Mesalamine enema side effects

Hello,

I'm a new member here. I was diagnosed with mild-moderate proctosigmoiditis 3 weeks ago and I am still learning the ropes living with a UC flare. I am finding it hard to deal with this alone since my close friends and family don't seem to understand what I'm going through (they are being sympathetic but I just need the support of people who understand!). I'd really appreciate your input.

I was prescribed Salofalk 4g enema once daily at bedtime. Since I started this 3 weeks ago, I have seen a great improvement in my GI symptoms (no more blood, less urgency, diarrhea only once or twice a day, the occasional normal stool) but there is still a great deal of mucus everytime I go to the bathroom.

I have some questions though, since it is very difficult to get tin touch with my new GI and I was told very little at the time of my diagnosis.

Every few days since I started treatment, I have felt, joint pain and muscle pain. Today for instance my neck was so stiff at work that I couldn't turn my head and my wrists and lower back were aching. I also feel flushed and tired. I do not have a fever. It feels like I have the flu but then the next day I'm fine. I get out of breath more easily than I used to, but I'm not sure if that is just because I haven't been able to exercise for a month due to the flare... My question is, could this be due to the mesalamine enema? I have read about systemic side effects like these with oral medications, but it just seems unlikely that an enema would cause this. My follow up with the GI is in 4 weeks so I'm not sure what to do in the meantime.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Not sure how typical those are of 5-ASA enemas, but they all sound like common extra-intestinal symptoms of UC. The important questions are: 1) How long before diagnosis did you have the common UC symptoms 2) Did these extra-intestinal symptoms only occur after starting the enemas? 3) What other drugs are you taking?

Thank you for your replies so far! It is so nice to have support. I will share some more details now to add to my original post.

@malaika - I hope I am not allergic, but thank you for sharing your experience as it gives me more information to work with.

@Marauder93 - To answer your questions:

1. I had GI symptoms (only) for 6 weeks prior to diagnosis.
2. The extra-intestinal symptoms (joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue and feverish feeling - but no actual fever) started only after commencing treatment with Salofalk 4g enemas once daily. I started them about 3 weeks ago, on the day of my diagnosis. The flu-like episodes have happened 3 times, on 3 days. They seem to come and go intermittently. when it hits, it feels like I've been run over by a truck. The Salofalk seemed to be helping a bit before, but then today I still had a lot of gurgling in my tummy and I had diarrhea multiple times (but less urgency though, and no more incontinence).
3. Other drugs, taken since 2002: paroxetine 10mg daily (anxiety), clonazepam 0.5mg daily if needed (anxiety), Alesse 28 (birth control). I take ibuprofen when I have migraines.

I feel like I am low on energy and I get out of breath easily (going up a flight of stairs), while I used to run 5km a day without a problem just 2 months ago. I know this could be due to the UC, but these things have started only since my diagnosis (and the start of treatment). In the 6 weeks leading up to the first hospital visit, I only had GI symptoms. Maybe it is just a coincidence and I am just in the middle of the flare now despite the enemas...?

I appreciate any ideas or input. Thank you! :)

salicylate sensitivity is a possibility, much much likely that extra-intestinal UC, which in turn is much less likely than physical consequences of stress and anxiety of dealing whit chronic disease.

IF you need pain relief try tylenol, or if you need an NSAID, use one of the cox-2 specific like Celebrex to avoid hurting your gut.

The mucus is likely originating higher up than the enemas reach. An oral med could be good insurance against the spread of UC.

good luck