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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/22/2007 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have any experiences to share about this med?

http://www.lialda.com/about/about.asp
Posted 8/22/2007 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I will be starting Lialda in about 2 day as soon as I am done my Asacol, so not yet.

I am curious to hear experiences about going from Asacol to Lialda.
Posted 8/22/2007 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
I was put on Lialda at my own request because it sounded so good to me. I had been in a flare beginning in April and did not get meds to combat the flare immediately because my doc was out of town. So the flare got worse. When he returned, I requested Lialda and took it for a month. During that month I got steadily worse. I recently had a visit with my GI. He put me back on 12 Asacol a day and a Rowasa at night. Still in a flare but might see a little improvement. My colitis involves only about 35 cm. of my colon though and I believe that makes a difference. I believe the best thing for me is the Rowasa simply because of where my colitis is. I'm not sure any pills could keep me totally flare-free. I sure love the idea of taking only 4 pills in the morning and the gel coating but it didn't work for me.
Posted 8/22/2007 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
i was on it for few months , it worked ok for a while but then flare came back I then switched to enemas , whch worked pretty well , I am now on colozal

my doc told me th lialda does not target the bottom part of the colon well , the medicien disolves before it gets there thats why he told me to try colozal
Posted 8/22/2007 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
oh, I see........mine is affecting my rectum, so sounds like it may not be great for me to take. I will try it and see what happens, if I get worse then I will go back to Asacol.
Posted 8/22/2007 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
Asacol was not very effective fro me so Lialda has not been any different. All things being equal, I think that will be the rule since the meds are the same, just the dosage. If a person is non compliant with Asacol because of the frequency, Lialda would be an excellent try.

Posted 8/22/2007 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Have any of you on asacol tried the older drug sulfasalazine (Azulfadine)? I'm surprised... I don't think I've seen anyone here mention it. Some folks have much better luck with it... I did.
Posted 8/22/2007 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Sulfasalazine for about 6 years, the only difference for me is that Sulfasalazine made my pee wicked yellow and I had to take it w/food. Now my pee isn't yellow and I can take Asacol w/out any food in my stomach.

Doc switched me after my last colonoscopy, said Asacol was better in some ways, I don't remember why though???
Posted 8/22/2007 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
 I have had  UC for 24 years  but have been remission a lot of these years. I am now in a flare up. One of my promblems is Canker sores in  my mouth and down my throat. Has anyone else had this problem and what do you do about it? I am on Asacol and Rowasa enema right now. The Rowasa is very good but it is in enema form you do at night. Thanks to anyone who can help me
Posted 8/23/2007 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Lialda since May, when diagnosed with pancolits. My doctor says I am doing very well on Lialda--a walking miracle--and that with my entire colon and rectum being involved, he is happy for me that Lialda has helped and so am I!! My bm's and urgency to go were reduced by week 2 from up to 10 times + and the blood went away also. I did have a flare, I think per my menstrual cycle a month ago. During that time, my husband and I DROVE to South Dakota from Alabama and I didn't have to worry about pottying or going to the bathroom all the time even during the flare with Lialda. I went from 2 Lialda to 4 and I am back to 2-4 bm trips to the bathroom and also no blood or mucous coming out. I am staying with 4 Lialda until GI says go back down and next follow up is late Sept. I am very thankful to take all pills in the AM. I have the worst time remembering to take my two fish oil pills in the evening. I have to set my cell alarm to remind me nightly! I highly recommend you talk to your GI about Lialda and also go to www.lialda.com and read the information about the medicene for yourself. God bless!!
Posted 8/23/2007 10:27 PM (GMT 0)

I've been on Lialda for tow months, participating in a drug study.  Within two weeks I felt so much betterr.  The overwhelming fatigue was gone.  Some days I have more BMs than others and the urgency is the same but pain almost gone.  All in all, it has been wonderful for me.  I worry that I won't be able to afford it when no longer on the study.

Tried sulfasalazine and had terrible nausea and dizziness despite when or with what food I took it with.

