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Intolerant or coincidence

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/29/2016 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I took 1.6 gr of generic asacol, the next day I had a high fever (101.1), diarrhea, headache and a stiff neck. I'm afraid to take it again. I was suppose to take 4.8 gr a day, I didn't because I wanted to see how I would react.

If I'm intolerant would it normally happen right away, like the same day? Should I try it again but with maybe the brand name instead of the generic.

Or was this just a coincidence? Anyone have this happen to you. I have pan colitis with back wash ilietis so I know I need to be on something.
Posted 9/29/2016 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think that sounds too good..I would hold off taking it until you get more replies on here, and have also spoken to your GI.
Posted 9/29/2016 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Likely coincidental, try again.
Posted 9/29/2016 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
I usually try things twice separated by a week or more before deciding they are bad for me. That way I don't discard something too soon that could be beneficial. I took 6mp for months before realizing it was creating negative symptoms and also doing no good for my UC.

Hope your fever/D/stiff neck subsides. It's really up to you because it's your body not a statistic telling you what could happen. Have you taken any other mesalamine-based RX?
Posted 9/29/2016 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes
Posted 9/30/2016 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
That was my very first mesalamine-based Rx. I just finished my oral entocort, everything was great while I was on it, which is why I want to transition to something. Both GI's I have seen are pushing remicade which I am reluctant to go on until I have exhausted all my other options.

I also seen a naturopathic doctor who gave some great suggestions, just don't want it coming back anytime soon. This flare has been on and off since February.
Posted 9/30/2016 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
There are other RX you can try before the big guns of Remade, etc.
There is Balsalazide which only turns into mesalamine once it hits the gut so perhaps is less systemic.
Asacol never did much for my UC but also never gave me the symptoms you have.

Are you also using rectal meds? They are mesalamine based also but because they are topical (mostly) they are not going into the bloodstream. Many, including me, have very good results using mesalamine enema to get out of flare and then using suppositories (Canasa/Salofalk) for maintenance.
Posted 9/30/2016 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I would never discontinue anything based on a one time episode. If something consistently happens, then yes.

An intolerance of mesalamine is described as a dramatic worsening of uc symptoms. Before, you might have 2 bms semi solid with little urgency issues, take mesalamine and then suddenly go to 8 bms with diarrhea and extreme urgency. It's not subtle, it's rather dramatic. An intolerance clears up quickly after discontinuing said medication (within 24-36 hours after discontinuing). Intolerance is pretty rare, only 5 percent of patients experience it. So, I wouldn't quickly jump to conclusions without multiple day examples.

If you verify that you're experiencing an intolerance then please tell your gastroenterologist asap, as their our lots of other options available to you to treat your uc without experiencing that reaction.

Personally, it sounds like you have a little anxiety about taking the medication. As such, I'm not sure if it's that anxiety or an actual intolerance.

What's the difference in uc symptoms before and after taking your medication? Number of bms, urgency, and consistency?
Posted 10/4/2016 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Well I decided to try it again, this time with name brand asacol. I took 2-400mg before I went to bed. The urgency (that I had none before) to use the toilet woke me up before the alarm.

So far I have used the washroom 9X, starting out very very loose the first 3X then liquid diarrhea for the remaining 6X.

My eyes are pink which I didn't have yesterday, my fever is low at 99.2.

The past week my BM's were 1-2 daily, soft formed.

To answer the question about rectal meds, I tried salafolk 4gm and Pentasa 1gm a couple of months ago but stopped after 3 days because of what I thought was causing diarrhea when prior I didn't have any. I do use entocort rectal enema from time to time that has never cause me any issues.

IPoop I don't believe I have anxiety about medication I was all set to take this for the rest of my life.

Iamagardener have you tried balsalazide, I left a message for my GI today because I don't know if what is going on is the start of a flare or the medication. My flares have never gone from one extreme to another, it usually happens over a weeks time. I have no blood and no mucus so far today.
Posted 10/4/2016 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I have taken Balsalazide for several years, it's the generic for Colazal. It's designed to chemically turn into mesalamine in the lower gut (from what I've read) and perhaps you can avoid the systemic reaction you had to Asacol. I never had intolerance to Asacol that I knew of and took it for several years but it also did nothing to help my symptoms. You certainly shouldn't continue taking Asacol based on your reaction. Hope you can find an RX you can tolerate.

I never had negative reaction to mesalamine enemas or suppositories. If you don't have bleeding no reason to use those IMO.
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