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Lialda vs Colazol

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/14/2012 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
My Medco plan has balsalazide disodium (Colasal)?? listed as an alternative to the extremely expensive Lialda and I'm going to try to talk my GI into it this Thurs.

Can a 750mg capsule/3caps-3xdaily replace Lialda 1.2gm. 4pills daily?

I haven't got a solid diagnosis yet- but my GI said it is probably left-sided UC, with some rectal irritation lingering. I've been mostly 1 movement a day, no blood since mid January.


TY,Bob
Posted 4/14/2012 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
I take Colazal (2 caps/3 times a day). I tried Lialda and had terrible gas and bloating. I also tried generic Colazal (balsalazide disodium) which led to a bad flare. Every doc tells me there should be no problems with generics but it seems that I am sensitive to the fillers and dyes. Just a heads up if you are going to switch meds.
Posted 4/15/2012 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
MM--When you had the bad flare on Colazal, where you able to go back on Lialda and that put you back into remission?
Posted 4/15/2012 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I have only one bad flare and that was on "generic" Colazal---Balsalazide Disodium. Lialda never worked for me so I went back to Colazal after 1 month of trying. Still working on remission now...
Posted 4/15/2012 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Asacol for quite a while and I tried Colazal once and I didn't like it. It's capsules instead of pills and they are big and dry. I always had problems swallowing them but then I would also notice yellower stools and things just seemed generally worse while I took it compared to Asacol. It's not the same for everyone and it seems like most people with lift-sided seem to do well on Colazal so it's definitely worth a try.

You could also look at our resources thread on the top of the forum and see if you're elligible for one of the discount cards with your insurance plan. I've heard Lialda has good co-pay assistance. Asacol HD has a program too.
Posted 10/22/2012 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Coffeeman,

Did you ever try the Basalizide (generic for Collazal)? I must be on a similar Medco plan. They want to charge me a huge amount of money to be on Lialda. Lialda works great for me @ 4 a day but it's killing my wallet. Any thoughts out there? The co-pay assistance from Shire still doesn't cut the cost enough for me since Medco won't consider Lialda as one of their preferred medications.

grooveman
Posted 10/22/2012 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
I spent about 10 years on the brand name meds (Asacol for 2 years, then Pentasa) but more recently switched to balsalazide as my main mesalamine. I take 3 capsules twice a day and it's been working really well. I love the $5 copay.
Posted 10/22/2012 6:57 PM (GMT 0)

grooveman said...
Coffeeman,

Did you ever try the Basalizide (generic for Collazal)? I must be on a similar Medco plan. They want to charge me a huge amount of money to be on Lialda. Lialda works great for me @ 4 a day but it's killing my wallet. Any thoughts out there? The co-pay assistance from Shire still doesn't cut the cost enough for me since Medco won't consider Lialda as one of their preferred medications.

grooveman

I haven't tried it yet, Grooveman. I'm going to see my GI in Dec. and see about switching then.

Yeah, it's way too expensive- but I Fear the flare right now. I cut my dosage to 2 for a month tho, and now I'm back up to 3.
Posted 10/22/2012 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
I have left sided colitis and have been on Lialda since diagnosis. It has worked great for me. On my previous insurance I was paying $200 for a 90 day supply and now I pay $10 per month with our new insurance which also takes their prescription card. I don't always take the higher dose so the pills do last longer.
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