Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis User Reviews (Page 2)

• tessa
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2020

Salofalk (mesalamine) "I got UC 3 years after quitting smoking at age 70. As I was always healthy before, I was rather dismayed to be told I have ulcerative colitis. I take the enema and find it difficult to use as well as a nuisance. I do not "go" as often and there is no more blood, but I am tired, have headaches, bloating, flatulence, and cramps---to the extent that I now get very little sleep. Before , my symptoms were in the morning. Now, I feel urgency to go all day---as well as most nights. Won't say I'm sorry I quit smoking. I'll just say I'm glad I smoked as long as I did. Hope others have better experiences with this drug."

• Lee
• August 28, 2019

Apriso (mesalamine) "I was diagnosed with UC after lots of fluids when passing gas, loose stools including blood, and bowel incontinence. Within 6 months I was in remission and could stop wearing incontinence pants. I'm thrilled!"

• Lorelei
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 6, 2017

Lialda (mesalamine) "After years of being told I had IBS-D and it was all in my head, I was finally diagnosed as having UC. I was so sick at that point I was considering going on disability. After two weeks of Lialda, I started to improve and soon could live somewhat of a normal life, although with a very restricted diet. A routine blood test 11 months later showed that my kidneys had been damaged by this anti-inflammatory. I got off Lialda immediately but four months later my creatinine level is still too high. I never had any kidney trouble before taking Lialda."

• Kimber
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2018

Apriso (mesalamine) "I’m so happy with the results of this drug. I don’t have too worry about sitting on the toilet all day. I was diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) for years until I finally got the right dr. Although I still have the symptoms from time to time, nothing like the years before. I recommend this drug to anyone who suffers from any type of inflammatory bowel disease."

• MyNun...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 7, 2024

"I have had UC for 24 years. I have been on Lialda (mesalamine) for 10 years. Ten beautiful remission years. Sadly, the hormone fluctuations of menopause have brought on a flare (Mayo score 3 spontaneous bleeding) & my doc is moving me off of Lialda onto Entyvio infusions. Up until now, I had a great experience with Lialda. Perfect colonoscopies 2-3 years apart. The only side effect I had, and ONLY if I took it irregularly, was a headache. If you miss a day or two, a headache will remind you to take it. My kidney numbers have always been fine, and I even take 2 other drugs (Allegra & Wellbutrin). I could take it with or without food. You can take it any time of day. Honestly, the hardest part of taking Lialda was the size of the horse pill. CVS makes a capsule form I just found out! They are much smaller & easier to swallow. I would recommend this drug & I'm sad I have to move to something stronger. It kept me out of the hospital. I pray some day I can go back to mesalamine."

• Mille...
• August 27, 2016

Salofalk (mesalamine) "After being on an obscene amount of prednisone without working, I switched GI's and he prescribed me Salofalk. When I know a flare is coming, I can take a few salofalks over the course of a few days and things usually clear up. Was a life saver!"

• Fred...
• October 15, 2016

Apriso (mesalamine) "Developed UC at age 44. After being on Asacol for years with no further flare ups, due to insurance coverage was forced to change every few years. Presently been on Apriso for about 6 months. Apriso seems to do its job although I do seem to have softer stool now. DR said to expect that with some meds. Only complaint is the quantity of capsules. I need to take four 375mg capsule (kind of big overall size) once per day. Does its job, what more can I say except I wish price was better."

• jerz
• April 18, 2012

Apriso (mesalamine) "I was told February 2011 that I had ulcerative colitis from the top to the bottom. I was put on 40 mg of prednisone and Asacol 400mg 4 tablets 3 rimes a day. It took about six months to clear up. I stopped taking it about 4 months ago and now I am in a mess with pain. Dr put me back on the same thing and in 3 days I am so much better as far as pain goes, still have stomach being upset. But I will never again stop taking this."

• Flori...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2016

Apriso (mesalamine) "I had been on Asacol HD until my insurance Cigna stopped covering it. I had been okay, but had to watch what I ate and often has loose bowel movements. First night after taking Apriso was terrifying. I felt like all my muscles were numb in the middle of the night and I had night sweats. (I had drank some wine that evening) But when I awoke the next morn, by bowel movements seemed okay. I kept on Apriso and saw the numbing impct at night dwindle. In fact I seem to be getting more restful sleep. It has been 3 weeks so far, and I feel this is the best I have been with my UC single I was diagnosed 18 years ago. Certainly recommend trying it out!"

