Best medications for URGENCY??

Tomorrow is my appointment finally with the gastro docs NP.  I have to have something else besides the Canasa to control my symptoms and bleeding.  What should I try next - if I have much say in it!  I will not try steroids yet!

Well, rectal meds such as enemas...can you maybe to them if you put your butt n the air to insert them? Just a thought since that's one of the insertion methods stated on the instructions.

You should also be on Asacol or a 5ASA oral med...Asacol is the first choice, however.

I use Bentylol (dicyclomine...Bentyl in the US) which is an antispasmodic and find it does help with the rectal discomfort...but it won't improve your UC situation or the inflammation.

You could consider a fibre supplement and a probiotic..higher dosages.

That's about all I can think of at this time.

Let us know how the appt goes.
q

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q - thanks so much.  I can just see my butt up in the air. I am pretty obese, short and have arthritis and cannot kneel on these knees that need surgery.  Anyway, I insert the suppositories (barely) on the toilet in the only position I can find that works.  Using lubricant has helped. 

I have considered asking my husband of 47 years to help but he has lung cancer and arthritis and enough of his own to contend with.  I don't think he could "stomach" helping me.  Maybe a suppository early morning after BM if I am not going out so I can ly down a while.  We will see what the NP says.  I like women medical personnel so much better than men - hoping I like this one.

The doc prescribed one Align a day and no fiber - going to ask about them. I have my list ready.  Anything but prednisone right now.  I am very sensitive to all medication such as pain narcotics, etc. so afraid to try anything for the side effect so using the conservative approach.  The one suppository and one probiotic has certainly helped a LOT!  So maybe I don't need a lot more.

Thanks again!

Elaine

Like quincy, I also use Bentyl and find it helpful. I usually take a couple rapid-release Tylenol at the same time for cramping.

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Female, 30.   Chicago 'burbs.

I was just diagnosed in November, and the only med my doctor prescribed at the time was Asacol.  Maybe you can say you heard of it and was wondering whether it might work for you. 

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Female, 58, dx mild/moderate ulcerative colitis (left sided) 11/07

Thanks!  I seem to have same as your dx'd.  How is Asacol working for you - are you in remission?  Do you have symptoms?  Canasa is same meds just in suppository - think I need to go from both ends! I also use same medications including Xanax for anxiety.

 Elaine

Lomitil kills my urgency. I'll use half a pill, and give myself an hour and it usually kicks in.

The last time I went in to my GI before my colonoscopy I asked to change my lomitil to bentyl and he wouldn't consider it. My next trip to my GP I will have him do that for me. I would definately like to try it.

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Proctitis DX 1999, Pancolitis DX 2008
Lialda 3 day
Starting Immuran
Hydrocort/Rowasa/Vitamin E Enemas rotated
Probiotis/MSM/GreenTea/VitD+Ca/SuperDHA

I've used cortenemas and rowasa enemas. These can be administered while laying on your left side, alot easier than getting the butt up in the air, lol.......Azulfidine is another 5ASA that could be worth a try. There is a thread on here about it. Good Luck

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*******Donna*******

urgency was my killer as well until things got under control for me.

you may consider playing around with your probiotic. unless you found a lot of improvement from primal defense, you could try a different brand.
i used primal defense for a few months and it helped in the beginning but then things were going down hill again. when i quit the p.d. and started another brand, that helped me some. i know there are a ton to choose from tho so if you feel like it's helping then stick with it!

i wouldn't say switching probiotics would take away all urgency, so definitely try some of these other suggestions. but it may help things a little.

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29, happily married, stay at home mom to 2.5 year old son. due to have another boy 9/17/08
UC (probably pancolitis, but no c-scope yet), diagnosed June 2006, started having major symptoms sometime in January 2006, about 3 months after childbirth. 2nd flare (minor) may 2007 after taking caprylic acid for 2 weeks.

-Prednisone 8/28/06-2/28/07. and again may '07, 8 week course.
-Prayer! asacol, probio, ground psyllium husk, prenatal, folic acid, cal-mag

may you live all the days of your life.

Thanks!  I have gone back to Align which doc gave me samples of because primal defense seemed to make it worse especially gas!

I am on my way to NP today and hoping to get something else to try and I have lots of questions written down.I will resist prednisone because I see what it does to my husband for his lung disease - helps but oh the side effect.

Good luck with your new baby - I can't imagine being pregnant with UC!!

ElaineNY

For urgency I used to take something called hyoscyamine, it's an anti-spasmodic and helped calm my intestines down. I only stopped taking it because when I moved to Iowa my doctor and the pharmacist both hadn't heard of it and so they didn't prescribe it. I'm hoping my new doc back in here Florida will.

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Female, 23, Ulcerative colitis (pancolitis) since 1999; GERD; gastritis; osteopenia in femur head & lumbar region of the spine from long term prednisone use. 

Currently unmedicated and flaring :(
Waiting for my appointment with the new GI on July 18th. Insurance finally kicked in, hooray!

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68 old lady