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switching meds right away or waiting

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted Yesterday 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I've been having really strange neurological symptoms, including numbing and intense chills/shivering (no cold/flu symptoms at all), lately. Chills started two weeks ago and are intense. Balsalazide was the only medication I was on when it started (I added the mesalamine enemas when I had some flare symptoms). I've been on Balsalazide for 3 years, but I hear you can develop later symptoms and I had neurological symptoms that were mild when first started and then disappeared. My blood work (CBC, ESR, CRP, b12 and complete metabolic panel) are all normal so I wonder if it's medication induced. MRI was normal too. Do you think this can be medication induced since all the tests are normal so far and it's the only one i've been on consistently?

Also, would you go off the Balsalazide first or start another new ASA right away? I get symptoms of stomach pain in particular when I try to go off the medication even in remission.

I'm anxious to mix things up and try something new, but I also can't tolerate these chills/shivering symptoms.

Post Edited (Jane974) : 11/29/2020 8:03:34 PM (GMT-7)

Posted Yesterday 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Have you had any fasting blood sugar tests? I ask as type ii diabetes can cause tingling within the extremeties (we're at higher risk thanks to Pred).

Peripheral neuropathy is infrequently mentioned here, everyone on different meds. You can try switching to a different mesalamine, not sure it'll resolve it though: sulfasalazine, colazal, lialda/mezavant, pentasa, Apriso, delzicol, asacol.
Posted Yesterday 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I haven't had the fasting blood sugar. Just glucose without fasting. That is a good one to ask for.

I may have peripheral neuropathy now...we'll see if switching helps solve this issue. Hope it doesn't cause a flare yikes.
Posted Yesterday 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
You could be allergic to 1 of the fillers, either in Balsalazide or the mesalamine enemas. Sulfites in the latter bother a good number of UCers per past member reports here. Some have found relief by switching to SF Rowasa. I tend to get chills with allergic reactions, even to pollen or dust. Chills seem to be more common reactions in IBD, but numbness less likely on 5-ASA meds. / Old Hat (40 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking Colazal)
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