Mesalamine for Crohn's Disease User Reviews

• Doi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 5, 2017

Mesalamine "Ok, not enough room on this review to put up my full history. So will be brief. :) So far, I tried Asacol and Humira, and both did nothing for me. Now I am on Lialda twice a day, 1.2 GM tablets. And these are working great. No cramps and limiting me now to about 2 - 3 bowel movements a day. And no bloody stools, unlike my past (10 years diagnosis). I have also changed my diet to a Mediterranean diet with little to no red meat. Mainly chicken and fish for my sources of protein. No deep-fried foods. And has worked out great. Also, for veggies/greens etc., skip out on any gas-producing veggies (broccoli and onions, for example). And taking vitamins/iron supplements daily to keep those well maintained."

• 7ye...
• October 22, 2013

Mesalamine "Diagnosed in 2006 with severe Crohn's disease. Tried a dozen medications and never had any success or even close to finding remission. Consistent pain, diarrhea, nausea, etc.... started Lialda 1.2 GM once daily 4 days ago. My pain, nausea, and everything stopped within a few hours of the first dose except diarrhea, it's actually gotten worse and completely watery. Is this normal, and if so, how long does it typically last? I am SO happy to be 100% pain-free for the first time in 7 years without having to use a painkiller, just want the diarrhea to stop so I can be more active outside of the home with my children."

• Ric...
• July 6, 2015

Mesalamine "I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when I was 27 years old. I'm now 54. I've been through 2 fistula removals and many nights awakened with extreme rectal spasms. No fun! Extreme weight loss and fatigue. My doctor put me on Asacol 400 mg (2 in the morning and 2 at night). Turned my life around. The doctor told me I needed to stay on the medicine for the rest of my life. I felt great, put weight back on, and then I did a stupid thing. I decided to stop taking it. Was doing fine for the past 5 years, but it's back. Weight loss and all other symptoms: cramping, loss of appetite, etc. If Asacol is working for you, stay on it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 25, 2019

"Mesalamine was great for me. I could finally stop taking more aggressive treatments such as Humira or steroids. I like it because it has worked wonders. Been taking it for a year now, feel better than ever. I have not had any side effects. I feel like I can put Crohn's in the back of my mind now. Hopefully for a while at least. Hope everyone reading this finds a treatment that works."

• aja...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 20, 2014

Mesalamine "The only reason I gave Pentasa a '9' rating instead of a '10' is due to my having to remember to take 8 capsules a day. This medication has allowed me to live a normal life again...no more excruciating gut pain and no more daily diarrhea. I can actually eat at restaurants now, without worrying when the pain and diarrhea will hit me. I have had no side effects from Pentasa. It has given my life back to me."

• Urs...
• November 4, 2017

Mesalamine "Diagnosed with Crohn’s after routine colonoscopy 5/2017 and was started on Lialda. No symptoms of Crohn’s other than the discovery of ulcers during colonoscopy. Now having hair loss at temples and fear it will continue and/or get worse. Plus it’s not covered by my insurance and costs over $230.00 a month. My GI says if I don’t take it, I risk getting colon cancer. I was basically told it’s better to be broke and bald than to have colon cancer. I think there has to be another answer?"

• CKi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2017

Mesalamine "I started taking Apriso after being diagnosed with Crohn's in August 2017. My gastro doctor started me out on the ER capsules in the morning. I didn't really notice many side effects at first. I actually felt better than I've felt in years. Crohn's symptoms are almost completely gone, however, I still have a bad day every now and then. A few weeks in, I'm having horrible pounding headaches, dizzy when I stand from sitting, heartburn, excessive sweating, dry mouth, nausea, food tastes metallic, and loss of appetite. I'm afraid if I stop this medication, all the Crohn's issues will return. I would rate it a 5 because the med works if you can tolerate the side effects."

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2015

Mesalamine "Within the first 20 minutes of taking this medication, I started feeling dizzy, disoriented, my mouth had gotten numb. Within 45 minutes, I went into full anaphylactic shock and was taken to the ER. So, unfortunately, this isn't for me. I just had my 3rd colonoscopy and actually now have severe Crohn's. Getting ready to start Remicade. I'm nervous, but hopefully, this will rid the pain and suffering I've been going through."

• Pau...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 26, 2013

Mesalamine "I have been on Asacol for 7 years and have only minor flare-ups. I have had 3 'flares' in 7 years, so I am a fan of Asacol. I take the max dose of 12 per day. I also have colitis. Thanks to insurance, my cost is ONLY $200 a month."

