lialda cheap substitutes?

I was diagnosed with chronic UC June 2016, and I've been on lialda since then but recently stopped because of insurance changes. I was wondering if anyone has found any kind of substitute that's doesn't need a prescription? Having more flare-ish BMs and I'm in need of something preferably cheap. been taking aspirin because my mother (former nurse) said it basically has the same ingredients but I'm not entirely sure that's it's having the same effect.

Yikes aspirin isn't the same and can actually make our symptoms much, much worse. Please don't take NSAID pain relievers with a UC diagnosis. Aspirin and mesalamine are sister chemicals but produce very different results (much like you might have a tall red haired sister who's a lawyer, and a short black haired sister who's a brilliant chef; sisters are often extremely different).

I would never recommend stopping your medications as you might flare.

Some options:

1.) A generic oral anti-inflammatory mesalamine is now available within the USA, called Mesalamine DR. I got it for a $10 generic copay. It's made by Zydus Pharmaceuticals out of NJ.

2.) Other generics that are a more complex molecule that is broken down to mesalamine and a byproduct by your gut bacteria:
- Colazal® (generic balsalazide disodium)
- Dipentum® (generic Olsalazine)
- Sulfasalazine a generic

Of that bunch, balsalazide disodium has the most promise. It's inexpensive.

3.) You can order medications from Canada as well. Waay cheaper there. Lots of threads here about how, use search.