HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

How do you determine Lialda dosing?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/12/2011 5:02 PM (GMT -5)
So I'm still having trouble with my GI doc.  I have an appt in a week, and then an appt with my Primary a few days later.  If this next appt does not goes well and I am going to get another referral for a GI. 

Anyhow, my questions is about dosing for Lialda.  Are you the one determining what dose you should be on?  My GI originally had me on 2 Lialda, then upped me to 4 a day.  Then he took me back down to 2  and I started getting really really sick again.  So when the office didn't return my phone call about taking 4 pills again, I just started doing it.  It's been about a week and I'm feeling much better.

I know I don't know as much as the GI, but everything that I have done with the meds has made me feel good.  The GI keeps wanting to pull me off the meds, which  makes me sick again.  Are you guys telling your Drs what meds you want to be on and how much of them? 

Posted 7/12/2011 5:53 PM (GMT -5)
BeachGirl, that sounds like a very frustrating situation. What does your GI want you to use for maintenance? When I was put on Asacol, I was started at 9 pills a day (equlivant to 3 Lialda), I think this was based on the fact that I was having moderate to severe symptoms. I am surprised she didn't start me on 12 to be honest. If your symptoms were very mild, you may do well on less pills or even on enemas or suppositories alone. I have tried to decrease the dose but ultimately, my symptoms always returned. I think that is when I realized 8 or 9 pills a day is my dose. I switched GIs and the new one asked me what I was taking and I said 9 so she wrote the script for 9. I now take 6mp and I would like to get off Asacol entirely but I am scared it will cause me to flare so I haven't. Have you ever tried 3 pills to see how you do?
Posted 7/12/2011 8:48 PM (GMT -5)
I did try 3, but haven't found the same relief as with 4. I don't fell 100% but soooo much better than when I was just taking 2.
Posted 7/13/2011 3:28 AM (GMT -5)
if you aren't getting negative side effects from having 4, i would just continue taking them if they are keeping your symptoms under control. In my opinion the only drug i've had that gave side effects that wasnt worth taking was prednisolone
Posted 7/14/2011 12:24 PM (GMT -5)
Is Lialda based on weight at all? My son has been on it for 2 years now. He had almost 2 years of remission on it (with Azasan). His remission dosage is 2 pills per day and his flare dosage is 4 per day.

He weighs at least 190 lbs. now (he's over 6'3" tall) and I'm wondering if his maintenance dose should be higher than when he was first rx'd it at just under 160 lbs.?

Should this medicine be based on weight?

Thanks
Posted 7/14/2011 3:12 PM (GMT -5)
I have been on Lialda for two years. I originally started on 4 when I was at my worst. After one year my doctor said we could try to go down to 2. I did a little before the one year mark so I could discuss how I felt when I went in to see him again. I did wonderful on 2 until I ended up having a flare about a month later so maybe not so good for me. I've been put on pred twice during flares. My last flare didn't seem to get better so I did the rowasa enemas that everyone on here praises. I have been flare free now for almost a month and I have been maintaining with 2 lialda and enemas every 3rd day or so. I would be thrilled if this would continue for the rest of my life.
Posted 7/14/2011 6:10 PM (GMT -5)
My gi said i have to be on 4 the rest of my life. We tried 2 and it wasnt working.
Posted 7/14/2011 6:22 PM (GMT -5)
I have been on 4 since I started Lialda several years ago.
I have tried going down to 2 but it doesnt hold me so I stay on 4 and alternate days of Rowasa.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply