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Newly Diagnosed: Negative Effect from Mesalamine Enema

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/7/2015 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
I was just diagnosed with UC two weeks ago. I am a 20 year old college student. I started taking lialda mesalamine orally as soon as I was diagnosed and really saw no effect- neither positive nor negative. Three days ago I started using mesalamine enemas in the evening which I believe gave me these horrible side effects I have been experiencing; pounding head aches in the morning and diarrhea every 15 minutes sent me to the ER yesterday. Both the oral and enema medications are the same thing...mesalamine. Is it possible that just the enema is causing the side effects?

Has anyone else had negative side effects from the mesalamine enemas/oral pills?
Posted 7/7/2015 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
do you have the generic enema? the suspension has sulfate. that can give a headache. have you ever gotten a headache from red wine containing sulfates?

there is a sulfate free, but it is pricey. you could try a mesalamine suppository - no sulfate.
Posted 7/7/2015 5:02 AM (GMT 0)

DBwithUC said...
do you have the generic enema? the suspension has sulfate. that can give a headache. have you ever gotten a headache from red wine containing sulfates?

there is a sulfate free, but it is pricey. you could try a mesalamine suppository - no sulfate.

Thank you for replying. I'm taking the Mesalamine Rectal Suspension, USP enema. It has mesalamine (4 grams), edetate disodium, potassium acetate, potassium metabisulfite, purified water, sodium benzoate and xanthan gum. Are any of these sulfates?

I was also given some mesalamine suppositories. I will definitely try those next.
Posted 7/7/2015 11:14 AM (GMT 0)
DBwithUC is correct, sulfates are present in all meslamine enemas, with the exception of the sfrowasa (sulfate free). Sulfate allergies manifest as a dramatic worsening of uc symptoms, which sounds like you have. I'd call your gastroenterologist and tell him/her about this reaction.
Posted 7/7/2015 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
The ingredient is actually "sulfite" which is slightly different from sulfate. I would call your doctor and tell them what is going on ASAP.
Posted 7/7/2015 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
Some of us, including me, can't take mesalamines because they cause symptoms exactly like the symptoms of UC. Try the suppositories and see what happens. If you get worse, you need to talk to your doctor about mesalamine intolerance.

I had my worst reaction to the rectal meds, similar to your experience.

I think the literature says that mesalamine intolerance is only in about 10% of patients but my G.I. says that it's much more common than people realize.
Posted 7/7/2015 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
yes, sulfite, and your has metabisulfite

since you had no evidence of problem with oral, it is unlikely you are intolerant of mesalamine.
Posted 7/7/2015 3:49 PM (GMT 0)

kiptyn said...
Some of us, including me, can't take mesalamines because they cause symptoms exactly like the symptoms of UC. Try the suppositories and see what happens. If you get worse, you need to talk to your doctor about mesalamine intolerance.

I had my worst reaction to the rectal meds, similar to your experience.

I think the literature says that mesalamine intolerance is only in about 10% of patients but my G.I. says that it's much more common than people realize.

Did you have problems with both the oral mesalamine and the enema? Is it possible to just be intolerant to the enema? My doctor seemed to think I was crazy and told me they were the same thing with the same ingredients.
Posted 7/7/2015 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, the pills do not contain sulfate at all, so you may have no reacti/allergy from them. The enemas do contain sulfate, so a sulfate allergy would manifest only with the enemas. (A meslamine allergy would happen with both, you have no signs of it).

I'd ask if you can discontinue the enemas for a couple consecutive days to confirm the sulfate allergy. Discontinuing the enema should stop the reaction. Just check with your gastroenterologist first.
Posted 7/7/2015 5:37 PM (GMT 0)

iPoop said...
Yes, the pills do not contain sulfate at all, so you may have no reacti/allergy from them. The enemas do contain sulfate, so a sulfate allergy would manifest only with the enemas. (A meslamine allergy would happen with both, you have no signs of it).

I'd ask if you can discontinue the enemas for a couple consecutive days to confirm the sulfate allergy. Discontinuing the enema should stop the reaction. Just check with your gastroenterologist first.

Thank you! I stopped the enema last night and already see a drastic improvement. turn
Posted 7/7/2015 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
maybe see if you can get a script for sulfite free ones because it seems that the oral mesalamines are not enough right now
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