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Canasa suppositories and side effects

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/17/2014 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
After my colonoscopy last summer (July 2013) my GI prescribed canasa suppositories in addition to the azulfidine that I had been taking at a maintenance dosage of 2 once a day. He upped the dosage of azulfidine to 2x 2 a day. The canasa suppository was prescribed as one each night for 14 days as needed. I really don't remember if he told me any particulars because I was still under the effect of sedation and my husband didn't seem to hear anything he thought I should know. Anyway, I used the suppositories for about 5 days and felt better so I quit. I was still taking the Azulfidine although I had gone back to my maintenance dosage of 2 pills a day.

Now I am again having a minor flare with minor rectal pain and a little blood on the tissue. I have increased my azulfidine to 2x 2 each day and tried the Canasa for three days. It seems that I am getting more abdominal pain and bloating. Could this be a side effect from the Canasa? I can't remember if it effected me that way this summer when I was using it. I don't have diarrhea but seem to see flakes of darker matter on the toilet tissue while my bm is formed although a bit thinner than normal.

The worse is the pain around my belly button area. It is beginning to wear me down which is ideal since I teach an energetic group of 1st graders and need to be able to keep up with them. Do you think this pain is from my UC or could it be something else? My GI is about an hour away and I thought I get some opinions here before calling him. confused
Posted 2/17/2014 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
I have never had any side effects from canasa but it's possible to have an intolerance to it and it would cause you to have UC-like symptoms. I wouldn't assume that's the case here but you never know. You're in a situation where you could be undertreating or you could be having side effects, you will have to feel it out to see which is the case. It's probably undertreating. what is the dose of the azulfidine? most people take 2400mg to 4800mg of mesalamine daily plus retcal meds.
Posted 2/17/2014 10:19 AM (GMT 0)
No side effects here either. Have been taking it for over 6 months now.
Posted 2/17/2014 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
The only side effect i found with canasa was when i went to the bathroom in the morning after using it i would wipe some matter on the tp paper, not sure what it was blood mucous or the canasa itself, but it was a brownish color.

Hope you feel better soon.
Posted 2/17/2014 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
I took canasa once and while I was taking it my symptoms got worse. Nothing specific, just worse IBD symptoms. The other weird thing was I got really bad waves of vertigo that started a couple of weeks after I started taking canasa. Again, I can't say 100% sure that "canasa caused my vertigo" but I am pretty sure it did.
Posted 2/17/2014 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Honestly, to me, it sounds more like a worsening flare than it does side effects from Canasa.
Posted 2/17/2014 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with fgirl.
Posted 2/17/2014 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I agree...don't think its side effects but the flare is worsening.
Posted 2/17/2014 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
azulfidine is much more likely than Canasa to cause adverse reactions and is dose sensitive but it sounds like a flare to me too.
Posted 5/31/2017 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have experienced side effects after a few weeks of being on it. Your seem like a flare up. The side effect is overwhelming horrid. It feels like I have food poisoning. Constant diahrrea, flu like symptoms with low grade fever. If anyone gets this while on Canasa stop taking it immediately.
Posted 5/31/2017 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
If you have constant diarrhea, it's more likely undertreatment. Retention enemas in conjunction with oral mesalamine will cover all areas.

As well, have stool sampling done if it's come on suddenly before assuming it's the meds.

q
Posted 6/1/2017 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
I'm concerned that you aren't heeding your doctor's orders for taking your medications. UC is not a disease where you want to "stop taking the medication because I felt better." If he says use the suppositories for 14 days, you should use them for 14 days unless you have an intolerance reaction (this is generally quite significant and the symptoms of an intolerance syndrome should be listed on the Rx pamphlet you got).

Personally, I hope my doc has me stay on Canasa forever (maybe not every day forever, but periodically forever) and she probably will. Oral meds don't really reach that area so some rectal med is needed for maintenance.

Sometimes, if I have gas in the rectum before inserting Canasa, it can cause some pain after insertion for a while. Try to get any gas out prior to insertion.
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