Third, I can only take a minimal does of omega threes because that really does a number on my GI track.  Nausea, again and frequent, smelly, greasy BMs and GAS!

Posted 8/25/2007 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Lialda gave me 10 brown-water diarrheas a day and caused me to loose 10lb in two weeks. Colazal, a similar drug, was about the same. Too bad, because I guess these are the maintenance drugs of choice for UC. When you read the insert it implies that almost no one has this type of reaction, but apparently it is possible. If this is the case for you, you'll know within two days.
Posted 8/27/2007 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
I am anxious to start Lialda. I picked it up today, since my asacol was gone. I was shocked at how large the pills were, but I guess it only makes sense since it is slow release. I am currently taking 8 asacol a day. However, the Dr. script says 1 Lialda a day. That doesn't seem to add up????or does it???
Posted 8/27/2007 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
I was taking 12 asacol a day and now taking 2 lialda a day. I have been on it for 4 days and no brown diarrea. I don't really notice any change, I am having slightly better formed bm's and maybe a little less blood, but that could be b/c I have been good for 9 weeks taking all my meds.

So far so good. Will probably have a personal review, in a few months......hopefully not earlier (meaning going into a big flare or something).
Posted 8/27/2007 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
When I asked my doctor for the Lialda she said that she would perscribe it but she did not think it would work because I have left sided colitis? Does anyone know what she might be thinking? Also she said that I should not try to concieve while taking this medicine. I was told that it was okay to try and conceive on the Asocal isn't the same medicine? I am confused.Any input would welcomed.



Thanks,
Melissa
Posted 8/30/2007 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Lialda for about a month now. It seems to be keeping my upper colon healthy but the last 20 cm is still inflamed. It amazes me how much pain those 20 cm can cause. I have been using Canasa Suppositories in addition and the pain has stopped now and I have not had a lot of bleeding. Just traces here and there. No solid BM's yet and still some urgency but down to 2-3 BM's a day. The Lialda costs $500 per month without insurance, it was $250 with my insurance, but my doctor gave me a Lialda prescription card that allows me to get the med for $25 a month, so that is helpful. If that is ever taken away I won't be able to afford it anymore! I love being able to take all of my meds in the morning. I didn't do as well when I had to take something three times a day. I currently take 40 mg prozac (to reduce the stress that makes my UC really act up) Niferex-150 forte for the anemia, 4 Lialda, Hyoscyamine for pain, and calcium.

I have a couple of questions:

First of all my doc has me taking some antibiotics to try and kill some of the bad bacteria in my colon. Has anyone else done this before? After having UC for 10 years this is the first time that this has been suggested. (currently taking 3 Metronidazol 500 mg and 2 Ciprofloxacn 500 mg a day)

Has anyone experienced extreme acne on Lialda? I have NEVER broken out this bad before!

My drug History:

Asocol- didn't work
Colozal- Made my colitis so much worse and I had to take 13 pills every day!
Sulfasalazine- worked for a couple of years then stopped working. Suffered many side effects but they went away with time. (Joint pain and severe headaches) Usually took 9 a day (3 three times a day)
Prednisone- off and on for really bad flares
Mesalamine enimas- They didn't ever really work


If anyone has suggestions I would love to hear from you. Also, any suggestions for getting rid of prednisone weight? I am working out at Curves 3 times a week but have not been able to get it off. Would love to loose 15 lbs.
Posted 7/13/2010 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
I know this post is quite old but for all it's worth, I have had terrible acne (cysts) on my back, arms and sometimes chest from taking Lialda. This wasn't the case when I initially started taking the meds but months later it has gotten really bad and I'm concerned about having awful scars on my back. Going back to Asocol doesn't really help my acne much either and Asocol doesn't seem to work as well as Lialda for controlling symptoms. I would love to get off these darn drugs! But it's a tradeoff... price you have to pay I guess, until I figure out something else out. Controlling my diet has helped me a lot, I'm back to solid BMs every day and no pain but an occasional trace of blood if I miss Lialda for more than two days.
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