Quitting Mesalamines/Asacol

I'm in the process of getting off Asacol with my doctor's approval. I'm currently at 800mg (1 pill) down from 3 pills a day. My high sensitivity CRP is now at 0! Level used to be through the roof before this fall. The only sign of inflammation on my blood work is my high Eosinophil count. This type of immune response is from something viral, like parasites, or pathogens, apparently? Doc wants to do the testing again to see if we missed something.

Has anyone noticed symptoms returning or changing after cutting out mesalamines?

Anyones symptoms actually get better since leaving mesalamines in the dust?

Hi stereo,

7 years ago I took asaol and rowasa for 6 weeks straight, faithfully and I went in for my scope and my doc said....Your all healed no ulcers any where, you can quit cold turkey and so I did...big mistake from my doctor, it's been heck ever since. I would say if you're only taking one pill stick with it and if the enemas work do every few days, but I wouldn't quit. I didn't and with in two days I was bleeding soooo bad. My urgency never went away though and I never had a formed stool, I believe my blood stop but I was not in remission whatsoever!

I always wondered if Asacol is doing anything at all. It's almost $1000 a month and whenever I go off it, nothing happens. I've had headaches from it, but no other side effects, but it never seems to turn a flare around when taking it.
Of course I always wonder if the flare would be that much worse without it -seems we are stuck between a rock & a hard place with these drugs...

i agree with thereare - why quit when you're doing well ?

what's the downside to stay with what is working ?

I've never taken enemas. Just Canasa in the past.

It's very confusing, I've heard stories like therearemiracles from my past doc, and so I have to question, what is it in mesalamines that could possibly trigger a setback when quitting? What is it in these things that are effecting UC?

The downside to staying on them is the constant hassle with pharmacies, the extra money and the effectiveness which I'm questioning.

lemonhead, yes i've heard that too about eosinophils, do you have similar issues?

I always wonder what would happen if I quit taking Lialda and using my enemas. I don't think I am brave enough or is it crazy enough to stop taking them. I don't want to risk feeling like hell again and then not being able to get out of it and having to take something stronger. I'm very anxious to see what my scope says in two weeks.

Stereo,

Good question.

But you have your doc's ok, which is good.

In the beginning, when I was first diagnosed, I was put on various different mesalamines - they didn't help, and within a few weeks I developed an intolerance to them. So I quit them cold turkey. I did stay on canasa for a bit, but it really didn't help me.

What helped me the most was: the combination of diet modification, supplements - especially VSL, slippery elm, l-glutamine, Paleo diet, and LDN of course.

IMHO, I still believe that slippery elm powder is pretty good substitute for mesalamines - as this has been my experience.

So, I would say, it very much depends on your gut.

 

Everything I stop I go med free for awhile and then it all comes back... When will I learn my lesson!?!? So IMO never stop, even if you take a real low dose

We/I've talked about the oral and rectal 5ASA useage ad nausesm and the pros and possible cons (if you're salicylate or mesalamine sensitive).

The supps didn't work because it wasn't enough med....you obviously misunderstand their useage.

All you can do is try to get off them if that's what you desire. Some cannot use them and feel better off. Some have a mental issue with being on meds are better emotionally while not using them.

It's your choice.

There's nothing IN THEM that would cause you to flare...why ask that question? It's you taking away a medication that's controlling inflammation if you start to flare after they're withdrawn.

q

Thanks for the input everyone, InSoFla, i think LDN may be the next step if inflammation rears its ugly head again...

Quincy, I should have re-worded my question: Why is it that some people like hekela and kelina go into a full fledged flare when getting off the mesalamines?

I think I'll have to answer that question myself based on what has worked well for me.

How have I mis-understood the use of the Canasa supps? They were given to me by my other doc.

why didn't you ask for the enemas, stereo? You have responsibility as well...at least to try them.

q

HA! trust me somedude, my life isn't all roses, reoccurring joint pain might as well be my monthly gift.

I dropped from 12 asacol to 6 at my ex-GIs request and flared horribly within 2 weeks. That was 2 years ago and my only reminder that asacol works. Wouldn't drop it or enemas no matter how good ifeel. Id only reconsider if i had to pay Retaiil for it.