For those who are mesalamine intolerant...

When I was originally diagnosed, I was put on Asacol. I lost my insurance so I tried Sulfasalazine, found out that I am severely allergic to sulfa. I was put back on Asacol once I got my insurance back and I was on it for about 11 years. It stopped working as did the Rowasa - in fact they made me 100% worse; caused severe abdominal pains, increased painful bm's, increased bleeding etc. I was then place on Colazal which is the Basalazide. I did very well on that until I got a stomach bug and I never rebounded. It worked for me marginally but it didn't keep me out of severe flares. Since I couldn't use Rowasa I was stuck using Cortenema's. After being on Cortenema's for nearly a year (because I would flare when I stopped), the doc placed me on 6mp in addition to the Colazal. When I still couldn't get into remission, the doc added in Remicade. Eventually I dropped the 6mp because it was causing foot neuropathy but I was still on Remicade.

I soon had to stop the Colazal because it was causing the same issues as Asacol. My doc wanted to try Apriso but my insurance wanted to try Pentasa first. I had a very fast and HARD reaction to Pentasa. It was than that my insurance approved my Apriso. I have been on Apriso for about 5 months now and so far *knock on wood*, I have not had any issue.

If you are mesalamine intolerant, the options are extremely limited. There are just not enough meds on the market for people like us. It's steroids, immune suppressors or biologics unfortunately.

Btw, here is a good thread that tells you the differences between the mesalamines and Basalazide: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2968129

Ya Sibby, Ive considered Ldn too but also dont like the lack of research on it! It worked for you though?

Red-34 thanks for that link! I guess the main difference between colazal and sulfasalazine is the antibiotic component?

Is apriso the same thing as Mezavant? Sometimes I wished I lived in the states so we'd all talk the same medication lingo! Lol

Haha. Hey soystud I only just noticed in your siggy that you're med-free, mind sharing your story?

There's some information/research, but some sites have claimed it can get rid of cancer, or prevent it. BS. Nothing shows it does. And even being an user, it makes it question how it can treat a multitude of diseases.
Yes, it has helped me and I may be in remission. But I have yet to have a scope to see for sure that's truly working, or whatever it's doing to me.


But like Nice has said. Nothing. You can be a guinea pig and try a few trials or go to Imuran and biologics. But there isn't much else out there. We didn't get lucky with the 5asa's.

Sibby what makes you think ldn is working? I assume symptoms are better? How long did it take to have benefits? May have to be a guinea pig here. One thing I like about it is it is safe for kids, oregnancy, and breasfeeding. Im in the middle of my child-rearing years so this is important for me.

I find turmeric very useful too! Im not sure my dose is high enough I cant remember now, I should double check.

From my understanding they use to put sulfa in Asacol and took it out in 1997 (I was put on Asacol in 1991 when I first got sick) I remember I was severely allergic to the Asacol and the idiot GI I had at the time told me I was probably allergic to sulfa meds but he never tried me on anything after that except prednisone...the GI I had after him tried me on Imuran and I was non-responsive to it. Apparently Amoxicillin has sulfa in it and I'm not allergic to it (just found out sulfa was in it) so here I though because of idiot GI #1 saying what he said about the Asacol and sulfa I was allergic to sulfa.

Pb4 I didnt know they put sulfa in asacol before. So im confused, you were mesalamine intolerant not sulfa intolerant?

I tried Lialda and consistently puked several times about 5-8 hours after taking it. I also got severe stomach cramps and more D. Tried Delzicol just to see if it was the Lialda coating that I was intolerant of, same result.

So now Im on Pred and Azathioprine.

I haven't flared. However, I may or may not have some inflammation in my rectum. My doc won't do a scope until I have big issues. So I'm not sure how much it has worked.
One of the issues I have is the diet. Going paleo was easy. But cutting out most of my fiber didn't help.
And fiber supplements don't help either.
I have for the last year on-and-off constipation, which usually indicates rectal inflammation. But I wasn't having constipation problems until I started the diet.
Coincidence? I don't know for sure.

I took out all of the wheat products.

True. But before UC I ate a lot of fiber-rich breads. And that was cut way down. I can't look at it without having my tummy go wonky. Fiber supplements don't help either.

I do have some fruits and veggies, but I can't tolerate leafy greens or certain veggies/fruits. I am going to try yams, sweet potatoes soon.