Canasa Crisis

I think I just have to make a tough decision on my own but I wouldn't mind some words of experience regarding Canasa suppositories. I had been in a very minor flare for weeks (still 1 - 2 mostly solid bm's per day but feeling irritation) before deciding to have a colonoscopy. At colonoscopy the doctor found some inflammation exclusively in the rectal area and hemorrhaging at the submucosal level, so we're talking about very small amounts of blood.
So I was prescribed canasa, to treat it. I am not gonna get into it much, except to say I have generally chosen a path of no drugs to treat my colitis, but I thought I would give the Canasa a try since the treatment would be localized. Now I need to decide whether to stop the treatment or not.

I have taken the Canasa for 3 nights and while there is a soothing feeling in my gut in the morning that I found encouraging, my condition is quickly deteriorating. I was able to hold the suppository first 2 nights, but didn't make it past half way thru tonight. Meanwhile my bm's are increasing to 3 and 4 and becoming more and more liquid. Is there any logic to continuing the Canasa???

I am sure not an expert, but my thought is that Canasa is local to the rectum and your bm is formed up higher and I don't think it affects that. If your butt feels better then Canasa is doing its job and just maybe the colonoscopy prep irritated you. ? Idk but just keep using them if your rectum is healing.

You're not giving the canasa anywhere a chance....so stay on them for at least a few weeks.

Your butt...your decision to go sans meds. It's not a valuable option when one has UC from my perspective.

q

Hi- Just wanted to share my experience with Canasa. I know we are all different, and you may not have the same response. I started Canasa for the 1st time about 3 months ago after a flare kicked in. I had a long period of remission lasting many years prior to that. I started with daily bleeding. After the colonoscopy, I started on Canasa. A few days later, the urgency/frequency and cramping kicked in and soon I was in the bathroom 5x every morning. Miserable.I kept up with the Canasa, because I think I was flaring anyway, and it just seemed worse after the colonoscopy. It made sense to me that clearing out your colon and having a colonoscopy would aggravate an already inflamed area. I didn't blame the Canasa for the worsening symptoms.I didn't want to take oral meds if I didn't have to. Honestly, it took 3 weeks to a month before the urgency/frequency scaled back. But the bleeding stopped fairly quickly 1 week-10 days it was nearly gone.

I am now "normal" and not bleeding or urgency/frequency.My GI said I could consider stopping my nightly Canasa. Not sure what will happen when I do. It really has helped me. I hope it works for you, too. PS- My GI permitted me to take a few immodium a day, which I did for the first month. It helped me function at work. Not sure if that's an option for you. You might want to ask your GI.Good Luck!

I've been on remicade since 2009 but in the last 18 months have had rectal inflammation. I've used canasa off and on and definitely feel better and can tell a difference when I'm using it consistently. No more tenesmus or intense rectal pressure. I do feel like I smell like a barn though. 🐂🐖🐄🐓