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Can balsalazide work when mesalamine doesn't?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/21/2013 4:45 PM (GMT -7)
Mesalazine stopped working for me after the first 1.5 year. I'm wondering whether there are chances balsalazide will work. Unfortunately it's not easy for me to obtain. It's not available at all in my country.
Posted 10/21/2013 5:04 PM (GMT -7)
Mesalamine (as in Asacol in US) didn't work for me and I was switched to Balsalazide which IMO didn't do anything either. I still take Balsal. but diet modification is the reason for my remission plus probiotics (VSL#3) and lately wild oil of oregano ("woo" on this forum) and wormwood extract have been beneficial too. One is antifungal and woo is natural antibiotic I think.

I know this is not what you want to hear but can only say what worked for me.
I could probably stop Balsal. but too superstitious.
BTW have you tried mesalamine enemas. Now they do work for me.
Posted 10/21/2013 5:43 PM (GMT -7)

imagardener2 said...
Mesalamine (as in Asacol in US) didn't work for me and I was switched to Balsalazide which IMO didn't do anything either. I still take Balsal. but diet modification is the reason for my remission plus probiotics (VSL#3) and lately wild oil of oregano ("woo" on this forum) and wormwood extract have been beneficial too. One is antifungal and woo is natural antibiotic I think.

I know this is not what you want to hear but can only say what worked for me.
I could probably stop Balsal. but too superstitious.
BTW have you tried mesalamine enemas. Now they do work for me.


I have tried all the things you mentioned. Mesalamine enemas don't seem to work for me but I always neglect taking them.
Posted 10/21/2013 6:11 PM (GMT -7)
This looks like it is hot off the press.

http://gut.bmj.com/content/44/4/455.full.pdf

Posted 10/21/2013 6:26 PM (GMT -7)
Hot off the 1998 press maybe.
15 years later Asacol is the most often prescribed Rx oral med. I wonder what other studies followed to make this study ignored or superseded. Drug reps pushing the name brand med?
Posted 10/21/2013 8:01 PM (GMT -7)
I read that one a while back. My take was that a few % less people tolerated it, but among those that did the remission % was a little higher.

I think companies pushed the higher tolerance rate. It makes me wonder if it could help me more than Lialda.
Posted 10/22/2013 6:20 PM (GMT -7)
Balsalazide breaks down to mesalamine in the colon. It seems to be most helpful to UCers with left-sided inflammation. / Old Hat (33 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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