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Balsalazide (Colazol) question

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/2/2016 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
How long did it take you to see results from using this medication? I currently have mild UC and my symptoms aren't going anywhere. They aren't out of control and almost no urgency from enema use but my stool is all D.
I just want normal remission. Has Balsalazide put anyone into remission?
Posted 1/2/2016 6:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Martinco
I have been on Balsalazide for years now and it has never put me into remission. It is just a maintenance drug which certainly help maintain remission in milder cases of u/c. My next best help to maintain and fix remission is salofalk foam enemas, which are good for left sided uc. They have helped a great deal, unfortunately, as the disease progresses, you have to move up the drug regime and I have just had my first remicade - also starting azathioprine. Stress and a NSAID have triggered the worst bout of my life with no sign of remission. The main thing is take uc very very seriously and try to get and maintain remission. Diet also important of course.
Good luck Catherine UK
Posted 1/2/2016 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, some have reached and staid in remission for a decade or more on Balsalazide (Colazol) or other mesalamines (asacol, lialda, pentasa). However, every case of uc is different in severity and what will work for given individual. lt should work within 3-4 weeks. If you're not seeing improvements by then with the max dose and nightly rowasa enemas then it's time to move up the medication ladder, next stop immunomodulators (Imuran, 6mp, aza). Some of us can sustain remission on the teir I mild anti-inflammatory medications, others need the teir II immunomodulators, others (like me) need teir III biologics.
Posted 1/2/2016 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Balsalazide by itself did not get me into remission but then no RX meds did. For me it took diet modification to do that and yes I took Balsalazide during that time. Did it help? It didn't hurt.

If you are still having D (I use that term to describe the liquidy quality of poop) and have been on it for several months then you need to change something. I don't use the word "diarrhea" if you have multiple BM's that are solid, I call that IBS due to trigger foods in my case.

FWIW diet mod. made my poop solid not liquid and dairy turned out to be a major cause of that, also fructose which is in fruit and honey. I love SCD yogurt but gut did not tolerate it even today in remission.
Posted 1/2/2016 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on it two and a half weeks. I'll probably give it another 2.
Thanks guys for all the input.
I'm reluctant to take the next tier of meds but will if necessary
Posted 1/2/2016 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
What is FWIW?
Posted 1/2/2016 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
FWIW=for what it's worth

meaning it's my opinion and may not apply to you
Posted 1/2/2016 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I tried Balsalazide as I was led to believe it was better for left sided colitis. It didn't help me one bit. In fact it made my symptoms worse with bloody liquid diarrhea. I took it for about 3 weeks. When I Went back on lialda the bloody d stopped in 2-3 days. I have also tried Pentasa and had the same reaction so will stick with Lialda.

Everyone is an individual though. Have you tried any of the other mesalazines?
Posted 1/2/2016 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Colazal for 10 years. For the most part it has worked very well for me. I have pancolitis. When I first went on it, I had relief within about 5 days. I have flared several times on and off while taking Colazal for maintenance and had a period of 7 years remission while on it. It doesn't do anything for my rectum though. I take rectals daily for that.
Posted 1/3/2016 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you rockergirl

Your regiment sounds like mine.
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