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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/7/2009 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

I was diagnosed with UC about a month and a half ago after 3 months of being in and out of the hospital and heavy D.  I was put on 30 mg of Prednisone (tapering by 5 mg) every week.  The prednison worked wonders the 6 weeks that I was on it, it was actually the first time I felt normal in months (only going to the bathroom once a day with solid stools).  I finished taking the prednisone last Firday, 1/2 and I am no continuing to take Asacol.  For the first time since I started to take Prednisone, I am begining to see my stools very loose again and have sudden urges of going. 

Is anyone on else on Asacol?  Does anyone recommend another medication that I should be taking instead of Asacol becuase it doesn't seem like it is either strong enought or effective to my body. 

Thanks!

Posted 1/7/2009 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the party. Most here have tried the Asacol as a starter medicine. You will see, as you view the gazillion posts, that what works for some does not work for all. Keep studying the profiles that are similar to yours and you will gain a whole new education on this disease. Perhaps you will be among the lucky ones that get it under control easily. I wish that for you.
Good luck.
Posted 1/7/2009 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear you have UC. What dose of Asacol are you on? I take 12/day (maximum dosage) and that has helped me greatly, but it doesn't work for everyone. There are other meds you can try if Asacol doesn't work, but most of us are on some kind of maintenance medication to help keep flare ups under control. Rectal meds are also an option. I know they can seem scary, but the mesalamine enemas (brand name: Rowasa) have helped me a ton.
Posted 1/7/2009 2:28 PM (GMT 0)

Shadam,

I too am very new to this all as I was diagnosed in June/08, however I had symptoms long before just my PCP could never pin it down. I also started out on Pred and Asacol, and everytime I tapered the Pred my symptoms would come back. My doctor prescribed 6mp in Nov since I seemed to pred dependant and so far so good. It seems like it is starting to work, but they say it takes up to 6 months to see full benefit. Hang in there, there is a lot of learning with various diets and meds that seem to help many people.

Posted 1/7/2009 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't respond to Asacol and many people find it actually makes their symptoms worse. I did better on the older ASA, azulfadine (Sulfasalazine).
Posted 1/7/2009 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your feedback! Im sure i'm going to have lot more questions as time goes on.
Posted 1/8/2009 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
it can take a while (months) before drugs kick in so typically if you're bad enough off then a good GI would also have you on prednisone to help boost the maintenance drugs (asacol, imuran, ect) till they kick in.

:)
Posted 1/8/2009 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
I started taking asacol about 2 months ago while taking prednisone (30 mg's and tapering by 5 a week). I finished my pred dose last Friday...
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