• Paul
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 25, 2022

Pentasa (mesalamine) "Stopped smoking 9 years ago, noticed days later l was needing the toilet about 10 times a day lots of blood in the toilet, lost 3 stone, left it for 3 months what a fool, well the doctors thought I'd left it too late and would need a bag, well they where wrong, the strong steroids worked. I'm on pentasa 500 mls in the morning and the same at night, got the powered form the tablets would choke a horse, anyway decided to just have the morning tablets, it worked until last year, when my joint where aching and I couldn't walk, not good when your a landscape gardener, doctor said it inflammatory arthritis, and I will get this if I get a bad colitis flare up so I started steroids. After 5 weeks I'm back to normal, and started taking the pentasa morning and night, as of writing this it looks like I'm going to need another dose of steriods joints are starting to ache again. Ps I've put myself down for a trail new drug at a local hospital in Merseyside, if the drug is better I'll get back on to this forum"

• Tomh
• February 23, 2014

Lialda (mesalamine) "This is the only mesalamine formulation that prevents my symptoms (with an anti-TNF medication), and since it's taken only in the morning it's much easier to manage. Zero side effects. Very, very expensive. Sign up for the prescription copay card to make it as affordable as the generics. Note that while the active ingredient is available as generic, the delayed-release action of this brand makes all the difference in my experience."

• maz
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2023

Salofalk (mesalamine) "This is the only drug that made a difference without awful side effects. I started with suppositories which calmed things down but didn't alleviate the inflammation completely. I am now on the granules and these have been a game-changer so far. 3g to settle the inflammation and 1.5 a day for maintenance. Feel great. Realized I wasn't feeling as good as before. I have more energy, my stools are normal for the first time in 3 years."

• No...
• May 31, 2013

Lialda (mesalamine) "I have been on several Ulcerative Colitis medicines for the past 10 years. Lialda has been amazing - I feel like a normal person. Asacol worked for me but I could never remember to take it 3 times a day. Lialda was 4 pills (a bit big) once in the morning. Lialda has been my life changer. I heard it is outrageously expensive but with good insurance it is very manageable."

• costr...
• February 7, 2018

"I started out using Asacol until they came out with the generic Mesalamine. Although this medication has been a miracle drug for me and my ulcerative colitis, The cost ,even with my BCBS insurance, is absolutely ridiculous! I am super happy that my colitis is in remission and has been for a while now, all because of this medication but , good gravy, how can they charge so much for medication? I have often thought about coming off the drug all because of the price but they have me. I don't want to go back to diarrhea, and hemorraging. These drug companies are like Vampires, They just suck the life out of you. I work 40 hrs a week , just so I can pay for my prescriptions."

• Choco...
• June 3, 2016

Pentasa (mesalamine) "I was given pentasa 2mgs in sachets after having a bad flare up of colitis. After few months of taking it I started noticing a regular pattern of not being able to sleep, a bad case of restless legs syndrome (unbearable) always at night and partly causing the not sleeping, irregular heartbeats and having already asthma it got much worse. So after going on forums I realised I wasn't the only one. I halved the dose to 1 gr , the symptoms receded but I still know/feel it's not good to take long term and I will start reducing. It also makes me feel constantly tired. On a positive note it really is effective for what it what design to do, stop the bad effects of colitis... It's finding a good balance in the dosage along with a clean nutrition!"

• Vito
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2019

Apriso (mesalamine) "Took it for about a week and Doc gave me Prednisone which worked really well until now I stopped taking it and my condition came back. I’m only 20 years old and I’m in desperate help. I can’t work comfortably or even eat certain foods without having to go to the bathroom 5-10 times a day!"

• DonLD
• September 14, 2016

Canasa (mesalamine) "Very Helpful. Because it is SO expensive, I would wait until it became really bad... Thinking "oh it'll get better". But I will share a trick I do. NOT DR. APPROVED. I use it full strength for 6 days (when I see real results... Do NOT stop treatment). Then I cut a 1/4 off of the small end of each, and collect them in a sandwich bag. Then I shake them to the bottom of the bag, let the bottom of the bag sit in warm water until I can roll a length/roll (while still in the baggy). let it cool then cut into sections for more suppositories... to extend my treatment or for emergencies. I also eat the same foods most EVERY Day. Avacadoes, white rice, soft scrambled eggs, bananas w/ p-butter, squash, oysters, refriedbeans, asparagus & can spinich"

• Kimmah
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2021

Apriso (mesalamine) "I am a 31 year old female. I had severe stomach pains and diarrhea for a month straight and lost 20lbs before I was sent to a GI. They got me in for a colonoscopy and endoscopy to verify UC. Then I was put on prednisone and Apriso. I have tapered off of prednisone and am currently taking only Apriso. I am very happy with my current situation. It took two weeks for the cramp pain to get better and a month to make the diarrhea better. I am two and a half months into treatment and I am happy. I have had no side effects from this medicine."

