Lialda and Joint pain????

My doctor put me on Lialda last week. He gave me three day sample supply before I filled in the prescription. I didn't think much of it once I started to experience joint pain a half hour after taking the 4 pills. Its been about 5 days. After taking my last dosage today, I have had achiness in the major joints in my body (knees especially, hips, shoulders, elbows, ankles, wrists). Its not so horrible that I cannot get by with my daily activities, but I never had this much joint pain before after taking medication. Should I be concerned? I called CVS where I got the drug and they said to call the doctor tomorrow since it is listed as a serious side effect. The medication is helping me feel a whole lot better and I don't have as much cramping anymore. What should I do???? Also, I just spent 30 dollars filling this prescription. I hope it doesn't have to go to waste. :(

Heather

I was on asacol about ten years ago and never had any issue with joint pain. I don't feel right with Lialda after taking the medication. Isn't Asacol the same thing as Lialda?

Asacol and Lialda contain the same base medicine, mesalalimine, but all the 5-ASAs contain different delivery molecules. That is why they are able to sell them under different brand names. Lialda's new formula is designed to hold off releasing the medicine until it reaches the large intestine, while some 5-ASAs release their medicine in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine. Sometimes, it is possible that to have a negative reaction to the carrier molecules in the medicines without being allergic to the mesalamine. This is only something that your doctor can determine though, so don't stop taking something just because you think it might be having a bad reaction. Talk with your doctor, and then determine the proper course of treatment. It might be that you respond to rectal meds better than oral meds.

I'm somewhat intolerant to Asacol, but so far I'm tolerating Lialda. We'll see how that goes though. It took me two years to figure out about my Asacol intolerance, so it might be a while before I find out Lialda isn't for me.

I am feeling better today in terms of join pain with the Lialda. I called the emergency service at my doctor's office last night. I spoke to one of the doctors and he said to give it a few more days, but if the pain gets worse, stop it and go back on Colazal. I don't feel nauseous whatsoever with Lialda and I like the effects of it. I am not having any cramps or pain with it. Only thin gis that I do get joint pain in my shoulders. So I will play it out and see what happens. :)

faitimarulez....why did you switch? were you having symptoms and you thought the Lialda wasn't working for you?

Your symptoms are a flare, and the fact that you aren't on rectal meds tells you that you need to treat that area as well.

q