constipation - asacol?

Diseases & Conditions Ulcerative Colitis

shanna1219 (Shanna) September 15, 2007, 9:12pm 1

As anyone experienced constipation as a result of their asacol? I was recently upped to the max dose (12). And I've literally gone from one extreme to the other (if you know what I mean). Any ideas for remedies? I have been very light on the fiber due to the flare. Would it hurt to take like benefiber or metamucil?

Thanks!

Diagnosed with UC January 2007

~~Responding well to Asacol 2 pills 3 times per day~~

Asacol upped to 12 per day until the flare is under control

Canasa added nightly until the flare is under control

sodbuster19 (tony) September 16, 2007, 12:38am 2

I have been on that same dosage since first being DX in Nov of 98. I have never been backed up, either when I'm in remision or in a flair. I use fiber sometimes, I don't think it would be a bad thing.

shanna1219 (Shanna) September 16, 2007, 1:53am 3

Thanks for the response sodbuster. Have you tried to cut down on the asacol? I'm feeling pretty good now so my doc said I could cut down as soon as things return to normal. And I'm drinking a little benefiber as a type. Hopefully all goes well.

Diagnosed with UC January 2007

~~Responding well to Asacol 2 pills 3 times per day~~

Asacol upped to 12 per day until the flare is under control

Canasa added nightly until the flare is under control

quincy (Heather) September 16, 2007, 2:31am 4

Hi...no, not experienced that...but remember to taper the asacol by one pill a week. Not 3 at a time.

Are you still on the Canasa?

q

*Heather*Status:mini flare June 23* 6asacol daily+ Salofalk (tapered every 3rd night)

~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)

~5ASA: Asacol + Salofalk enemas (increase for flares tapered to maintenance)

~Bentylol (dicyclomine) 20mg as needed

~vitamins/minerals

~Probiotic 2 (Natural Factors Protec) + 1 (Primadophilus Reuteri) at bedtime

~Natural Factors Multi Digestive Enzymes with supper

~Ranitidine,Pariet (reflux) Effexor XR 75mg; Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma)

~URSO for PSC (or PBC) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)

My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!!

shanna1219 (Shanna) September 16, 2007, 10:14am 5

Hi Quincy,

No I never started the canasa - I wanted to see if the pills worked first. But now I at least have the script so if things flare again, I can just use it. When I was first DX I responded within days to the pills, that's why I thought I'd give the pills a shot first. So really, taper only 1 pill per week? Interesting, I was going to drop down to 9 pills per day. But I suppose it may be better to do it slowly.

Thanks!

Diagnosed with UC January 2007

~~Responding well to Asacol 2 pills 3 times per day~~

Asacol upped to 12 per day until the flare is under control

Canasa added nightly until the flare is under control

quincy (Heather) September 16, 2007, 11:36am 6

Just to let you know that constipation can also be a symptom of early inflammation in the rectum.

The pills alone won't get to the rectum.

quincy

*Heather*Status:mini flare June 23* 6asacol daily+ Salofalk (tapered every 3rd night)

~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)

~5ASA: Asacol + Salofalk enemas (increase for flares tapered to maintenance)

~Bentylol (dicyclomine) 20mg as needed

~vitamins/minerals

~Probiotic 2 (Natural Factors Protec) + 1 (Primadophilus Reuteri) at bedtime

~Natural Factors Multi Digestive Enzymes with supper

~Ranitidine,Pariet (reflux) Effexor XR 75mg; Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma)

~URSO for PSC (or PBC) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)

My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!!

sodbuster19 (tony) September 16, 2007, 2:20pm 7

Hi, I have cut back from time to time, down to 6/day. When things are going well for me for at least 3 stright months, I cut it back to 6 per day. Sometimes I'm only taken 6/day for 4-6months. It's great when I get to do that. But, as soon, as I feel like I'm close to a flare, I go back to taken 12 per day. Right now, I have been a mild flair, but it's lasted about 2 1/2 months, so I've been taken 12 day. I can tell it's almlost over, so I'm just playing the waiting game for now.

Godslyric (Jeff Bertolotti) October 23, 2011, 1:27am 8

I started asacol in april of this year in the hospital with a severe flair. I have always had problems with constipation at the first 4 or 5 inches of my morning BM. I wasent on any meds until april, but have been flaring for 12 years. (the last flair was a rude wake up call). The asacol corrected the problem with the hard stool in the first part of the BM right away. I thought it was the pred, but even after getting off the pred it kept working. Before the asacol Id have to take 9 t0 1500 mgs of mag-cit to soften up the first inches enough to let the rest of the BM pass otherwise Id be backed up in no time at all with a flair in tow. Unfortunately Im in a flair again anyway...lol...cant win. But I have to say so far its been very mild, its been 4 week and usually by now I would have lost 15 to 20 lbs and be bleeding read bad. But as it stands Iv only lost 5 lbs and so far very little bleeding...Im thinking its the asacol...Maybe this fl;air will go easy on me. So the short of it is asacol seems to have a softing effect on my bowel...

I treated my UC holisticly for 12 years whith good results.
4-14-11 all hell broke out and I ended up with a full on sever flair for the first time. 15 to 25 BM's with blood a day, coupled with sever malnutrision.
Went from 165lbs to 127 in 6 weeks.
Preg 60mgs a week with a taper.
Asacol 4800 mgs a day.
Diazapam 3 Mgs for sleep.
Calcium for severe hand cramps.

stereofidelic89 (Thomas) October 23, 2011, 3:43am 9

I've just started going from one extreme to the other as well. I've only been diagnosed just one month ago, gone from 15 bowel movements a day now to maybe 1 at night... but I only started asacol a week ago (been on 40mg prednisone a month) and started experiencing what seems like "constipation" or maybe, FINALLY control? in bowel movements? So i cant say its asacol, but yes I'd try adding fiber to your diet. My doctor recommended little fiber and so i havent been consuming alot, but I think everyone needs a bit of fiber here and there.

21 year old college senior, diagnosed severe ulcerative colitis - Sept. 2011
40mg prednisone daily 1 month - now tapering.
800mg asacol 3xdaily
L-Glutamine powder
3000mg Fish Oil
Aloe Vera Juice
----
"be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle

quincy (Heather) October 23, 2011, 5:35am 10

once again...even since the origin of this thread, rectal meds in conjunction to the asacol would be a continuing suggestion for both of you.

q

*Heather* I give suggestions, do with them what you will.
Status: ...Asacol 3 @ 2x daily; Salofalk enema @ 3rd night (nightly/ flares, tapered/maintenance)
~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)
~Bentylol 20mg as needed; Zantac 150mg; Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma);Effexor XR 37.5 (depression)
~vitamins/minerals/supplements; Probiotics....(RenewLife Ultimate Flora Critical Care+Primadophilus Reuteri capsules @ bedtime)
~Metamucil capsules 6 twice daily with meals; Vitamin D 4500 IU
~URSO for PBC(or PSC?) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)
My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!!

stereofidelic89 (Thomas) October 23, 2011, 3:36pm 11

Thanks, but I read that enemas make you go to the bathroom more... is that true? Also, i dont know if i made myself clear before hand, but I'm not going to take several medications at once... if I did from the start I would have not known where my allergic reactions came from to begin with.

quincy (Heather) October 23, 2011, 7:14pm 12

no, it doesn't make you go to the bathroom more unless you're allergic or sensitive to the medication.

OR....you're taking too high a dosage initially. One should start with a lower dosage and increase.

What you hear and what you experience can be two different things. I think you might be confusing some of your information....but you'll learn what works.......................eventually.

q