mesalamine dependent

Honestly, I think that everyone who uses a medication, whether it be mesalamine, Remicade, imuran, etc to control their UC is dependent on it. It's just that doctors are concerned about prednisone dependency because the side effects of being on pred long-term are so severe, that it makes more sense to have a colectomy. My personal opinion is that mesalamine is a safe drug to use long-term, but I know you don't agree with that. Also, I'd personally rather be on mesalamine than to have a colectomy. As for testing whether or not I'm mesalamine dependent, there's no way I'll do it! I'm far too scared of what might happen to ever stop taking it.

I'm dependent on mesalamine to control my UC, but, as Fruit Girl writes above, better the 5-ASAs than hard stuff like Pred or immunosuppressants or biologics. I know what it's like having to take steroids during severe flares-- so a med that can keep the fires down over time is certainly preferable to suffering repeat & prolonged bouts of colon pain, rapid weight loss, bleeding, urgency, & incontinence-- IMHO. A lot of things can bring on bloating &/or gas-- plenty of people w/o IBD have to deal with that, too. The pity for UCers is that many are allergic or unresponsive to 5-ASAs, but so far researchers have not developed an alternative med at "entry level". So-- a reason to be positive as you're not in that category! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Oh, Quincy. Our conditions are all so different. Even my GI agreed to my taking mesalamines only when I'm showing signs of getting another flare. Anyway, I got this mini flare, because I was using topical antibiotics. My dermatologist wanted me to take oral antibiotics. I said no because I get flares. However, she was very persuasive about the topical antibiotics. So I decided to give it a shot. And that's why I got the mini flare. I've since stopped using the topical antibiotics.

If mesalamines work for you over the long term, that's fine. They aren't working for me. Too many side effects. My abdomen is in pain. And, yes, I do think I can obtain remission without them. I have. So, yes, I do think I'm doing something right. I never said I was in grief from colitis. The grief is from the mesalamines. That's why I'm trying to get off them. When I get to the point in which I'm in grief from colitis flareups, then, yes, I will get my colon taken out. In the meantime, my colon is looking great. I just got a colonoscopy done, and I don't even have any scars from the previous flares. Except for the bit of red at the butt hole, it looked very healthy in there. My GI said the mild flareup would clear up in one to two weeks with Lialda and Canasa suppositories, and it did. However, I was surprised that I couldn't just stop taking the Lialda. I'll have to wean off of it.

It's important to know the dependency factor of mesalamines, because it's a very real factor in deciding how long to be on them without risking becoming dependent on them. For me, I'm glad I was on them for only a short time, because there is a greater chance that I'll be able to get off them. For those who have been taking them for a long time, they may not have a choice. It's kind of like that for me and antibiotics. I'm trying really hard to break the infection - antibiotics - infection cycle, especially now that it's turned into an infection - antibiotics - flareup - infection - antibiotics - flareup cycle.

Subdued,
Your perspective makes perfect sense. Why would anyone accept dependency on mesalamines or any drug if you have a way of weaning off it without inducing a flare? Of course if the only way to avoid a flare is through drugs then that is a different story. Some people are lucky that they can take drugs for years without toxic side effects but there are dozens of others on this forum who remain in remission with probiotics and herbs and no drugs.

     When diagnosed in 1998, I was placed on Asacol.  Took that for two years and suffered my second flare.  Doctor took me off Asacol and started Colazal.  Been on Colazal (generic Balsalazide) since 2000.  I take six per day.  However, I don't think it does anything.  Scared to stop it since it is a possibility that the Colazal kept my proctitis from creeping further up into the colon. 

I'm down to two a day instead of the initial four. Taking one less per day seems to be working. I'll let you know how I'm doing in the next few days.