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UPDATE! On new meds now

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/28/2014 4:59 PM (GMT 0)

So, went to see the new doctor on Friday..yay, found a good one.  He took me off Asacol and put me on Lialda (4 pills a day).  Got a colonoscopy sched. for May 12.  Meant to ask the doctor but got to talking about other things.  Do have some questions:

How long did this Lialda take to start working?

Do you take all four pills in the am or space them out? 

Anything you can tell me would be great.  TU and hope you all are having a good day.  :-)

Tammy

Posted 4/28/2014 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
about a year ago I switched from Asacol to Lialda. The Asacol had been working OK but not great and I asked the doctor for a switch. At first I took it all at once in the morning but I got worse so I decided to take it twice per day instead of all at once. That worked better for me and it did do better than the Asacol. Unfortunately, my new insurance company won't pay for Lialda so I am in the process of switching to Pentasa.
Posted 4/28/2014 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on it for 5 years now. I take 2 in the am and 2 in the pm. Works well for me.
Posted 4/28/2014 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
So, today was the first day I took all four pills.  Of course, will have to see it if works better for me but do most folks split it up?  Two in the AM and two in the PM?  I did go already after I got to work and am pretty crampy/tender right now with a nice little head ache going on.

Does it take a couple of weeks to start seeing a change?

Posted 4/28/2014 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
It took about a week for me. I also split them in two doses when I was on 4. Now that I take two I take them in the morning.
Posted 4/28/2014 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am one of the few for whom other 5-ASA's work well, but Lialda did not. Others seem to have pretty good luck with Lialda though.

There are previous posts regarding when or how to take four pills; if I recall most people were taking the drug as prescribed, which is to take all four pills with a large breakfast. Since Lialda is time-released, the thought went, there would be no reason to space out your intake. But, I know that at least a couple of people are splitting their dosage between the morning and evening. I have no idea if it matters to the effectiveness.
Posted 4/28/2014 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was just diagnosed and Lialda is the first med I've been on. The first few days on I was crampy and felt like I had REALLY bad gas, but never passed any. My body must have adjusted and I no longer have that side effect. Sometimes a little nauseous, but nothing untolerable. I take all four in the morning after breakfast.
Posted 4/28/2014 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was just diagnosed and Lialda is the first med I've been on. The first few days on I was crampy and felt like I had REALLY bad gas, but never passed any. My body must have adjusted and I no longer have that side effect. Sometimes a little nauseous, but nothing untolerable. I take all four in the morning after breakfast.
Posted 4/28/2014 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Rustie;

WOW!  Today is kicking my butt.  I took all four today before coming to work and doc didn't say to take on empty stomach, etc.  I am VERY crampy, headache...feel pretty miserable.  Yesterday, I was much better.  HMM?! 

Posted 4/28/2014 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Tammy...I just wondered why you did you not split them up, 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, as three people suggested?....just curious? confused :-)
Posted 4/28/2014 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
When I took 2 in AM/PM, I had trouble sleeping and an odd leg-pain at night. I switched to 3 all in AM, and have been fine for almost 4 years.
Posted 4/28/2014 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
I see........we are all different I guess! smilewinkgrin
Posted 4/29/2014 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Poppie....just thought I would try it one day.  Just been taking them as a full dose since Sat.  I am going to be one of the other folks in the small group that just splits them up.  2 in the am and 2 in the pm.

So, I am seeing a little change in the um, (TMI HERE) blood in the watery stool so guess something is working.  It is still there but not like it was with Asacol, hence, everyone is different. 

Guess this is to finally calm down the colon and reduce the number of times you go????  Will it as well um, start "firming' it up too.  Get soo tired of having the tender feeling above or below my belly button and it stays with you all day.  Then there's those backaches.  SIGH!  sad

Posted 4/29/2014 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
You want to firm up more overload on some fiber.
Posted 4/29/2014 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
So, what should I be eating.  I eat mac and cheese, applesauce, a little bread, Activia, eggs, rice. 

What do you suggest.  Maybe I am not eating right so that's why I am so soupy.  LOL 

Posted 4/29/2014 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
What are your current symptoms? Cheese can be bad for UC'rs especially certain kinds. Activia would probably help some and make some worse. There really aren't things you should be eating, only things you should not be eating, and those are different for everyone.
Posted 4/30/2014 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
Activia is a big scam, you can read everywhere about it :)
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