Taking Lialda now instead of Asacol
After taking Remicade for a few months I stopped taking Asacol since I thought I didn't need it.
After a few months I noticed that my colitis slowly got worse.
I told my doctor and he decided to up my dose of Remicade. Since I work for a company that is self insured, I didn't like the idea of my infusions going up an additional $3000 per dose unless it worked. After about 3 infusions it was clear that this was not helping. This was around the summer of 2007.
At this point I decided to change doctors and my new doctor gave me a fresh perspective. He increased my dose of Imuran to the max for my weight and put me on Asacol again.
It worked! Things got better. So at this point I asked my Dr. to move my dose of Remicade back to the former level and the Dr. approved it.
The reduction didn't have any negative effect, so I have stayed at that level ever since.
Now about Lialda.
I heard about it on TV during an interview of a woman who said she was taking a drug for UC just once a day! I thought to myself... hey! what drug is that!!
I googled it and found Lialda. I took the information to my Gastro and he didn't even know what it was! Hello??? I guess the drug company doesn't have their act together. You think they would have been knocking on his door big time!
(This is Digestive Heath Specialists in Auburn and Tacoma, WA)
Anyway, so I gave him the print out, but I had to wait 3 months and use up all my Asacol before my insurance would let me get a replacement for asacol (Lialda).
Lets be honest. I don't think in the 5 years that I have been taking Asacol that I ever remembered to take all three doses each day. Come on! 3 pills, 3 times a day!
So that has never helped my situation. Now I have something I can handle!
Lialda for me is 3 HUGE pills once in the morning along with Imuran and Prevacide.
I'm on the 3rd day and so far no new side effects and my colitis is the same as usual.
It's still too early to see if this will put me in REAL remission. I have NEVER been in remission. I always have at least 5 or 6 visits to the bathroom each day.
Pre-UC condition for me was 2 movements a day, so that is the goal.
Here is my normal UC schedule:
At Wake up
After breakfast
After my 40 minute commute to work
After Lunch
Before my 40 minute commute home
After dinner
That would be a good day.
Add about 4 more for a bad day.
Sometimes I visit the bathroom while out on the road or while shopping, just to make sure it doesn't hit me at a bad time, like while on the freeway.
I'll post here again when I see how Lialda works for me.
After a few months I noticed that my colitis slowly got worse.
I told my doctor and he decided to up my dose of Remicade. Since I work for a company that is self insured, I didn't like the idea of my infusions going up an additional $3000 per dose unless it worked. After about 3 infusions it was clear that this was not helping. This was around the summer of 2007.
At this point I decided to change doctors and my new doctor gave me a fresh perspective. He increased my dose of Imuran to the max for my weight and put me on Asacol again.
It worked! Things got better. So at this point I asked my Dr. to move my dose of Remicade back to the former level and the Dr. approved it.
The reduction didn't have any negative effect, so I have stayed at that level ever since.
Now about Lialda.
I heard about it on TV during an interview of a woman who said she was taking a drug for UC just once a day! I thought to myself... hey! what drug is that!!
I googled it and found Lialda. I took the information to my Gastro and he didn't even know what it was! Hello??? I guess the drug company doesn't have their act together. You think they would have been knocking on his door big time!
(This is Digestive Heath Specialists in Auburn and Tacoma, WA)
Anyway, so I gave him the print out, but I had to wait 3 months and use up all my Asacol before my insurance would let me get a replacement for asacol (Lialda).
Lets be honest. I don't think in the 5 years that I have been taking Asacol that I ever remembered to take all three doses each day. Come on! 3 pills, 3 times a day!
So that has never helped my situation. Now I have something I can handle!
Lialda for me is 3 HUGE pills once in the morning along with Imuran and Prevacide.
I'm on the 3rd day and so far no new side effects and my colitis is the same as usual.
It's still too early to see if this will put me in REAL remission. I have NEVER been in remission. I always have at least 5 or 6 visits to the bathroom each day.
Pre-UC condition for me was 2 movements a day, so that is the goal.
Here is my normal UC schedule:
At Wake up
After breakfast
After my 40 minute commute to work
After Lunch
Before my 40 minute commute home
After dinner
That would be a good day.
Add about 4 more for a bad day.
Sometimes I visit the bathroom while out on the road or while shopping, just to make sure it doesn't hit me at a bad time, like while on the freeway.
I'll post here again when I see how Lialda works for me.
Comments
Its been working well when Im taking double doses (4pills morning and 4 at night) but Im now trying to use the smaller dose again.
Let us know how it goes with the drug you found. Maybe something similar is available in europe.