmed the mesalamine enemas before use. Also wouldn't want to burn my "interior" :-(

Here's the website where I got the recipe
http://www.enema-web.com/slippery_elm_enema.htm
Posted 6/16/2012 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Get a half month supply and pay the $200. I would flare if I went without for 15 days, without a doubt.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply