Asacol vs. Colazal

Asacol is designed to release at the beginning of the colon and disperse down. Colazal is designed to release it's med on the left side of the colon and disperse down. Colazal is an ideal medication for Left sided Uc for that reason. Also too, both of these meds are designed to break down at different PH levels.

I was on Asacol for 12 years when I switched to Colazal. The side effects, for me were about the same but for some reason Colazal gave me a dreamy state sort of feeling for a little while until my body got used to it. I also got more headaches when I started Colazal.

With pancolitis you should likely take Asacol, Apriso, or Lialda because they are designed to start dissolving in the terminal ileum or right colon. Colazal, in contrast, breaks by bacterial action within the colon-- usually in the left transverse. So, as Sherry wrote above, it tends to be more helpful for UCers with left-sided inflammation, including proctosigmoiditis. It has been the most effective oral 5-ASA for me to-date, though I can say from experience that the brandname formula has been changed somewhat since it 1st came on the market ca. 2002-3. Now it is less dehydrating than it originally was, but it doesn't firm bms as much. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

     When first diagnosed in 1998 I was placed on Asacol.  However, my ulcerations are only in the rectum and the doctor switched me to Colazal in 2000.  I've been on it ever since with no side effects.