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Posted 9/20/2016 10:49 PM (GMT -5)
Gosh it's been forever since I've been on an online forum.

I was diagnosed last month with ulcerative colitis and was started on Canasa. Within a week I had a very bad reaction (it built up over that week) and was rushed to hospital. My GI prescribed me mesalamine enemas instead which I've just started tonight.

I'm sorta stuck with my doctor because of my insurance situation and it takes 3-5 days to get calls returned from her office so simple questions take forever to get answers to. I was told there is no likelihood of the same reactions with this medication (generic, some P-name it's on the floor if I need to know it but sorta trying to keep this medication in right now). shakehead but still I'm worried even with trusting the doc.

My husband is freaked out that ill have a similar reaction and honestly I am a bit too so any experience going from Canasa to enemas would be appreciated!
Posted 9/20/2016 11:15 PM (GMT -5)
I have not had the same experience as you but presumably you were started on mesalamine enemas because the Canasa to which you had a reaction was oral medication. If that is the case, then you are less likely to have a reaction to the enemas because they are a topical treatment and therefore less systemic absorption of the drug.
Posted 9/20/2016 11:46 PM (GMT -5)
Sorry for the confusion, I didn't realize Canasa was also oral. I was taking suppositories overnight and waking hours later just feeling off. The last night I took it I woke up all tingly, feeling like my heart wasnt beating and unable to breathe.
Posted 9/21/2016 6:52 AM (GMT -5)
I think you have a legitimate concern that mesalamine enemas will cause a similar bad reaction as Canasa supps did. But it is very hard to know whether it's the active ingredient causing the reaction (mesalamine IOW) or the binder or the preservative.

Your breathing and heart problems would make me quit but because this is such a valuable med it's worth a little detective work to find out exactly what is causing the problem. There is a sulfite-free mesalamine enema called Rowasa-sf, worth a try if your insurance will pay for it.
Posted 9/21/2016 6:56 AM (GMT -5)
well i'm confused - didn't know canasa was offered as an oral -

either way, canasa is mesalamine - so supps or enema, it's all the same stuff -
Posted 9/21/2016 7:25 AM (GMT -5)
When you were in the hospital, what did they identify your reaction as? Did they diagnose it?

Mesalamine has reported side effects of heart inflammation, and also some respiratory reactions. They're rare, but can happen.

Cardiovascular
Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension, vasodilation,
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pericarditis, myocarditis, pericardial effusion, tachycardia, hypotension
Frequency not reported: Chest pain, T-wave abnormalities, Kawasaki-like syndrome

Respiratory
Very common (10% or more): Nasopharyngitis (up to 15%)
Common (1% to 10%): Upper respiratory tract infection, influenza like symptoms, rhinitis, cold/sore throat
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergic and fibrotic lung reactions, dyspnea, cough, bronchospasm, pleural effusion, alveolitis, pulmonary eosinophilia, lung infiltration, pneumonitis, pharyngolaryngeal pain
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Eosinophilic pneumonia
Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (including interstitial pneumonitis, allergic alveolitis, eosinophilic pneumonitis, stuffy head, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiolitis obliterans, sinusitis
Postmarketing reports: Fibrosing alveolitis, asthma exacerbation, pleuritis, bronchitis
/www.drugs.com/sfx/mesalamine-side-effects.html#refs
Posted 9/21/2016 2:00 PM (GMT -5)
Hi, Im surprised you had a bad reaction to the Canasa. But if it is from the Canasa, then its a real thing and be careful.

I was started on Mesalamine/Delzicol first. Same ingredients as the canasa but you swallow the pills. They are wrapped in this plastic coating stuff which I didnt like, nor did my liver lol. But then I read about the Canasa and asked my doc to prescribe it for me. The bleeding stopped in 3 days after I first took it!
So Im responding so u have more information.

Did u get the oral pills too? Mesalamine/Delzicol?
Did u read the paper that comes with the Canasa and see what are the allergic reactions to it?
If you need an enema, there may be another reason. You werent going to the bathroom? Or something else I dont know about..

Best!
It seems "normal" to try to figure out medications. We are all different
Posted 9/21/2016 8:24 PM (GMT -5)
No oral pills. Just prescribed the suppositories, which I had to fight with my insurance to cover ($1100/month!). I took them for five days and was told I was having 'an allergic reaction' which was forwarded to my doctor who told me to stop the supps and she'd get me a new medication. A week later (after pulling strings again with insurance, which wouldn't cover the initial script which I believe was Rowasa) I finally get these mesalamine enemas.

Within a half-hour last night I had a reaction, not a major one but enough that I'm not taking it again until I hear back from my doctor. You know when you hold your breath and force all the blood to rush to your head? We did it a lot as children to make our faces red, well that's how I felt about 30-40 minutes after taking the enema. I didn't keep it it in any longer than that and put in a call to the nurse and no return call all day.

I have appts with my PC and Endo tomorrow so I'm bringing it up to both of them as my GI doc apparently is too busy to concern herself.
Posted 9/21/2016 8:33 PM (GMT -5)
Newdawn I did read the inserts, I read everything. That's part of the reason I didn't pay a lot if attention to the first time I had a reaction because I do also have anxiety and was t sure if it was actually happening or mentally happening, you know what I mean? But that last night I knew I wasn't imagining being unable to breath or being tingly, especially since I woke up that way not something I just sat around and ended up with.

The hospital initially said it was a panic attack even though it felt nothing like one. Tachycardia, syncope, heaviness in chest/inability to take a full breath, numbness and tingling body-wide, it was scary. The day after I felt amazing though, better than I had the previous five days altogether. They told me all the symptoms would resolve quickly if I discontinued the mesalamine and they were right which is why I don't understand being prescribed it again. I assumed because they were different, maybe Canasa was absorbed more?, or that this enema was more topical.

I'm really upset with my GI. Their whole office works more like a ma nine and less like how I'd expect doctors to work.
Posted 9/22/2016 12:49 PM (GMT -5)
first find out how far your colitis is from your doctor. Seems like only in last part as she prescribed only rectal medication.

Mesalamine is the first line of medication for UC. They come in oral form(Delzicol, Lialda etc..) enema form(Rowasa/or generic) and suppository(Canasas /and no canasas does not come in oral form).

If you can not take mesalamine, ask for steroid enema or suppository but if you can tolerate mesalamine, they are the safest of all UC medication.

Hope you get in remission soon.
Posted 9/22/2016 2:32 PM (GMT -5)
Awe. Sorry to hear of your troubles. :(
Maybe a reaction to the enema meds? Its like we have to be a detective, esp at first, to figure out our bodies and what meds work.
I totally understand the anxiety, its a big deal what you're (we all) are going thru. And I think initially, getting it under control, or just the beginning to see what meds u (we) can tolerate, is a big part of it. Its a big mess and it might be a mess in the healing process. You know what I mean?
Dont feel bad for being anxious. Its a big deal. Youre probably doing fine considering!!

I hear you about getting in touch w the doc. Last time i went in he walked out the room before I was done talking. It was major. I started crying.
But for you/us I would try calling the nurse. Or ask for the medical assistant. It stinks but they can give a note to the doctor. Or sometimes they have the knowledge to help.

Lastly, going to the ER might be an option. (Yes it takes along time when there bring drinks lol) I went a few times. Once the Er Doc called the GI doc, because she didn't know anything about GI. That helped me alot tho because they prescribed another med for me to try, Budesonide. Which is prednisone for the belly, so I hear.

best!
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