HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Dosages of 5ASA ?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/17/2023 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, it's been a while for me posting, and I'm going through proctal discomfort that has not abided for a couple weeks.

Actually, in October of 22 I got food poisoning and have not had a "normal" bm since. Stress has been high and not forgiving, adding to promote this flare. I've tried Pentasa enemas a couple times...1st time they helped. A couple weeks ago I could not keep one in, and from then my rectum feels like it has the flu, pressure to go, but passing only liquid stool, mucus and sometimes blood. I have had severe gas as well. Could I be allergic to Pentasa ?

This usually happens in the morning about 5 times. The problem I have is my GI is away and I can't consult with him until March. I've been taking 5ASA 6 ..400mg twice a day for 20 years. Is this max dose? Would taking more even help?

Proctofoam used to help, but i don't think I can get it anymore. I have used cortisone cream but it does not help.

I have cut out coffee, chocholate, and uncooked vegs etc. Just to note...I'm on Citalopram, and now Cequa eye drops and have been using half doses of sleeping pills...on and off for years...but a lot more in the past 6 months. I worry if this combination have added to my symptoms .

Sorry for the long post...i think it's a rehearsal for when I do see my GI. Lol 🤔But my experiences with Specialists is they only deal with the disease they specialize in.
Posted 2/17/2023 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sassysback

When I am in a flare, My GI ups my Mesalmine to 4800mg per day. 2400 in am, 2400 with dinner.
Posted 2/17/2023 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rufus, my dosage as I read it, is 4800mg a day. I take 6 small pills twice a day. Maybe I'm reading it wrong? But if that's the case, am I maxed out?
Posted 2/17/2023 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sassy...did you use the enemas nightly? Im trying to interpret what a couple of times means...and when did you use them?

Did you have stool testing done then?

q
Posted 2/17/2023 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
I take 4.8g (=4800mg) oral and 4g rectal so 8.8g in total. Although I don't do the enemas every day. (I am also on xeljanz but I still use mesalazine because it allows me to take the xeljanz at a lower (=safer) dose).
Posted 2/18/2023 10:02 AM (GMT 0)
I had used Pentasa 2.4 mg Enemas for a week or two in Oct. One nightly for 4 days, then every other day. But, the applicater is difficult to use. I've only used enemas up to two weeks in the past few years.

I had food poisoning in the fall and tested Negative for parasites. Calprotectin was higher than normal. I had to take potassium for a week an narrowly missed being hospitalized. My system has not been the same ever since.

I may have to move on to different meds I fear. My pharmacist just concluded I am at max dose of 5ASA. I've had terrible gas for 3 weeks no matter what I eat.
I may have irritable bowl too. I guess I have to wait for the GI to decide the next treatment(s).
Posted 2/18/2023 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
But you're flaring...symptoms as you stated are typical with flaring, especially depending on where the inflammation is located and limited. You're on max oral meds, not rectal.
q
Posted 2/18/2023 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, you're on the max oral dose.
Posted 2/22/2023 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Q & Sara,
Thanks, I am feeling better now in the rectal department, and will talk to my GI in a week. I'm better as far as urgency and pain, but only because ( I think ) I cut out coffee, red meat, fatty foods and chocolate. All my comfort foods.
I broke out with shingles last week too. I had them when I was 22 really bad. This time...not too bad. But it goes to show...stress brings out the worst in me.
I think I may ask the Dr. For liver...kidney tests to see if they are ok. And maybe try suppositorys.
Posted 2/22/2023 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you need to switch your "comfort foods", per your above-mentioned confession! (Not particularly good for rectum, liver, or kidneys.) Take care and good luck with your upcoming gastro consult. / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)
Posted 2/23/2023 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you're feeling better. I got the shingles vaccine a year or so ago. Not sure if you can get that if you already have had shingles or not.
Posted 3/5/2023 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Again! My GI phone consult was cancelled and moved to a later date. I,m so done with this. However being on this low Fod Map type of diet helps some...i still am having "mushy" sometimes light colored stool that really smells. Rectal pressure is not as intense.
I emailed my GI...he sometimes has his consultant answer for him, to fax a perscription of a different enema or suppository to my pharmacy for me to try. Not sure if my colitis is just proctitis..or past sigmoid to produce Diarrhea, as I my flares are mostly constipation with mucus and sometimes blood.
Any insight?
Sassy
Posted 3/5/2023 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
High in rectum and sigmoid produces diarrhea...but depends on the intensity of the inflammation. Yes, yours sounds limited to the rectum...but I don't think suppositories are enough medication.
Your doctor's office sounds crappy and seems to have no care for patient needs. Sheesh.
Can the pharmacy contact your GI office to renew the enemas?

Can your GP help you out with some treatment?

q
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply