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MY GI suggested lowering Balsalazide amount-wait what?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/14/2016 5:11 PM (GMT -8)
Annual visit with my GI today where I reported all is the same, no problems. Told him I'd quit Balsalazide from Aug 2015-Aug 2016 but went back to Balsalazide because of skin problems while taking 95% curcumin.

His response was to disregard the curcumin being of benefit and suggest in a roundabout way that I might reduce my Balsalazide from 9/daily. I replied I'd never heard of anyone taking less than 9 daily and he said that was because the medical studies found that amount effective with no studies done on lower amounts. Radical suggestion from a conservative GI, he never wants to hear about how diet mod. is my most important treatment.

I'll think about it, hate to rock the boat. The price of Balsal. has come back down so US price is now cheaper than Canada (Blue Cross may have had some benefit with the price).
Posted 11/14/2016 6:52 PM (GMT -8)
he said that was because the medical studies found that amount effective with no studies done on lower amounts

So I guess he wants you to be one of the pioneers to see what happens using lower amounts. Is he saying this because you are experiencing some of Balsalazide's side effects? Or afraid that you will suffer from prolonged use of mesalamines such as pancreatitis or something? I guess it wouldn't hurt if you found that a smaller dose is just as effective as 9 pills a day.

What kind of skin problems did the curcumin give you?
Posted 11/14/2016 11:11 PM (GMT -8)
I decreased mine from 9 a day to 6 (3 capsules twice a day) about ten years ago. The full dose seemed to make my stools much softer, and they're better on the lower dosage.
Posted 11/15/2016 5:22 AM (GMT -8)
IamCurious said: What kind of skin problems did the curcumin give you?
I started to get serious skin infections from casual scratches (after 7 months on 95% curcumin) and one case there was no scratch involved but blew up into an ER visit a week after going to my primary who gave me an antibiotic that did nothing and my derma doc was not available (weekend). It took IV anti-b's to get it fixed. My last one was just a leg scratch from garden that turned into a deep ulcer and took over a month to heal. Since quitting 95% curcumin my skin is getting back to normal and no infections since.

jujub: thanks for your reply. I've never heard anyone taking a lower dose but will give it a try. I have been taking 4x2 daily because the middle dose always got forgotten in rush of day's business. My main problem in remission is constipation if I eat foods that cause that. Did your GI suggest that to you or did you change your dose on your own? I'm exactly the type to try this, maybe that's why he suggested it.
Posted 11/15/2016 8:29 AM (GMT -8)
Generally lower doses of a maintenance medication are fine when in a solid remission. You could try lowering the dose if you feel comfortable doing so. There's always risk in lowering a dose that your uc symptoms might return and get worse. As we never truly know the lowest possible dose we truly need to sustain our quality of life. If you do try, do a slow reduction, watch your symptoms closely and don't be afraid to jump back up to the full dose should you see a regression in your QOL.
Posted 11/15/2016 8:41 AM (GMT -8)
Taper down slowly.....especially since you have been on it for this long.

Interesting about the curcumin and healing. Good to know.


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