Asacol is being discontinued!

I've done a lot of research on Delzicol. They are trying to accomplish two things: Avoid the effects of Asacol patent expiry and eliminate phthalates from their product.

1)If you open a Delzicol capsule, you get what looks exactly like an Asacol tablet without the markings (they are on the capsule). The ONLY difference between the Delzicol tablet within the capsule and an Asacol tablet is that Dibutyl Sebacate has replaced Dibutyl Phthalate. The compounds work identically except removal of phthalate removes the theoretical endocrine disruption only found at much higher doses.

2) Delzicol is marketed as being Bioequivalent to Asacol in Safety and Effectiveness, EXCEPT for dosing. What does that mean? They are telling you to take it an hour before meals or 2 hours after meals which, as all us Asacol users know, is inconvenient. Why this change when the two drugs look the same, are bioequivalent and have 99% of the same compounds?? Because Warner Chilcott intentionally never tested Delzicol taken concomitantly with food so they could create fear and doubt about this new drug and scare you into taking their other drug Asacol HD. Asacol users: Delzicol is EXACTLY the same drug as Asacol and can be taken with food, it was just never tested with food so that way they were required to label it to scare you.

I am taking Delzicol exactly the same dosing schedule as Asacol and have had no issues. The Asacol patent expires on 7/31/13--Let's hope some generic maker comes in and makes a much cheaper "Asacol" and we can rid ourselves of this greedy fearmongering company that has striven to bilk us of our wealth. This patent has been around longer than any other drug out there (since 1992). Warner Chilcott-move on and actually invent something (because you didn't invent Asacol).

The coating is not an "active ingredient"; I assume manufacturers have some leeway when it comes to fillers, coatings, color, etc.

I was given my first Delzicol yesterday and noticed the cute tablet-within-a-capsule trick right off.

Discontinuation of asacol400 is a major problem with me because I cannot pass larger pills/tablets due to esophageal constriction. All of the 'replacements' my Dr. had on-hand were larger (too large). I don't mind at all removing the gel-caps from each tablet before I take it- I just worry that they'll change the design someday and I'll be right back to scrambling for a replacement again.

I was just given delzicol for this new prescription. My copay doubled even though the meds are the same thing.and is the replacement for asacol.The price my insurance pays is actually lower for Delzicol too. I have been taking for 2 weeks and so far so good.I think that I have less gas with it vs asacol. I have taken with meals and has not been a issue. It does not make sense that you can not take with food if it only opens by the PH level in the colon. The gelatin capsule dissolves completely in the mouth in about 1.5 minutes so that is not for delivery purposes only for repackaging purposes . Just my 2 cents.

Sara14 said...

Hi TommyP. Thanks for your post. Why would they want to scare us into taking Asacol HD? I agree with the rest of your post but I don't understand that part. thanks. How long have you been on Delzicol? I have one more bottle of Asacol left before switching to Delzicol.

Has anyone else started taking Delzicol yet? If so, is it working for you?

Hi Sara14, Asacol HD got it's patent in 2008 vs. Asacol's original patent in 1996, so if you switch to Asacol HD and stay with it and don't switch to a true generic when it becomes available (hopefully in early 2014), you will continue to pay inflated patent protection drug prices for at least another 10 years. It's all about creating enough patient and doctor confusion to bring the $$ rolling in. When this doesn't work, Warner's next move will be to sue the FDA for allowing a generic (all in the name of patient protection). This happens all the time. Google generic vancomycin-a drug taken for C. Diff and you'll be shocked. I plan on staying with Delzicol until a generic becomes available. Good luck and stay healthy!

I just found out yesterday that my prescription for 400mg Asacol could not be refilled. It was great to find this forum to explain why. Looks like I can switch to the the Delzicol which sounds like it will be pretty much the same except missing the phthalate endocrine disruptor (and requires shucking the gel capsule).
I've been on the 400 mg Asacol for about 2 1/2 years. I was on the 800mg ""HD" form for a while, but had some bad effects from it and switched back to the 400mg.
I also changed my dosing from 800 mg twice a day, to 400 mg 6 times a day which is a pain, but really improved things for me. My rationale was this: the active ingredient of Asacol is Mesalimine which is used because it stays in the gut and does not migrate to the general blood stream. This keeps side effects down, but means you can't build up a body wide dosage like a normal drug. So to keep a somewhat constant dosage throughout the flowing gut, smaller doses more frequently make sense. I haven't consulted my GI on this yet, but it's been working really well for the past 6 months. My problem now is I feel so good I forget that I have any GI issues and may skip a dose or two during the day.
Since you can't saw the Asacol HD in half without ruining the gastro coating, the 400 mg Delzicol is the only way forward for me.
Thanks to everyone on this board for all the info!

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READ THIS AND BE SHOCKED OR HORRIFIED
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Delzicol = Asacol. Delzicol - the 'new' medication - is nothing more than a 400 mg Asacol tablet in a dissolving capsule. open it up and see.

I used to get 240 tablets for a $20 co-pay - 8 times a day for 30 days. I just paid $170 for 60 tablets to be taken twice a day.

AN ACT OF FRAUD HAD BEEN COMMITTED.

Maybe that's not so shocking or horrifying. I guess the pharma companies just don't make enough money. Private jets and golf cost money.

Post Edited (BloodyArse) : 5/3/2013 12:53:22 PM (GMT-6)

800 mg v. 400 mg. I'm going to try that. THANK YOU!

Has anyone taken Old Hat's suggestion and contacted the Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness? I've checked out their website, and they are pretty active. I'll take the action -- or maybe we all should -- so we can get the attention about this issue?

Lots of posts stating delzicol is asacol tab in a capsule.

It does look like that, but I looked harder. The delzicol tab is larger than the asacol tab.
Only a few hundredths longer and wider, but even noticable without a caliper, IF you look harder. Also when taken out of the capsule, the delzicol tabs feel bigger in my mouth.

I have had 10 years remission with asacol, and like many here, BUMMED OUT about the greedy sub-humans who prey on us.


Good health to all.

asacol never put me in remission but it def reduced inflammation. so what's the final verdict , what's better than asacol? asacol is mesalamine and then theres sulfasalazine....
I was thinking to change to something different anyway. any suggestions?
thanks

Hey Thanks for all the fish, welcome to the forum! Yes, the price is quite unnerving but you do have options -- not to say they are cheaper options! This forum is awesome, so glad you found us.

 

I cried when I was called by the pharmacy and told that Asacol EC 400 mg was no longer available. When I looked up Delzicol, it looked to be the same, but when I requested it from my GI doc, he told me that it was only being recommended for male patients. Has anyone else been told that?

Also, for those of you who are female patients and have been on Asacol for many years, did you take it during pregnancy and afterwards, find that your baby boys had any birth defects or reproductive problems as teens/adults?