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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/19/2007 1:15 AM (GMT 0)

For those who have been prescribed and taken Lialda, could you please let me know:

(1) If it was effective for you (in the absence of other meds) and the extent of your flare up/how well it was resolved? 

(2) What dosage and how many times a day did you take it? 

(3) At what point did you start seeing results?

(4) If taken for longer term, how well has it kept you in remission?

Lialda has already been approved for the induction of remission in active mild-to-moderate UC and recent studies have now shown it to have some lasting power in maintaining remission. 

I was curious about people's experiences with this med vs. Asacol (as it has a slightly different mechanism of action) as well as dosage questions (Lialda is approved for once-a-day and that is the company's claim to fame, although wanted to see if twice-daily or the higher dose of 4.8 gm vs. 2.4 gm daily made a positive difference for anyone who may have tried this different regimen).

Hopefully, the above information will be useful to many.  Thanks. 

Posted 12/19/2007 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Silver Sky,

I was diagnosed with Pancolitis in March of this year. Started Lialda 2 pills a day and increased to 4 and stayed on 4 since August of this year.

I've had two flares since March. One in August and one in September. The increase to 4 Lialda got me over the flare in August and going on pred while staying on 4 Lialda got me over the second flare. I'm still on 4 Lialda.

I would say that within a couple of days, when I started Lialda in March, my symptoms dramatically improved. I went from 15 or more episodes of diahrea to less than five and eventually to formed bms within that month. Bleeding went away within that week of starting as did cramping and urgency to go.

I am so pleased with Lialda. I love taking them after b'fast in the morning and not having to remember again. I was on omega 3 for triglycerides and typically forgot my evening dose and the doc switched me to a different med taken in the AM one time.

Lialda is supposed to coat the entire colon and not just certain places, as I've read the other 5-ASA's do. I have been in remission since getting off the prednisone on Nov. 26th and still on the four Lialda.

I hope things go as well for you (or better!) as they have for me with Lialda!!
Posted 12/19/2007 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, AlabamaBabs. Thanks for the valuable information.

I think the issue of 2 vs. 4 Lialda is an important one as it seems that 2.4 gm of mesalamine may not be enough for many. The company has to distinguish itself via the one-a-day (therefore 2 pills, 2.4 gm/daily) message, although I thought if the 2.4 gm is marginally effective, that 4.8 gm would help to keep things even more quiet (assuming there aren't terrible side effects). Still, it is an interesting and long-overdue new mechanism to attack the disease process and that I'm sure we'd all welcome.

I only wish you would have told me you saw that improvement with Lialda alone :-) It is so hard to gauge the effectiveness of a medication when one is also taking prednisone, which could easily be responsible for much of the improvement. But, it looks like it did work well for you and that is very encouraging.

Thanks again for your response.
Posted 12/19/2007 7:08 PM (GMT 0)

I have been on 3 lialda for about 1 month now.  I cannot tell you how much it has helped so far because I started 40 pred and rowasa enamas at the same time.

The combination has made me improve, and I see my GI in a few hours to see how to proceed.  Obviously the first med to go will be the pred, so I will have to wait a few months to see if the lialda can sustain remission on it's own.

I'll keep you posted

bluechipguy

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