Old Hat-colazol questions

Gotta jog my olde brain to answer your Qs-- because I started Colazal in 2003. It helped me within 2 weeks at 9 capsules daily. Back then there was a secondary ingredient that gave some of us UCers problems after a couple months on it. My eyelids started to puff up/itch around week 10. This was during Phase 2 of NIH clinical trials-- so my gastro & others were reporting side effects, and Salix changed the formula in a way that made brandname entirely tolerable for me by the following year. (During that transition I used brandname Rowasa.) With Colazal or any other 5-ASA I would say it takes me 2 months of steady use (+ cautious diet) before the flare symptoms subside. My worst inflammation tends to break out in the sigmoid colon, and Colazal has really helped to heal that better than any other form of mesalamine. It also has given me the longest remissions-- the 1st one lasted 20 months, which was a big breakthrough for me. (Without effective med, I would flare by the 3rd week's end.) Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day while taking it; I really think that's a key to successful use over time. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

You're very welcome! After I posted my reply above, I remembered that you had mentioned in the past that c-scope showed you had a cecal patch inflammation in addition to left-side problems. Is that still your case? The reason I ask is that Asacol or Pentasa are usually RXed by IBD subspecialist gastros to treat the cecal & other right-side inflammation UC. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Colazal is designed to dissolve within the colon-- rather than in the terminal ileum like Asacol or Pentasa. So it is reportedly better for treating left-sided UC. I'm not saying it won't help you. It might be, though, that your doctor had put you on Asacol due to your cecal patch inflammation. (Cecum is the next stop after the terminal ileum.) Take the Colazal faithfully for a few weeks & see how you do symptom-wise. It could be that your cecum is o.k. at the moment, but your left-side is inflamed, in which case the Colazal could likely help you to clear that up with a couple months of steady use. Worth a try, I think, especially if your right side colon feels o.k. (That's where the cecum is.) How is your Lyme disease, BTW? Were you able to get rid of it? / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

     Linda, pardon me for putting in my two cents.  I was on Colazal for ten years prior to my operation.  My problem was ulcerative proctitis.  While it did NOT help the proctitis, it DID keep my ulcerations confined to the rectum, if nothing else.  Sadly, when they remove the rectum, the colon has to go right along with it .  Proctitis is really stubborn.  I became prednisone dependent and could not even tolerate the rectal meds.

     So, if your problem is in the colon, I do believe Colazal will give you relief .  The only thing wrong with my colon was minor diverticulosis, but my surgeon told me my rectum was badly diseased.

     The best of luck to you on the Colazal!!!

One more thing Oldhat, I'm 117 pound, do they take this into effect when writing the dose amount?  9 pills a day is more in the total of 12 of asacol my doctor wanted me to take, I think. You said drink lots of water, how bad is this stuff on the liver or kidneys? I have to take tylenol sometimes for my cramps and butt ache, but I only do one 500mg to start, I never try to overmedicate. So is everyone supose to take 9 pills of colozal no matter what your weight is?

     I weighed about 110 when flaring badly and I still took the nine Colazal per day.  I don't remember my doctor checking my blood for anything when I started Colazal.  It was when he placed me on the 6MP along with the prednisone, colazal and rectal meds that he kept a close eye on things.  I was ok on the 50 mgm of 6MP but when he raised the dosage to 100 mgm, back in the summer of 09, YIKES...my liver enzymes and pancreatic enzyme levels went whacko.  I took the 6MP for seven or eight years.  It never kept me in remission .

     I suppose the Colazal is safe.  I'm still here..lol. It's the prednisone that's the evil drug.

     Yeah, I went through a lot, but no more than most people in here.  We all suffer but there is always someone worse off, right?  Keep your chin up and keep thinking...This too shall pass.  I just thank GOD the surgery was successful, I will be 66 this August, if God spares me and our youngest daughter is getting married in September.  Alleluia!  She will be 35 next week.  I never thought I would live to see the day .  I feel great.  Having a "bag" is nothing compared to the suffering with UP.  Being a prisoner in my own home was no picnic.

     I'll keep praying for ya and hope the Colazal keeps the UC in check!!!

Hi Oldhat and thanks for everyone responding what a great family forum!

Hey I had three awesome poops in the morning then some mush, no pushing and no pain, but who  they were to impressive to me that I wanted to grab them and run around the house and scream, yippy!

This morning back to mush and some pain. I want to get back to the good ones, but I was wondering about that first poop in the morning is it food from the day before or the day before that coming out? I only poop in the morning, nothing during the day or night.

Having any thoughts?

I'm going to cut back on my probiotic (Mutaflor) one a day not two maybe this will help again, I was doing two for a day then one, maybe it's too strong or something. Anyways, I was so happy yesterday because I drove to a from my doctors (three hour round trip) without worries! Colozal has been the best in results in such short time, Asacol can't touch it! It works! I hardly have blood now or rectum inflammation!

     Are you on any rectal meds?  Ah, the wonderful feeling of a normal BM!  Most people take that for granted, but when suffering with UP or UC, it's heaven, isn't it?  LOL!  I can remember the day before my operation.  It was the first time in almost a year that I actually had a "normal" BM....no blood, no urgency, just PLOP....a normal turd!  But I looked at it and said, "You're not gonna fool me this time.  You just want that old colon and rectum to stay put!"  I knew if I cancelled that operation, the next day would be back to blood, urgency and pain.