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Now on colazal- instead of Lialda anyone helped by this

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/22/2008 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Today the doctor changed my meds. Colazal- 3 pills 3x a day. I have been taking Lialda for one year. He also doubled my remicade dosage and ordered a colonscopy for Next Monday. If this doesn't work, it is probably off to see a surgeon.

Any suggestions about Colazal- has this helped or is it the same old thing?

Thanks at my wit's end

Posted 9/23/2008 1:36 AM (GMT 0)

Well, my doctor switched me from Colazal to Lialda.  But, I was having side effects I could not deal with.  Now day 4 on Lialda and everything about same.  Giving it time!

Good luck!  ElaineNY

Posted 9/23/2008 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Lialda threw me into a MASSIVE flare. Started Colozal and saw instant improvement smilewinkgrin
Posted 9/23/2008 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Probably my age and the fact that I have very mild protosigmoiditis makes the difference.  Just shows you how we have try what we can and find what works for each of us.  ElaineNY

Posted 9/23/2008 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
I was switched from Asacol to Colazal about six years ago.  To tell you the truth, I don't see any difference.  The GI doctor also put me on the 6MP four years ago and I still get flares.  Latest flare is a doozy, in it since April, hospitalized ten days in May, still bleeding.  Meds: 50 mgm 6MP, 9 Colazal a day, Cort enemas in p.m., Canasa suppository in a.m.  I believe the enemas and Canasa are working better than the pills, but that is just my hunch.  I had a bad day Sunday but that may have been because I took an aspirin for a bad headache (Tylenol just didn't do the trick) and I ate French fries a few days before (big no no).  I also take a probiotic, multivitamin, calcium and flaxseed oil capsule....not to leave out my blood pressure meds...Benicar and Toprol xl.  What a joy!

 

Oh, main reason I was switched to the Colazal is that my UC is located in the rectum and Colazal treats the lower part of the colon moreso than the Asacol...that is how my doctor explained it to me.

Posted 9/23/2008 11:02 AM (GMT 0)
Colazal is more effective in people that have left sided on down. But if Asacol or Lialda doesn't work then you might have better luck with a Basalazide such as Colazal. I was on Asacol for 12 years before I switched to Colazal. I had an increase of symptoms after the switch but that only lasted about 2 weeks. Colazal helped put me in remission but it was short lived because then my daughter gave me a stomach bug! :( But I can't tolerate mesalamines now but don't seem to have too much trouble with Colazal.
Posted 9/23/2008 1:16 PM (GMT 0)

How could you go that long without just quitting...

 "I had an increase of symptoms after the switch but that only lasted about 2 weeks."

Well, maybe you did not have other problems like I have with nausea/sweating, etc.  It gets worse every day and I say to myself I will feel better tomorrow.  All the meds seem to work on the bleeding, etc. but so sick otherwise mornings - hard to deal with!  When I quit the Colazal and Rowasa in August - I felt soooo good for almost two weeks until I had to start Lialda and Rowasa once again.  I am going to try to convince the NP/doc that 5-ASA's are not for me but where to go from there is the question?

ElaineNY

Posted 9/23/2008 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Colazal has worked better for me than any of the older oral 5-ASAs-- probably because I have left-sided UC. Patients with right-side inflammation seem to do better on Asacol or Pentasa, which start dissolving in the terminal ileum. The most effective 5-ASA treatment, though, is the combo of oral + rectal meds that Quincy frequently mentions in her posts. It has been verified in research studies. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)

Posted 9/23/2008 11:45 PM (GMT 0)

That is interesting that you say Colazal works better on left side UC because that is the area that is the most inflamed- even though I have a bad case of protitis. Could it be that I already feel a little better after taking 6 pills or is it just a coincidence. I always felt that Lialda was not doing anything for me.

Posted 9/24/2008 10:52 AM (GMT 0)
No Elaine, I didn't have those adverse side effects like you did. To me it definately sounds like you just can't tolerate the 5-ASA's. Which is unfortunate :( I only had an increase of D and rectal pain. Oh and of course the initial start up side effects. But every day that I was on it, it did get better.
Posted 9/24/2008 2:54 PM (GMT 0)

Well, I stopped both Rowasa and LIalda.  I tried Rowasa every other day and the two Lialda every morning and kept feeling worse.  Actually, the UC gets betteron 5-ASAs but I feel like I have the flu more each day.  This morning woke up 3 a.m. - nearly threw up - stomach ache (not colon), ringing in my ears worse, headache, etc.  Yesterday I ate very bland and lite so nothing to do with that.

I will call doctor tomorrow (as that is the day he is in my office) and tell him and NP to work on another plan.  No real cramping going on - two BM's - one with tiny blood - so I am fine for a few days and then start over again I guess. At this point - rather have UC than the side effects (that is how sick I feel) Going to take a nap.

ElaineNY

Posted 9/24/2008 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
jblue65-- Colazal could be helping your descending colon in a better way than Lialda. That seems to be why I do better on it. So far I haven't needed to try Lialda so I can't compare it to Colazal, but from what I've read, their dissolving action is different & that seems to be a very important factor for relief of inflammation in different sections of the colon. Hope you continue to improve day-by-day! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

Posted 3/26/2009 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Colazal worked very well for me in 2 years, than catastrophe, started puking that yellow crap up. I was changed to Lialda, summer 2006 to end of fall 2008, complete catastrophe at the end couldn't leave my house or move my body. Now i'm on an old traditional drug, feeling better but i'm pretty sure i will have to change in another year and a half. it's like my body get used to the medicine and rejects it.
Posted 3/26/2009 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
For some reason the colazal gives me D. Nice orange D. Worked for awhile. I still have almost 3 big bottles of it so every once in awhile I try and go back to it. Maybe I'll try and decrease it and mix it up with the lialda to hit different parts of the colon. If I could just get the lialda to dissolve. I've even used colazal in enemas.... don't try that.. burns, lol.
Posted 3/26/2009 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Taking Colazal at the moment, still have no clue if it is helping or not. Been on edge of full remission but can't get there completely it seems.
Had to switch after Asacol decided it didn't like me and gave me pains in my side and kidney area. So far I haven't noticed any side effects with Colazal, by the way I am using generic Colazal.
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