Enemas for On and Off Use

My husband is taking Asacol 2 tablets 3 times a day for the last two months, when he was diagnosed with UC. He has few good days and then few bad days in which he has more cramps and more bowl movements and then he will loose weight. His GI suggested in last months visit that if he will continue like this he will prescribe some enemas for his use as he has left sided UC. I want him to use something which he can use on and off, like when he feels he is flaring he can take them for one week or so and then discontinue their use until he feels the need again. Please advise which enemas are the best for this kind of use. I know lot of people on this forum has great knowledge about the enemas and i would really appreciate it if they could share this with me.

I would suggest he try Rowasa (same medication as Asacol, but in enema form) before trying cortifoam, which is a steroid enema. I use it as a maintenance med (every few nights), but increase it to every night when I see an increase in symptoms. I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions, too. The enemas have really helped me a lot...especially in getting rid of bleeding.

Rectal meds are part of a med regimen...treatment and maintenance.

Don't wait....request them. Consider where UC starts and the rectum is the last part to heal anyway...why wait?

As well...inflammation that extends higher in the rectum and above will give different symptoms...so....to many having different symptoms means that things are improving. True, but incorrect to believe things are perfect.

Low in the rectum inflammation....which asacol or oral 5ASA meds cannot reach....will have patients with less symptoms, even constipation, more stomach discomfort, more or less bleeding (depending on how fragile), constipation, mucus....etc.

I would suggest the 5ASA enemas as well....in the UC they're Rowasa and the generic 5ASA retention enema. They're to be used continually until symptoms quiesce and then tapered gradually to either a maintenance dosage or to off.

On and off.....is what I described above what you would consider on and off? I use them to treat (back to nightly) then taper to maintenance. So, the between nights would be off....

Don't wait...I can't express that enough. And make sure you can get enough repeats on the 'script...or that it's OK for the pharmacy to call his office for request of refills.

quincy