Hello! We were probably diagnosed with left-sided UC around the same time. I never had any luck maintaining remission until my gasto put me on Colazal in 2003. You can ask about
switching to Colazal or the newest oral 5-ASA med, Lialda, if Asacol does not seem to be working. Since Azulfidine has the sulfa bonding agent, I would not want to go on it long-term, but there are members writing to this site who do o.k. with it. If your UC has spread upward, though, you really need to stay on med permanently-- otherwise, it is likely to get worse. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily; seem to be back in remission)