Mesalamine for Ulcerative Proctitis User Reviews

• Col...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2023

Mesalamine "I was diagnosed recently and started on Pentasa enema (night) and Salofalk suppositories (day) but found the Pentasa made little or no difference and I found it difficult to sleep. My nurse changed to Salofalk rectal foam and tonight is my first time using it. I followed the instructions but inserted both doses but then was unable to hold it in for longer than 20 minutes. This site and the reviews have been a pleasure to read :) especially the review which included information about side effects, including jaw pain. I was thinking 'now something else is wrong with me' but didn't want to tell the GP as I wondered if it's psychosomatic, so it was a relief to read that I'm not alone. I really wrote this to say thank you to everyone for sharing their personal experiences. I have found this diagnosis to be somewhat isolating and sometimes I feel I should be embarrassed to speak about my symptoms, so thank you all and I pray for us all to be well x"

• Ani...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 17, 2019

"I was originally put on mesalamine Salofalk 1000 mg suppositories. It caused a burning sensation in my rectum and caused severe abdominal cramping. It increased my bowel movements to up to 20 bloody movements a day, and I lost fecal control. My doctor then put me on Mezavant tablets and later switched to the Salofalk mesalamine foam enema and then to the mesalamine Salofalk liquid enemas. I have never felt so sick in my life. I continue to have very negative side effects and increased nausea. Now I am choosing to come off this medication and will be speaking with my gastroenterologist about finding an alternative drug. This medication was absolute poison to my system. I have lost my quality of life, and it is very debilitating."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 27, 2012

Mesalamine "Before trying Lialda, I was taking Canasa, which was extremely helpful, however, it is a suppository. That was not pleasant, especially if I was going to have to continue taking that medication for the rest of my life! My doctor mentioned Lialda, so I started taking it. It has been just as effective as Canasa for me, and I have not had a flare-up in almost 3 years!"

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 24, 2020

Mesalamine "I was diagnosed with UC last year. I was both on Pentasa 8x500 mg daily plus daily Salofalk suppositories. I can’t say anything about Pentasa tablets, but Salofalk worked very well. Unfortunately, Salofalk is not available anymore and I had to switch to Pentasa suppositories, which are the worst. I am wondering if any of these drugmakers ever used Pentasa suppositories. I bet they didn’t! It is very hard to use, and I prefer bleeding a lot than being mentally depressed by using it (very irritating and very uncomfortable, plus it doesn’t dissolve and irritates the area badly). I am missing Salofalk a lot!!"

• Dav...
• December 30, 2016

Mesalamine "When I first started taking it, it didn't have any effect except minor stomach cramping, which I wasn't even sure if it was from the drug. I stopped taking it, but my doctor told me to take it once in the morning and once at night. I also began taking Lialda, which has the same ingredients, again morning and night, two pills. After about a month or two, I had a dramatic positive effect. I've tried getting off it, but my symptoms return. It is effective for bleeding and liquid stool. I sometimes still feel the need to evacuate without anything there, but as long as I consistently take it, I have little, if any, problems."

• Cat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 25, 2020

Mesalamine "I had ulcerative proctitis for 5 years before getting pregnant. Only 1 flare since diagnosis during that time (and it was while off the medication). Canasa suppositories worked within a week and completely maintained me in remission. Then a new doctor told me not to use suppositories if I got pregnant (I told her we were trying to get pregnant and I wanted to check if the medication was okay). I stopped it 2 months before I got pregnant and flared 2 months into pregnancy, but throughout the entire colon this time. I’m now on Lialda, Canasa, and prednisone. It’s been extremely difficult to control the flare, which is typical of flares during pregnancy. I wish I had never stopped taking Canasa. It might be too early to judge Lialda after 4 days, but Lialda has given me so much nausea it feels like I’m back in the first trimester. For anyone wondering, you obviously can take Canasa while pregnant, if clearly needed and the benefit outweighs the risk, as I am currently back on it and 29 weeks."

• Fin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 14, 2013

Mesalamine "I am 26 years old and have been battling with bad stomach problems for most of my life. I was diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis about four years ago. My doctor put me on Lialda, but I didn't stick with it. This past December, I had my first flare-up... it was awful. I lost 10 lbs and just felt sick all the time. I went back on Lialda (3 pills a day) in January. At first, I didn't feel any different, but then it really started working. It has been eight months and I feel like a normal person now. I still have the occasional stomach ache, but nothing abnormal! I feel great!"

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2021

Mesalamine "I noticed improvements in less than a week. Two months out, I have no pain, no bloating, and feel almost normal. I have no complaints and have become comfortable with suppositories. No big deal when you consider the benefits."

