weaning off Asacol hd ?
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weaning off Asacol hd ?
I'm sure my GI will just have me finish my four weeks on asacol cold turkey. I currently take 3 per day. I guess if any potty people could give me some advice on how to wean myself off it would be appreciated.
-Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Since mesalamine is not a corticosteroid, it does not affect the adrenals, so theoretically at least, there is no medical reason why the dose needs to be tapered slowly. IOW, there shouldn't be any rebound effect from stopping cold turkey.
From a practical viewpoint though, tapering the dose might make it easier to detect any food sensitivities that might still be in your diet, before you slip into a full flare. I'm not sure if anyone currently posting has any experience with tapering their Asacol treatment (I have never taken it), but if they have, hopefully they will notice your post and share their experience.
I would guess that a reasonable way to go about it would be to reduce the dose by 1 pill per week, and then go through a week or so at a rate of 1 every other day, maybe followed by a week or so of 1 every third day.
Tex
Since mesalamine is not a corticosteroid, it does not affect the adrenals, so theoretically at least, there is no medical reason why the dose needs to be tapered slowly. IOW, there shouldn't be any rebound effect from stopping cold turkey.
From a practical viewpoint though, tapering the dose might make it easier to detect any food sensitivities that might still be in your diet, before you slip into a full flare. I'm not sure if anyone currently posting has any experience with tapering their Asacol treatment (I have never taken it), but if they have, hopefully they will notice your post and share their experience.
I would guess that a reasonable way to go about it would be to reduce the dose by 1 pill per week, and then go through a week or so at a rate of 1 every other day, maybe followed by a week or so of 1 every third day.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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wmonique2
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weaning off asacol
Bama,
Tex's advice is very good. I've been on asacol nearly 2 years. Have gone down to 1 a day (now back on 3 because of a flare) but I never had any problems weaning off. Didn't even notice the difference. You shouldn't have any problems following the protocol Tex mentioned.
Good luck,
Monique
Tex's advice is very good. I've been on asacol nearly 2 years. Have gone down to 1 a day (now back on 3 because of a flare) but I never had any problems weaning off. Didn't even notice the difference. You shouldn't have any problems following the protocol Tex mentioned.
Good luck,
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
Monique -
With Asacol did you ever have a "normal" BM ?
It has helped my D so much that I've stopped losing weight
And actually gained a few pounds.
I am great full that I only go 3-4 times per day and is much
Less watery. My GI actually told me that Asacol could cure my MC.
I know better now , but I was really hopeful for awhile.
With Asacol did you ever have a "normal" BM ?
It has helped my D so much that I've stopped losing weight
And actually gained a few pounds.
I am great full that I only go 3-4 times per day and is much
Less watery. My GI actually told me that Asacol could cure my MC.
I know better now , but I was really hopeful for awhile.
-Lynn
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wmonique2
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1048
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:06 am
- Location: Georgia, U.S
- Contact:
weaning off asacol
Lynn,
I had D like 15 times a day when diagnosed, went down to 90 lbs. Since on asacol, NEVER had D. I go once a day, normal BM. Even when I have a flare, I never have D. I usually get lower abdominal pains and I can feel spasms in my colon which tells me that I have an inflammation again. so I go back on bland, soft foods.
I take the long acting release kind of asacol, 1.2 gr, three pills a day now that I am in a flare. Will go down to 2 when I am better and hopefully down to 1. I tried to eliminate that last pill but went more and had more pain within 24 hours so I had to go back on it right away. I may have to stay on them (maintenance) forever.
The only thing I don't like about that is that it does raise my liver enzymes. Not too bad though. But you know any medication will either affect your liver or your kidneys. There is no free lunch.
There is no cure, just remission and always paying attention to diet. That's our lot.
Monique
I had D like 15 times a day when diagnosed, went down to 90 lbs. Since on asacol, NEVER had D. I go once a day, normal BM. Even when I have a flare, I never have D. I usually get lower abdominal pains and I can feel spasms in my colon which tells me that I have an inflammation again. so I go back on bland, soft foods.
I take the long acting release kind of asacol, 1.2 gr, three pills a day now that I am in a flare. Will go down to 2 when I am better and hopefully down to 1. I tried to eliminate that last pill but went more and had more pain within 24 hours so I had to go back on it right away. I may have to stay on them (maintenance) forever.
The only thing I don't like about that is that it does raise my liver enzymes. Not too bad though. But you know any medication will either affect your liver or your kidneys. There is no free lunch.
There is no cure, just remission and always paying attention to diet. That's our lot.
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)