HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Confused about Rowasa + previous mesalamine intolerance

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/13/2013 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
I've been trying to deal with my latest UC symptoms, and I've become confused as to what approach I should take. My symptoms are urgency, BM's 6-8 times per day, mostly formed but with some mucus, no blood, but fairly painful/difficult to pass. Sometimes just a bit of mucus and gas. I can feel that my rectum is inflamed, so I'm looking to target that area right now.

In the past (2 years ago), Lialda, Apriso and Asacol all greatly exacerbated bleeding, which used to be my primary symptom, but has not been a problem for the past year or so. Same was true for Canasa and Rowasa. I determined that I must not be able to tolerate mesalamines, and gave up on them, moving on to Imuran (which I could not tolerate due to pancreas issues) and finally biologics.

about 2 weeks ago, I decided to give Rowasa another go, and it's been difficult to retain them at first but I'm making some progress, up to about 2-3 hours at night before gas/urgency overtakes me. Blood has not returned, so I'm not sure what is different from when I tried it 2 years ago.

Any idea what might be going on, and if folks have been able to tolerate Rowasa but not oral mesalamines? I wonder if it may be worth it to try another oral mesalamine.
Posted 8/13/2013 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
I doubt that returning to oral 5-ASA would be a prudent move. My situation has been the opposite RE mesalamine. After 14 years of successful use, Rowasa made me worse during a flare. My gastro, who subspecializes in IBD treatment, advised me to get off it immediately. I was then able to achieve remission on oral 5-ASA alone, coupled with a cautious diet & rest. Unfortunately, the failure of med that previously worked is another mysterious aspect of UC. And once you get worse taking it, it's more expedient to drop it & try a different strategy. / Old Hat (32 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 8/13/2013 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am now wondering if it may be worth trying Colazal, as its one of the few remaining oral 5-ASA drugs I haven't tried. It seems like some folks the have bad reactions to one 5ASA do well on others. Will have to consult my with GI and get his take.
Posted 8/14/2013 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
It likely depends (apart from your tolerance of 5-ASAs + fillers in the oral med) on which part(s) of your colon have the most pesky inflammation. If it's rectal, maybe your doc would Rx Cortifoam to help speed healing there. Have you ever tried it? It's generally easy to use compared to the liquid retention enemas. / Old Hat (32 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply