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Mesalamine (5-ASA)

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/17/2009 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
I have been reading (lurking) this forum a lot and I have noticed some posts that mention the use of Mesalamine actually making their UC symptoms worse. I don't really understand this because I was under the impression that Mesalamine (5-Aminosalicylic Acid) is normally used to REDUCE gastrointestinal inflammation. Can anyone make any sense of this? I am trying to find out the exact reason why, other than the fact that everyone responds to drugs differently. Is it because there is a point at which the severity of the patient's UC is such that 5-ASA is useless and the patient requires stronger medication/treatment to notice any benefit?
Posted 7/17/2009 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
Some of the side effects can be exacerbation of symptoms. I believe that some doctors prescribe the highest dosage and the patient cannot tolerate that amount.

Best to start lower and increase in incriments.

It's a treatment medication as well as maintenance. The use of oral and rectal is optimum.

I started with 20 times a day...explosive, razor-like bloody diarrhea....the only meds I've used is the 5ASA oral/rectal.

Not all patients can use all meds...there are some who cannot use the 5ASA meds at all.

quincy
Posted 7/17/2009 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that certain patients can tolerate high doses of drugs better than others. I take 5ASA and do well tolerating until I have to increase more during a flare. Then I get abdominal cramping and intermittent constipation for side effects. But I am a person that is extremely sensitive to all meds and docs have trouble finding them for me.
Posted 7/17/2009 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
I'm allergic to Asacol and Lialda.  My D went from 10-15 times a day to 20-30 times a day when I was on this.  I also had severe joint pain(neck and wrists) and then, vomitting, and then severe abdominal pain.  I just can't use any 5 asa's.  I also tried Imuran and I'm allergic to that also.  My doc said that about 50% of people allergic to 5 asa's are allergic to imuran and 6mp.  Luck me.  I have severe UC throughout my whole colon.  I start remi on July 23rd.  Alot of people have success on 5 asa's hopefully you do too. 

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