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2015

Mesalamine "I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease about a month ago, and I am 15 years old. I take 400 mg of Pentasa 3x daily along with other pills to stop inflammation. So far, it's been working great. I still get abdominal pain occasionally, which is a lot better than it used to be."

• Ban...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 23, 2018

Mesalamine "I feel that this medication is of big help to me. I have had Crohn's since 2004. I have good days and bad days, more good than bad. I cannot take any of the new treatments because I have two autoimmune disorders. And I feel the risk is too high of bad side effects. I control my Crohn's with my diet and other OTC meds that help me deal with Crohn's better. The only problem I have is weight gain. I cannot gain weight. Other than that, I can live with it!"

• Anonymous
• December 4, 2019

"Diagnosed with colitis in 1984, I'm 61 now, had remission. I'm taking Lialda and it's working. Diet is very important for me. Not having fast foods, greasy foods, deep-fried foods, and spicy foods. My main issue is stress."

• Cro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2019

"Horrible reactions from three separate drugs with mesalamine in them, much worse than Crohn's flare-ups - Asacol, Pentasa, and I can't remember the other. Vomiting, diarrhea, I became so weak I couldn't hold down food or liquids. While I went through the various treatments (drug changes), I had to be hospitalized off and on, and eventually, I had to go on disability. Once I was off those drugs and with the help of steroids, I became better."

• Cro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2013

Mesalamine "I had Crohn's with a resection 30 years ago and have been mostly in remission since. I have recently had a bad flare and narrowing at the anastomosis and need to be on medication, but haven't found one that I can handle. Asacol gave me such serious body aching and fatigue that I could not function. Pentasa immediately gave me heart palpitations and arrhythmias, so I had to discontinue it."

• Boy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 20, 2017

Mesalamine "71 y/o male, been on Apriso for 17 months. Was on Asacol, PRN, since 1st dx of 'Crohn's colitis' in '03, refined to Crohn's, with stricture @ splenic flexure (caecum) in 2013. In June, drove 4000+ miles without a butt cushion and have exacerbated hemorrhoids with minor bleeding X3 mos. Saw anesthesia yesterday, and ECG looked better than 40 years ago, but worried about H&H (rectal bleeding), liver and kidney enzymes (long-term NSAIDs) and C-reactive protein (indicative of autoimmune antecedents). If labs are OK, will go next week for UGI endo (1st time), and bottom peek, with possible repair of hemis. My Apriso co-pay went from $47 to $169/mo. (donut hole), and I wonder if we might switch back to Asacol?"

• sew...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2014

Mesalamine "I had surgery removing 6' of my small intestines. In Dec. 2013, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I have been taking Pentasa for about 3 months, since Jan. 2014. It has really helped me, but I am losing handfuls of hair every day. I am also having dizzy spells. The hardest side effect to deal with is, every time I have a bowel movement, I have terrible itching inside my rectum. Otherwise, I haven't noticed any other side effects yet."

• Ttr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 17, 2018

Mesalamine "Been taking this for 23 years - was doing quite well for a long time 4-6 x 400 mg daily. No longer working - had bowel perforation and chronic pains in large bowel and caecum. I've been on and off steroids for a year, so trying azathioprine next week. Bloods returned anaemic, low B12, so having injections. Also low TPMT - heterozygous (patients with low activity of TPMT are at a heightened risk of drug-induced bone marrow toxicity due to accumulation of the unmetabolized drug), so can only take low dose of aza. It is important to get checked for this before you start azathioprine. Let’s hope it works!! Sick of being sick and struggling to work."

• Haw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2015

Mesalamine "It caused severe cramps, nausea, and more bleeding. I went on a vegan diet with no processed foods and took aloe vera juice, instead, my ulcerative colitis cleared up within a few months."

• Ron...
• October 30, 2014

Mesalamine "Didn't work for me. In fact, it made things worse. Caused bleeding at a time when that was no longer an issue for me."

• sil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2014

Mesalamine "Severe vertigo, sweating, vomiting."

• TRE...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2013

Mesalamine "I have been taking Asacol HD since I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease almost 3 years ago and have had only one flare-up. This works great for me!"

• TJ0...
• April 18, 2014

Mesalamine "Within one month of starting on Pentasa, all my Crohn's symptoms have been completely in remission and have remained so going on 5 years now."

• nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2013

Mesalamine "So far, this medicine has slowed down multiple diarrhea problems."

• Anonymous
• April 2, 2012

Mesalamine "I have had good results with this medicine."

• mvi...
• June 20, 2013

Mesalamine "I've had Crohn's since 2006. In 2011, I was put on Pentasa. It works if you take it as prescribed. I do admit I don't take my medications like I'm supposed to, but it does work."