• Zonar
• May 17, 2018

Pentasa (mesalamine) "Got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 25 yrs ago and they said I had to have a bag which I refused. Then said you have to go on steroids which I also refused , then I gave up smoking ! Wow 4 months later UC kicked in with a vengeance ended up losing a half glass of blood can honestly say the toilet was my best friend for 4 months ! I plucked up the courage to go to the hospital had a colonoscopy was put on Pentasa 4 tabs a day - bearing in mind I hadn't taken any tablets except Paracetamol occasionally, I put on too much weight which I didn't like that ! So it was decided that I cut down to 2 tabs a day, anyway still didn't feel right so I went to the chemist and showed my belly he gave me water tabs said take 1 a day so off I went next morning I couldn't believe it I had a half solid stool ! I thought that's odd ! Now for 2 weeks I'm doing great 1 Pentasa tab and 1 water tablet and my weight is levelling off and my stools are normal ! My experience maybe not good for everybody !"

• Very...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 19, 2016

Lialda (mesalamine) "After taking Lialda for 2 years my hair is very thin. It has not controlled me from going to the bathroom alot. I started noticing besides my hair getting thin, having severe headaches. had to have a blood transfusion and my urine started getting darker and darker. The the straw that broke the camel's back was my tongue and lips swelled and I had hives all over they were so severe that I didn't get any sleep they caused me to have blisters. After 3 trips to the ER they finally found something to help the hives. I haven't eaten a full meal in over a year do to the fact that my mouth and lips were so swore and painful to eat. When all the side affects started piling up I just quit taking it and call my gasteronolist and will see him in 2 weeks"

• Paoes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2015

Apriso (mesalamine) "Helps me somewhat. I was diagnosed recently I'm only 19. I don't bleed anymore thank god I would have bloody stool 6-10 times a day the only thing I do get is really gassy and it hurts is that normal. Also I am on remicade"

• BobbyS
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2020

Lialda (mesalamine) "I have UC and have switched from Apriso to Lialda this year because of the price, been using it for 7 weeks now and have muscle fatigue and acne, it does seem to be starting to work, having fewer trips to bathroom then when I switched, Every time I eat even a handful of chips have a urge to poop. hope that goes away. Do plan on going back on Apriso next year after building up HSA funds back up."

• Jack
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2022

Pentasa (mesalamine) "I just was diagnosed with UC recently. My doctor has me on 1g 4 times a day. Everything was going great for the first couple weeks. No immediate need. Normal looking stools and no blood. After the first 2 weeks however the bleeding has come back and I'm using the toilet more than ever. Will be reaching out to my doctor to see if we are over dosing."

• Schmom
• January 11, 2013

Lialda (mesalamine) "I used Liada for approx 1 month after a relapse of my Ulcerative Colitis. My doctor gave me samples of it. It worked very well. I had been on sulfasalazine for many years and was happy to find something else to take since I didn't have to take as many pills with Lialda. That said, after the samples ran out I was given a prescription and when I went to fill it at the pharmacy, I was shocked to see it was going to cost me over $300 for one months supply and that was AFTER my insurance paid more than half of it. I normally have a $5.00 copay so, needless to say, I am back on sulfasalazine and dealing with flareups again. (I got a discount card from Shire so the prescription would only cost me $120 a month but that's still too much)."

• angie
• January 19, 2013

Asacol (mesalamine) "I was diagnosed 6 months ago with Colitis. I started taking Asacol 400mg 3x a day. I felt great immediately after the 3rd pill. No diarrhea for 2 whole days! Last night my stomach started that weird rumbling noise. About an hour later, I had a severe headache! One of the worst I have ever had! I was on my 10th pill. One of the side effects of this medication. Be careful, always call your Dr. if you have any side effects with this medication. I stopped taking this medicine, did not work for me."