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Colazal (generic name Balsalazide)

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/11/2009 9:12 PM (GMT 0)

Can anyone provide feedback on their experience with generic Balsalazide.  I have had terrific success with 4 tablets daily of Lialda and would prefer staying on it.  However, I will be joining Medicare in a few months and many Medicare Part D formulary plans don't carry Lialda and those that do carry it require an annual out of pocket cost anywhere between $3500 a year to as high as $7,000 (i.e., "donut hole")  Unbelievable cost!!!. Consequently, I am searching for alternatives to Lialda.  Asacol is almost as "pricey" as Lialda so my MD suggested Balsalazide (brand for Colazal) as a possible money-wise alternative.  Any feedback from current or former users will be appreciated.

 

64 year old married female

UC since 1999

Current Meds: Lialda 4 tablets a days

Current Condition: Remission

Prior Meds Tried: Asacol, Rowasa, Canasa, 100 mg Azasan/Imuran (disaster drug for me!)

Prior Complications: C. dif in June 2009

Posted 11/11/2009 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
I had about a year long success with the generic colazal. Then I went into a major flare in which it seems almost nothing has helped. I am going to start Remicade soon. Good luck to you!!
Posted 11/11/2009 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
     My experience is the same as GLOVE's.  I have been on the generic Colazal for about nine years.  The doctor switched me to it after not having much success with Asacol.  My ulcerations are in my rectum and he explained that the Colazal treats the lower portion of the colon better than the Asacol.  I asked him recently about Lialda but he said it basically is the same as Asacol.  Right now nothing is working and I am becoming dependent on prednisone which already did horrible things to me.  Waiting for insurance approval for Remicade.
Posted 11/11/2009 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter has been on generic colazal for around 2 years and seems to work well for her.

As for generics - there are 3 or 4 different makers. If you can get the generic made by Watson, it will be identical to name brand Colazal as they are made by the same company and is licensed by Salix (the maker of name brand Colazal). I had to call around, but found a pharmacy that carried this one.

My son take Lialda and right now they have a program where all you pay is $10, but think that ends at the end of the year.

Good luck!
Posted 11/11/2009 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much.  This is such valuable information.  I will try to get the Watson-made generic.  Terrific.  Best of luck to your two kids. 
Posted 11/11/2009 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.needymeds.org/resourcepages/crohns_colitis.shtml

Check out the website above and see if you quality for coverage through any of these programs.
Good luck!

What about the old-school sulfasalazine? If you can tolerate sulfa drugs, it would definitely be worth a shot...it's dirt cheap, from what I understand!
Posted 11/11/2009 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Fruitgirl:  Thanks for the great website.  Regrettably I won't qualify for most of these assistance program because I will have Medicare Part D.  That disqualifies you for almost all of them.  However, this is a wonderful site and thanks turn for alerting me to it.  Lots of great info.

Posted 11/11/2009 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
You're welcome. I don't qualify for anything on there either (my insurance is ok), but I share it whenever I think it might help someone. Hope you can get something figured out so you can maintain remission!
Posted 11/11/2009 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
when i started this flare i didnt specify brand name Colozol so i ended up with generic. it was terrible, made things worse. i got the name brand right away and felt better in a few days it seemed.
Posted 11/12/2009 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Brandname Colazal was my break-through med 2003-2007. Then in 2008 I went on the Watson generic due to health insurance requirement; it made me sick! I got vile headaches from it and UC flared after a long spell in remission. So-- I feel your pain over the cost of 5-ASAs when insurance won't cover it!!!!!!!!!! I went back on brandname Colazal after a struggle with my insurer, but will soon face retirement issues, too. The cost of Colazal, Asacol, Lialda, & Apriso is way too high-- because the pharmas are interested in keeping their profit margins up. Consequently, most insurance plans in the U.S. try to exclude them from coverage. For all they care we can settle for sulfasalazine (sulfa side effects), colectomy, or suicide. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
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