Generic Mesalamine vs Lialda

Bigwill63 said...
I just refilled my generic Lialda and they switched me from Zydus to Shire brand generic Lialda. The stuff from Shire seems to have a harder coating that doesn't rub off when damp. The pill shape is the same as Lialda RX, more smooth and rounded. I interested to try it out because like some others here my switch to generic (Zydus) has just been OK. I cant find a whole lot of info on the Shire generic (Only a financial article about Zydus stock dropping because of competition in the Lialda generic market). But for those that have had some issues this might help, maybe....

Shire brand is Lialda, not a generic.

Wow! Thank you for your posts! I stumbled on this site this morning seeking information about generic Lialda.

I was diagnosed with moderate to chronic UC over 20 years ago. Have taken Asacol, then Asacol HD for many years. I tolerated both very well with an occasional flare up. Less than 2 years ago my Dr switched me to Lialda. I think we switched because something came up with Asacol HD. I think it was no longer covered by my insurance.

At my last Colonoscopy June of 2017 the UC was mild and only affecting the small intestine. I had been having no symptoms. Probably the best Colonoscopy during the past 20 years. I have also been seeing a naturopath for the last 12 months. She has changed my diet and prescribed many supplements. She has help tremendously, hence the best colonoscopy.

3 months ago I switched from Lialda to the Zydus generic Lialda. I switched because of the cost. The Lialda savings card went away. With the savings card, Lialda was costing me $10 instead of $100 per month. Therefore I went to the generic and only paid $10 for it.

I first started with mucus and now have bloody stools in 90% of my BM's. My BM's have doubled from 5 to 6 per day to more than 10. Few if any of the BM's are solid. I have been discussing with my Naturopath and I kept telling her that it was different supplements. She thought not. I have never had any issues with Mesalamine and never considered the generic to be the culprit.

about 3 weeks ago I noticed what appeared to be 2 large grapes in my stool. After further inspection they were actually 2 undissolved generic pills. They seemed to have absorbed water and where quite swollen. They were completely intact. They looked and acted like a small sausage, surrounded by a tight skin. They were easy to "squish" under two fingers. They obviously had not released any medication in my gut.

I have not seen any more since. But I can not see anything in my stools because my BM's are so "cloudy".

Silly me. I believe I have found the culprit. I went from the best I have ever done, to chronic blood in my stools.
I have all ready called my Pharmacy to get Lialda. I am in the middle of the 3rd month of the generic subscription and insurance will not pay twice. I would have to pay full price to get the Lialda. I hate that it is so expensive for those of us with Chronic medical conditions to get available relief. I don't want to start that rant, just hate that I'm not willing to pay a pharmacy company $1100 for a 1 month supply of medication so that I don't have to force myself to the front of the line so that I don't poo in my pants. (Rant over)

Sorry for the long post.
I pray my experience and information I've posted may be of some help to some folks!

Sincerely, Victor

I also was unknowingly switched to the generic brand of Lialda made by Zydus and my Crohn's Disease symptoms started coming back within two days (severe cramping, loose/bloody BM, acid reflux). I was doing great on Lialda, so I am refusing to take anymore of the generic due to the fact it is NOT the same and not worth my health or money to pay for a product that doesn't work and could potentially put me back into a full blown flare up. I reported the symptoms I started having with the generic drug to the FDA and would urge others who have had bad experiences with it to do the same. Here is the link to report to the FDA: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=reporting.home

Also - If you are waiting to get more Lialda from pharmacy due to insurance billing, check with your doctor's office to see if they have Lialda samples available to get you through until you can bill insurance again....OR you can try talking to your pharmacy about returning the generic and cancelling the billing for it, so they can re-bill for Lialda (note: this will most likely only work if: 1. you didn't use any of the drug/didn't open bottle 2. are an established patient at pharmacy with history of using Lialda only and 3. being unaware you were switched to generic version).

Post Edited (JoNewman) : 1/4/2018 2:07:03 AM (GMT-7)

I have been on regular original Lialda since 2007 with no complications, very few flare ups. I went to get a refill in February and it was free, they told me there was now a generic and my insurance company will not pay for the original any longer. I have been on the generic Lialda for approximately 10 weeks could be 8 weeks I did fine for the first few days then I started having abdominal pain that felt like my gallbladder had grown back and I was having gallbladder attacks again! I have been sick for 4 weeks getting worse every day, bloody diarrhea, going to the bathroom 8 times per day, at least, and up at night with diarrhea, horrible bloating and gas, it’s like a flare up X’s 100. I forgot to take the generic Lialda Friday night, Saturday morning no cramps, I didn’t take it last night on purpose, symptoms subsiding. I am making an appointment with my GI Monday and will be reporting this issue. I won’t go back on that medication again, they will have to find me something else. So are they the same? NO THEY ARE NOT! Something changed.

Not sure how valid my experience would be, since brand name Lialda wasn't the most helpful drug for me; as my UC is the worst at the very distal end of my colon and rectum.. but it did something to ease my first flare. I took it for awhile, and was eventually switched to the generic because of insurance. It went from doing only a little good, to absolutely nothing. My next insurance carrier denied it outright also and I was switched to Balsalazide 3x a day.. which wound up doing a lot more good for me than the once daily dose of generic Lialda.

I'd check with your gastereoenteroligist, as you need a medical reason to go to the more costly brandnamed. If you describe what you experienced to him/her then you can get a prescription for the true brandnamed version. Your doctor will work with your insurance to file an appeal if necessary.

PamSmith said...
OMG!! That is scary. I am in the same boat. I will have to switch from Delzicol to Mesalamine DR. I still have few days of delzicol.

I did appeal and my doctor agreed not to rock boat but caremark declined it. Now I am really worried.

They have a generic for Delzicol now? My god, this thread is scary. I was mad as hell when they got rid of Asacol.