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HD Asacol vs. Delzicol

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/16/2013 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
It's not clear to me why anyone taking Asacol successfully (if it ain't broke why fix it?) would prefer switching to Delzicol over HD. Can you please explain your thinking if you chose Delzicol? Is it because of that plastic component in Asacol?
Posted 6/16/2013 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
I switched to HD and must say that I believe I am doing better than taking regular Asacol. Of course most of the switch is determined by the doc but the dosage may have something to do with it since patients and doctors both may prefer dealing with 400mg pills instead of 800mg pills. It gives you more options dosage wise. You may have read some of the other threads where I stated that I don't even believe the plastic component thing. I believe it is just a ruse to stop generic Asacol from becoming available in the US.
Posted 6/17/2013 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
If you take 2400 Asacol, can you take 800s HD, two and one, or do you have to take them three times a day?
Posted 6/17/2013 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
It says an 800 HD is not bioequivalent to 2 400s. This doesn't make sense.
Posted 6/17/2013 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
Where does it say that? Doesn't make sense to me either.
Posted 6/17/2013 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.drugs.com/pro/asacol.html

For me, HD rx will cost $40 for a three month supply whereas Delzicol will be $100 for same supply. I'll go with cheaper.

I'm probably the only one who has about 1000 asacol 400s left in my stash. So no rush, I guess.
Posted 6/17/2013 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I switched to Delzicol on the 11th and I am now in a flare. I want my Asacol back!! I also am a horrible pill taker and that plastic coating makes me gag. Just emailed my doc as she didn't even tell me Asacol HD was an option. I need to get on it stat before this flare spirals. I am so miserable. And interviewing for a new job on Wednesday. I hate drug manufacturers... I was worried about this because I tried to switch to Colozal a couple of years ago and had the exact same effect. Why would I want to experiment with different drugs at the possibility of flaring for months????? This makes no sense to me.
Posted 6/17/2013 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Delzicol is bioequivalent to Asacol. Asacol HD is not. Asacol HD is also bigger pills as far as I know.
Posted 6/18/2013 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
All HD is is taking one 800 mg pill instead of taking two 400mg pills. Other than that I see absolutely no difference. Delzicol is like taking one 400mg pill, same as regular Asacol. Jen may be having problems because the extra outside capsule may be interfering with the pill dissolving at the same location as her Asacol pills were. Other than that the meds are the exact same.
Posted 6/18/2013 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
"All HD is is taking one 800 mg pill instead of taking two 400mg pills. Other than that I see absolutely no difference"

"I switched to HD and must say that I believe I am doing better than taking regular Asacol"


HuH ?
Posted 6/18/2013 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently taking 3x2 asacol hd800. The way my doc explained it to me when I asked if Delzicol was an option he said no because you would have to take 12 of them to replace the asacol. Why would anyone want to take more pills when less but stronger do the trick?
Posted 6/18/2013 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
twiggs -- because not all meds work the same for everyone. Me personally, i'm scared to switch once I've found something that works.
Posted 6/18/2013 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
I just saw my new GI yesterday and he's switching me from 2400 mg Asacol (3 pills twice a day) to 3200 mg. HD Asacol (2 pills twice a day)

He said he might eliminate one HD if I'm doing well. But he didn't believe it was bioequivalent.

I'm not going to switch over until I finish my 400s.

I think I'll save a few as collector's items.
Posted 6/18/2013 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Switched to Asacol HD last night(taken two doses) and already am feeling better. Less mucus and some formed BMs this morning and I have only had to go once in 3 hours. Thank god!! I think it might be the coating n the Dezicol but whatever it is it was NOT working. I hate switching meds. Asacol has worked for years and I want to stay on it! Why can't the drug companies understand that?? I don't want to get sick!!!!! I am interviewing for a new job tomorrow so that was also adding tons of stress on top of switching meds. The bottle says Dezicol is NOT bioequivalent to Asacol. So are you guys saying it is lying? That is just low. And how is Asacol HD not the bioequivalent if it is just a larger pill with same meds? Well, all I know is Dezicol did not work and so far Asacol HD is. That is ALL I care about.
Posted 6/18/2013 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Jen, Delzicol is bioequivalent to Asacol. It says so right in the medication information leaflet:

"DELZICOL™ (mesalamine) delayed-release capsules have been shown to be equivalent to ASACOL® (mesalamine) delayed-release tablets."

http://www.delzicol.com/index.jsp
Posted 6/18/2013 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
weird. It says the opposite on the bottle itself in big letters.
Posted 6/18/2013 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
The Asacol HD bottle (which you don't see if you get your pills in the traditional orange RX bottles) says, "NOT BIOEQUIVALENT TO ASACOL" in big letters. My doctors, however, have always told me it's just Asacol, but a bigger (2x dose) pill. And honestly, that's how it's behaved for me.

I think it might work better for some people because 1) it's easier to remember to take all the pills, and 2) there's less coating per dosage (one large pill has a smaller surface area than two smaller pills). I'm not sure.

But it's the same drug. If you hate Delzicol and want to switch back to Asacol, do HD. It's pretty much the same thing.
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