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Balsalazide and Mesalazine- is there a difference?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/19/2014 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently on Balsalazide 9 tablets a day, it's my 5ASA maintenance drug, (or whatever they call it), however, I've never really seen many people on this medication, the most common maintenance therapy seems to be Mesalazine, so I'm just making this topic to ask, is there a difference between Balsalazide and Mesalazine? if so, is there a better one out of the two?
Posted 1/19/2014 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on the same med and dose as you. Some people call it Colazal. There are several people here of it. It is very similar to Mesalamines except it is bonded to a carrier molecule so the drug is released when the bacteria in the colon cleave this bond.
Posted 1/19/2014 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
If you don't respond to mesalazine then GI's try you on balsalazide,the older med. As sean said it "becomes" mesalazine upon release in your colon.

No, one is not better than the other but some people who are intolerant of mesalazine might be OK with balsalazide.

I've had many years of Asacol with no improvement and years of balsalazide, ditto. I continue to take balsalazide (generic Colazal) because it's cheap and has no side effects. Heck I think it has NO effects but my GI said it could be reducing inflammation even if it seems useless.
Posted 1/19/2014 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I take balsalazide because I don't tolerate mesalazine either orally or rectally. In my case, it cleared my descending and transverse colons, but was never able to calm down my left colon.
Posted 1/19/2014 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Im on balsalzide because its cheap for out of pocket cost! :)
Posted 1/21/2014 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
I have a similar problem Judy, I had a lot of inflammation running from the horizontal section of my bowel, all the way down my left side, since I've went on meds all but 5cm of my bowel has became healthy
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