• mid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2014

"I've had some minor GI issues all my life, I just figured that's too bad and dealt with it. Over the past 10 years, it's been a little worse, but I rarely have problems, always thinking about food poisoning. Over the past 5 or so years, I developed somewhat recurring symptoms, but in general, very good health. Diarrhea and bloody stool that would subside in under a week or two and happen a few times per year. A few months ago, I ran into a problem I couldn't shake: mucusy bloody stool all the time and loose stools always. It lasted more than 2 weeks, so I had to get it checked finally. A few doctor visits and a colonoscopy diagnosed me with ulcerative proctitis. I'm using the enemas nightly. In under a week of use, I have no blood, no odd discharge, feel normal."

• Ale...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 11, 2022

Mesalamine "Salofalk appears to work fine, as did Asocol before it. My only gripe is the plastic covering of the suppository. They are produced in two factories, one has a black/white covering, the other red/white. The black/white is easy to open, but the red/white is much more difficult. The ends you pull apart appear shorter, and whereas the black/white has ribbing so you can grip, the red/white one has ribbing that appears photographed, i.e., no grip at all. Have complained to the company, to no avail."

• Ama...
• April 2, 2016

Mesalamine "I've been using Pentasa 2 times a day, a total of 4 pills. It definitely helps! Sometimes I get headaches and feel sick, and sometimes I occasionally get pain, and for some reason, ever since I started taking them, I get these weird skin patches."

• Pat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 5, 2020

Mesalamine "I have been using Canasa for 2 years. First, I wasn't paying for it until I turned 65 years old last year. I now pay a $75 copayment. Three months ago, I tried the generic brand and I noticed lots of symptoms: heart palpitations, lots of bloating, really bad pains. My blood pressure elevated, nervousness, muscle pain in my left calf, pain in my left side, and a really bad headache. I can't deal with it anymore, I am even losing body mass."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2012

Mesalamine "Pros: Symptoms started to noticeably decrease after about 3-4 days. Cons: Very pricey even with insurance and discount card, and uncomfortable to use suppository during a bad flare-up. Side effects: a few small headaches and severe stomach pains (had to stop using it). On a scale of 1-10, stomach pains ranged between a 5-8."

• Pec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2019

Mesalamine "I can't afford Canasa. 2 doctors have prescribed it for me. I am on Medicare, and it will put me into the coverage gap in just a few months. Then I pay lots more for all my drugs. What a scam. I tried Apriso, and it gave me tinnitus."

• Emi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 27, 2022

Mesalamine "I have had ulcerative colitis and proctitis since I was 25 years old. It started after using Accutane for my acne. My GI doctor prescribed Canasa, and it worked. After two weeks of use, it went into remission and stayed there for years. Recently (I’m in my 50s now), it has been flaring up, and when I use Canasa, it works every time. I use it nightly for two weeks, then taper off by switching to every other day for a week and then once every 3 days. It works well as long as I stay away from the triggers (dairy, caffeine…). It’s expensive, so when the generic became available, I used it last year. Not the same! I used it for two weeks and saw no improvements whatsoever. I went back to Canasa, and all is well again. The price difference is huge between generic and brand, but I have no choice and can’t afford to be sick all the time. Insurance used to cover the brand, but now it doesn’t cover it entirely. This is unfortunate for those who can’t afford it."

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2022

Mesalamine "I have a stoma now due to a blocked bowel (diverticulitis). I now have proctitis. Pentasa suppositories definitely stopped the rectal bleeding, but as soon as I reduced then stopped, it came back. The doctor has put me back on it."

• Mes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2023

"After taking the generic version for 2 days, the blood has resolved itself, but I have bloating, constipation, a small amount of light-colored stool, and I also had a migraine. I am now on day 5. I hope these symptoms go away!"

• Mar...
• March 25, 2021

"This is the second time I have used mesalamine in 2019 and 2021. The first month I took mesalamine I thought I saw some improvement. I have asked my doctor for refills. After 10 days, I started to feel pain in the lower part of my abdomen. I have now been diagnosed with high blood pressure. I started to have rectal bleeding as well."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 15, 2021

Mesalamine "3 years ago I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Was prescribed Canasa, it works well. Before I retired, I did not have to pay for it, but now I have to pay a $75 copayment. No side effects so far."

• prm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 23, 2024

Mesalamine "I've been using Canasa for more than a year, and I definitely see a difference whenever I miss a dosage, so I try to stay on schedule. It's easy to administer and stops the discharge and cramps. My current concern is that Avenue will no longer be making it, and getting through the pharmacy is not feasible for me since I can't afford it. I'm bracing myself for having severe cramping and discomfort along with discharge. Hoping the suspension for production is temporary. Such a shame that I found something to work, and due to financial constraints, I have to go back to square one. Just the same, I appreciate the time I had with relief."

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2018

Mesalamine "Was prescribed the Salofalk suppositories first, which worked a charm, but then the pharmacy ran out, so I’ve been using Pentasa (same dosage), and they don’t seem to be working much at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2024

Mesalamine "Works fast and easy to use. Easy to store and no side effects compared to Pentaza. Was recommended by a pharmacist."

• poo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 21, 2023

Mesalamine "First time, it worked in 6 weeks. This time, it's taken much longer."