Cutting Down on the Asacol

Personal experiences with various medications used to control the symptoms of Microscopic Colitis and related issues, should be posted here.

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Sue777
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Cutting Down on the Asacol

Post by Sue777 »

I had my follow-up exam with my gastro doc and was glad to report to him that everything was fine, as long as I took my 6 Asacol a day. He asked if I had ever forgotten or missed a dose, and I said "yes, usually the night time one - sometimes I fall asleep before I take it and don't have the energy to get back up to do so." He asked if I noticed any bad repercussions from those times and I told him none that I noticed... but of course I was always back on track within a few hours.

He suggested I try cutting down to four pills a day since 6 was doing so well for me. He said to still take two each time, but to cut out one of the doses and just take them twice a day. I asked how long before I'd know if it were having an affect or not and he said within a few days.

Well it's been one week since I dropped down to four pills a day, and I'm happy to say that "so far - so good". Actually, I'd have to say that I actually feel BETTER on four than I did on 6. I seem to have less gas and I'm having more "norman's". Before I would go a couple of days in between, but lately it's a daily or twice daily thing, which is fine with me.

Who knows - after another week I may find out that four isn't enough, but right now, it seems to be. I'll keep you posted.
Sue
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Polly
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Post by Polly »

Sue,

Well, how about that!? I'll keep everything crossed for you! Yes, please keep us posted on your progress!

Love,

Polly
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Peggy
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Post by Peggy »

Sue,

Not sure if you remember but I was able to cut my dosage of Asacol all the way down to one or two a day. The problem I encountered was that I dropped it completely, within two months I was right back to square one with the explosive D and no amount of Asacol could get me back on track. I gave it a long time on the Asacol (second time around) before I finally had to resort to Entocort.

I'm not saying this will happen to you, but I would suggest going slow with decreasing the dosage...as I'm sure your doc told you?

Love,
:pigtail:
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Sue777
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Post by Sue777 »

Thanks for the good wishes Polly, and for the "heads up", Peggy.

I mentioned to my doc that my fear with cutting down was that I had heard if you go off and need to go back on again, sometimes it doesn't WORK the second time around. He nodded his head knowingly (I was afraid he's not heard of that, but I guess he had) but he said that since I was simply "reducing" the dosage instead of stopping completely, he didn't suspect I'd have that problem.

If I should EVER get to one or two pills a day, I'll try to remember NOT to give them up totally. It's just not worth the risk of inviting that kind of horrible relapse - I still don't know how some of you get through this. I was so lucky to only have suffered 3 months, but I know I thought it was the end of my world most of those three months.

You guys are unbelievably courageous.
Sue
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
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tex
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Post by tex »

Janet, I moved your post from here to the Main Message Board, where it will be seen by most of the members. This particular forum is an information forum, and is rarely posted to, so most members don't look here for new posts.

Here is a link to the Main Message Board, where you will find your post, under the title Using Asacol:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2

Tex
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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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