Lialda Qs

does Lialda do anything for severe UC
when I was originally diagnosed they gave me max dose Lialda and prednisone
two days after diagnosis i was hospitalized because I was getting really bad
they gave me very high doses of IV steroids (100 mg every 6 hours), electrolytes and nutrients they discontinued Lialda because they said there was no point because i was in such bad shape
after a week at that hospital they transferred me out to a very good hospital that has an excellent IBD team, where i started imuran and remicade
now that i am tapering my steriods and I am much much better would taking Lialda help?
or completely unnecessary with remicade and imuran

Lialda (active ingredient meslamine) is an anti-inflammatory medication, it always has an affect but it needs to be a strong enough of an effect for you to notice a change within your uc symptoms. It can do something yet not improvement your symptoms in a noticeable way. Meslamine is a pretty weak medication, compared to immunosuppressive medications (Imuran, aza, 6mp), and biologics (remicade, humira). Like comparing a squirt gun to a firehouse in strength when trying to extinguish a fire. As such, meslamine is often discontinued once getting on biologics.

Can meslamine still have a noticeable affect on patients with severe uc? Yes, I still use rowasa (meslamine) enemas for occasional light rectum inflammation and it works quite fast despite myself being on remicade.

I am tapering down on medrol instead of prednisone as the prednisone was giving me severe anxiety
I am not in remission at all but I am wondering if there is even a point to taking the lialda
I am ok imuran and I'm getting a higher dose soon but they just need to monitor my reaction to the drug
I am also on 10mg / kg of remicade every 8 weeks and they may do it every 6 weeks if needed

I'd stay on the lialda until the higher dose of imuran kicks in, and higher dose of remi if you go that route. I quit lialda after 10 months of remicade, per doctor's advice.

"foolish" in above comments was a bit of overstatement. many patients discontinue oral-5asa after transition to Biologic. But it could help. So it might not make sense not to use the extra med since you are not in remission - but maybe the other drugs just need more time and will work on their own.

If you were currently on Lialda, I would say stay. Since you are not on it, it may be 50/50 if your GI wants to prescribe. Imuran and Remicade should do the job.

Since Lialda/5-asa is generally very safe, and since the reason you discontinued was not because of a suspected intolerance, it could possibly help with little downside. Also, the more controlled you get, the better Lialda has a chance of working (it needs time in your gut). But it is potentially expensive. Nowhere near the cost of remicade, but it is name brand.

You might just research and introduce some anti-inflammatory foods. That might do as well as oral 5-asa, considering you are on the other two drugs.

Good luck