I saw my consultant today and she has prescribed me mesalazine - 800mg twice a day. I was wondering if any one could let me know how effective they found this if they have taken it. She told me if it didn't help symptoms within a month then she would try me on a different medication. Any comments, please?
Thanks
just been prescribed mesalazine
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just been prescribed mesalazine
After many years of taking psychotropic medication I have developed type 2 diabetes and liver fibrosis. I have had long term gi problems, diagnosed as IBS, but since withdrawing from my medications have been diagnosed with mc.
Mesalazine is another name for mesalamine, also known as 5-aminosalicyclic acid. Mesalazine is a derivative of salicylic acid, which means that it is related to NSAIDs. It's an older anti-inflammatory medication, and it typically works slower than Entocort, so it's not as often prescribed these days, but over the years, it has been helpful for many patients.
For many people who have an inflammatory bowel disease, NSAIDs have been shown to stimulate leukotriene production, which can cause inflammation and D. Therefore, virtually anyone subject to an IBD flare because of NSAIDs, will also react adversely to mesalamine/mesalazine. IOW, if you know that NSAIDs cause you to react, then the mesalazine will probably make your symptoms worse. If not, you may be able to tolerate it OK. Some members here have noted that it can cause hair loss/thinning, but that has also been reported for Entocort.
IMO, (and this is strictly my unprofessional opinion), Entocort is far more effective, faster acting, and generally safer, (especially after the dosage is tapered down to a low maintenance dose), than mesalamine. But some GI specialists are afraid of Entocort, because they mistakenly believe that it is similar to the other corticosteroids, so they don't like to prescribe it. In a few cases, mesalamine has been shown to cause pancreatitis, especially with long-term use, but this is not a common side effect, so the risk is relatively low.
I hope this helps.
Tex
For many people who have an inflammatory bowel disease, NSAIDs have been shown to stimulate leukotriene production, which can cause inflammation and D. Therefore, virtually anyone subject to an IBD flare because of NSAIDs, will also react adversely to mesalamine/mesalazine. IOW, if you know that NSAIDs cause you to react, then the mesalazine will probably make your symptoms worse. If not, you may be able to tolerate it OK. Some members here have noted that it can cause hair loss/thinning, but that has also been reported for Entocort.
IMO, (and this is strictly my unprofessional opinion), Entocort is far more effective, faster acting, and generally safer, (especially after the dosage is tapered down to a low maintenance dose), than mesalamine. But some GI specialists are afraid of Entocort, because they mistakenly believe that it is similar to the other corticosteroids, so they don't like to prescribe it. In a few cases, mesalamine has been shown to cause pancreatitis, especially with long-term use, but this is not a common side effect, so the risk is relatively low.
I hope this helps.
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.
I took mesalamine and the side effects are worse cramping and D. However, if you can make it through the intense pain, it may put you into remission after a month. It did for me, but it was before I knew what my triggers were......I took it twice and I have to say it was one heck of a month!
Martha E.
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC