Does everyone take 5ASA medications?

I am not taking any 5ASA meds right now along with 6mp. I am still on prednisone but tapering. Will I be able to stop them forever or it is likely I will have to start taking Asacol/Lialda/Canasa again when I get on a lower dose of prednisone?

Are there any people who just use 6mp?

I was on Asacol for about 6 months and it did absolutely nothing for me so I stopped taking it.

I am not taking any 5ASA meds. I found that since my flares start at the butt, they aren't effective. I now have suppositories. I plan to use them if I start showing signs of flaring.

I think MyUC only takes Imuran w/o 5ASAs to control his UC. I asked my doctor about using Imuran alone because we are thinking I have become intolerant to 5 ASAs and he said he has on occasion had patients who could just use Imuran or 6 mp alone, but usually patients end up using a combination of Imuran and 5ASAs. I haven't had any luck lowering my pred under 20mg on just Imuran, so I'm starting Remicade. So, I think the answer is, that it IS possible, just not that common?

Thanks for the responses. It sounds like it is possible but unlikely that I will remain off the 5asas for a long period. I guess I just have to be patient and see how it goes.

I'm deathly allergic to 5ASA drugs.

I was very interested in salicylates in foods, etc. as I cannot tolerate 5ASAs (mesalmines) - I tried several that made me worse or flu-like symptoms.  Looking at the list of food high in salicylates I did not find any I cannot eat - don't believe any make me sick or worse.  I eat tomatoes, etc.  My reaction to aspirin (although I don't take it anymore - just Tylenol) is ears ringing and sweating.  I DO take pepto bismal quite often which has salicylates and just helps my stomach feel better.  Of course, I am weird as far as medications go anyway - usually work opposite on me.  Once I had eye surgery and the medication they gave me to calm down - I had a panick attack - go figure!

ElaineNY

Hi there.  The answer to your question is yes and no.  Yes, most people will stat with 5-ASA meds to try to control their UC but if that fails then on to 6-MP or Imuran.  As previously posted I only take Imuran to control my UC and it has worked.  No urgency, no D and really no bleeding.  Going just once to twice a day.  I asked my GI doc about adding an ASA but he said, what for?  He stated I am in clinical and histological remission so what would adding another Rx accomplish?   I was on Asacol for about 10 yeas and it did nothing for my colitis.  It is my hope that I can reduce the Imuran dosage in the future.  I have already, went down from 200 to 150 mg and no change in my colitis, still solid remission.  We shall see if I can get it down even further and maybe just use rectal and ASA again. 

So yes that most people start with ASA, it's then just a question of whether it can keep the UC away.

MyUC 

As far as the previous post is concerned, that is why I use the word "most".  There are exceptions to every rule.  Most people cannot get rid of their UC with diet modifications and most won't due fecal tranplants.  I didn't mean to make my post sound like it was for everyone.  The original question was does everyone take 5-ASA meds, the answer is still the same most do and for those people whose ASA meds fail most will move on to Imuran or 6-MP.  Not everyone does.

Hope this helps.

MyUC

When I was first diagnosed, I was able to control my symptoms using just Rowasa enemas, one a day. Then I switched to 8 Asacol tabs a day (got tired of doing nightly enemas), which kept me in remission for about 4 years- thought I was doing so great that I'd stop all oral meds & rely on the enemas again. I neglected to check with my GI prior to doing this. After about 3 months off Asacol, my UC came back with a god-awful vengeance. I've been basically in some mode of flare since then, 2006-2007??? Have been on pretty much all the meds, from pred to Remicade, now on Humira. And have also been on 150mgs Imuran for about 3 years too. And the Asacol again, I started back up with them when things got bad. But, they didn't control the flare like they initially did & I had to add bigger & badder meds to attempt to get relief. I've been told the 5ASA's are quite safe to be on long-term, have not heard of liver damage attributed to them. They also can lower the risk of colon cancer. Sooo... bottom line is I am resigned to being on them for life, if need be. Currently, the meds I'm on are working pretty well- I still have bad urgency & occasional accidents. But overall, my bm's are quite manageable!