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advice on best time to take Lialda?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/6/2008 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I know some of you guys out there may be like me -- 4 Lialda a day for life, flare or no flare. I am currently flaring and thinking about some different options (tried prednisone for a while and then rowassa and cortifoam enemas for a while, which helped a bit but not much). I'm thinking if I could just reduce some symptoms and try to be healthier, I might be able to get out of this rut.

There are only two things I'm really bothered by besides the blood/mucus in stool that's really more of an abstract worry for me than a problem: waking up in the morning to cramping and urgency. I usually wake up around daybreak, 5 or 6 am and go back to sleep for a few hours, then wake up and go a couple more times well before I'd like to be up. Since I work usually from 10:00 am ish until well into the evening, this has not been good for my schedule.

My question was, does taking Lialda at night before you go to sleep help at all? Or staggered throughout the day? I have been taking my 4 pills at around 11 am since I was prescribed them. If this doesn't have any affect at all, what are some other ways to deal with this cramping/urgency in the morning?
Posted 11/6/2008 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there,
It really sounds like the Lialda isn't working...so maybe you want to consider talking with your doctor about not taking it and moving onto another course of drug thereapy. I too was on Lialda for 3 years after being diagnosedwith UC and continued to take it religiously along with other drugs (prednisone, 6mp, and Imuran) and it did nothing (I was able to know this for certain as I tapered from prednisone many times and also had come off 6mp because of ineffecacy). I'm now doing great on Remicade (a 10 mg dose every 8 weeks as opposed to a 5 mg dose) and am completely symptom free. My symptoms were much like yours, but the urgency had even begun to extend well into the day. Good luck with getting some relief and some sleep, but I think the Lialda just isn't doing the trick for you.
Posted 11/7/2008 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
When I was taking 4 Lialda a day, I'd take 2 in the morning, 2 at night. I never noticed any difference in my sleeping habits from the Lialda. I have to agree with Sandra though. It doesn't sound like Lialda is doing the trick for you right now. Might be time to call the doc and try something new. Have you ever tried one of the steroid enemas? Prednisone pills are the devil's drug, I agree with you there. Unfortunately, it is also a miracle drug that does wonders for me. If the illness doesn't get you, the cure will, right?
Posted 11/7/2008 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on and off of Lialda for a year and a half.  I am currently taking two pills a day and am in remission.  I take at dinner time with my meal.  When I was taking four pills I took them all together.  For a while I was taking them without a meal and I don't think that was as effective...The first time I flared the Lialda and Canasa together took care of the flare.  The second time I had to use the Lialda, Canasa and pred. to get the flare under control.  If you are still having bleeding, urgency and cramping every morning I agree with the others that the Lialda alone is not working and I think that you need to talk to your doctor. 
Posted 11/10/2008 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi thatfield,

I'm also exactly at the same dosages that you are taking..
Lialda 4/day in the morning, Canasa when ever needed.
By the way what is the probiotic that you are taking and what is the quantity?

Please respond......

Thanq in advance
Posted 5/30/2011 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
I take 4 Lialda per day but space them out and take them every 4-6 hours. I've had great results this way. I have ulcerative colitis in my entire colon. And the pills started working within 2 days. My only side effect is headaches.
Posted 5/30/2011 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on the same dose, with Predn. I've been taking all 4 tabs at once, morning, but maybe it would be better to divide them? Will keep an eye on this thread as more people share their experience.
Thanks
Posted 5/31/2011 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
I seem to get leg nightime cramps if I take Lialda after 5pm. I take 3 with breakfast and 1 with lunch. But it is not really reachung my left/sigmoid colon. I may try to vary the acidity of the food I take it with to try to get the pills to travel a little further.
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