Home Drugs A to Z M Me Mesalamine User Reviews

User Reviews for Mesalamine

Also known as: Apriso, Asacol, Asacol HD, Canasa, Canasa Pac, FIV-ASA, Lialda, Mesasal Enteric Coated, Pentasa, Rowasa, Rowasa Sulfite Free, Salofalk

The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommend therapy. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care.

Learn more about Mesalamine.

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10
   
31%(14)
9
   
20%(9)
8
   
14%(6)
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11%(5)
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7%(3)
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Key Statistics

7.5/10 Average Rating

46 Ratings with 43 User Reviews

Compare all 55 medications used in the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis, Active.

Reviews for Mesalamine to treat Ulcerative Colitis, Active

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Review by Packer Fan: User Rating:  
   
9.0

Lialda (mesalamine): I've taken Lialda for about a month for my UC using doctor samples. It has reduced my flare ups, although it does take a while and does not work over night, it seems to be working for me. I want to continue taking Lialda and have a perscription from my doctor but can't seem to find a pharmacy that carries it. My overall rating of Lialda is high because it was working, atleast for me. I would suggest finding out if you can get LIalda in your area before consideration.

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March 29, 2008 9:06 AM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
8.0

Asacol (mesalamine): I've been on Asacol for years - 12 tabs /day. No side effects, easy to take, but sometimes during flares it fails to release. Release is pH dependent (as are some competing drugs), in my case I think that's the problem. This problem is not well publicized, so doctors aren't aware of it.

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April 2, 2008 7:41 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
7.0

Canasa (mesalamine): This is a 5-ASA suppository. Helpful in gaining control of a mild UC flare. No side effects. Fairly easy to "hold in" compared to Rowasa, but doesn't spread as far, pretty much only the rectum. A little lube helps, I also knock off the rough edges on the blunt end.

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April 2, 2008 7:53 PM
Review by Wife of UC sufferer: User Rating:  
   
10

Lialda (mesalamine): My husband began using Lialda about a week ago, and he's already getting great results: no blood in stool, no abdominal cramps, and his stool is becoming more "normal" by the day. So far so good.

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June 30, 2008 12:26 AM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
7.0

Asacol (mesalamine): tired feeling, abdominal pain, tingling in hands and feet, 4 tablets a day.

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March 26, 2008 2:14 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
9.0

Lialda (mesalamine): After one year of fairly significant ulcerative colitis symptoms, I began taking Lialda. It began working almost immediately. Within a week I started feeling like my old self again. The only changes I've noticed (unsure if they are side effects or new problems??) are tingling in my legs (like restless leg syndrome), sinus issues, sore throat and trouble falling asleep.

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November 30, 2008 1:45 AM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
10

Lialda (mesalamine): Lialda works great. No rectal bleeding. NO side effects. I started taking it for 4 months and decided to quit taking it after 4 months to see what happens. Never had problems. Haven't gone back to the doctor since.

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November 3, 2009 5:20 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
10

Lialda (mesalamine): Lialda has given me a decent quality of life again. I've suffered relentlessly for 20 years and finally found a great doctor, who gave me this medication. It's not an overnight fix. I've been taking it for 3 months and it has fixed what I thought was permanently my lot in life. What a fantastic medication !

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November 8, 2008 7:26 AM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
2.0

Lialda (mesalamine): I have take Lialda for 3 weeks and not much improvement. My doctor increased my intake to 3 pills everyday and started me on prednisone. In my opinion prednisone will do most of the work. I do not plan on taking Lialda long term because of side effects of headache, cramping, bloating, etc. This pill does not work fast enough.

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February 27, 2009 2:41 AM
Review by Anonymous:

Lialda (mesalamine): I started taking Lialda 4 months ago for ulcerative colitis after having taken Asacol for a number of years. I have been in remittance for a long time, doing reasonably well, but for some reason my doctor wanted me to try Lialda. It has been so nice to only take 2 a day as opposed to 6 of the Asacol a day and I have had more normal body functions than I have ever had. The only problem, my prescription drug insurance, Medco Health, has removed Lialda from their formulary list. I am really upset about that. I don't know why unless it's because it's so expensive. I guess I'm going to be forced to go back on Asacol.....

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January 11, 2010 1:16 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
6.0

Rowasa (mesalamine): Effective in gaining control of a moderate UC flare, but awful to use. This is an enema that should be retained - "Held in" all night. This is especially difficult for me during a flare. Don't fart! Stains. Tip- squeeze all the air out before administering.

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April 2, 2008 7:48 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
10

Lialda (mesalamine): I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis about six months ago and since then I have been on Lialda and it has helped tremendously.

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February 17, 2009 8:12 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
10

Lialda (mesalamine): I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a year ago after suffering for months. Lialda worked to stop my diarrhea practically overnight. I have not had a flair or really any symptoms since starting this medication nearly a year ago. I highly recommend it. Much better than taking Asacol four times a day. Once a day Lialda is much better.

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June 13, 2010 3:09 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
10

Lialda (mesalamine): Works great. No side effects and got my condition under control in 1 month after fighting it for over a year on other medicines.

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March 1, 2009 6:10 PM
Review by Pearl Man: User Rating:  
   
10

Lialda (mesalamine): Asacol stopped working and switched to Lialda and right back to remission!

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April 11, 2009 11:51 AM
Review by txladi: User Rating:  
   
10

Lialda (mesalamine): I have very mild left-sided ulcerative colitis, diagnosed in 1998. I have been taking Lialda for a little over 2 years. I was really bad about taking my previous medicines due to the high number of pills and frequency that I had to take them. I've found the Lialda works TOO well for me. I cannot take the 2 pills 1 x daily. With my doctor blessing, I take 1 pill ever 3 days, and my ulcerative colitis stays under control with no side effects that others have spoken of (and this is from a migraine and seasonal allergy patient.) This medicine is the BEST.

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September 4, 2010 3:52 PM
Review by 5jlw42:

Lialda (mesalamine): I have been taking Lialda for over three months. I have lymphatic colitis. I was taking 3 pills once daily, now I am taking two. I had horrible side effects when I first started taking the medication - severe cluster headaches, nausea, and numbness in my face. The effects eventually wore off after a week. I still feel like I am not right though but my doctor has encouraged me to continue to take the drug for at least a year. I also have panic disorder which got worse than ever after I started taking Lialda. I finally got back on Effexor. I have lost weight. The colitis started getting better with the Effexor.

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March 23, 2009 11:40 AM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
9.0

Asacol (mesalamine): It has been very helpful in controlling my UC. I have been taking it since my last episode along with prednisone and it has been a life saver. I have had no really side effects except extra secretion of saliva, but I am starting to feel much better since starting these medicines.

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October 3, 2008 4:21 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
7.0

Asacol (mesalamine): I've been on Asacol 12 pills/day (4 pills, 3x/day) and I've been experiencing headaches at least 2x/week. Also, I've had side effects of fatigue & acne. Whether or not these side effects can be completely blamed on the last 4-5 months of asacol use, who really knows. But Asacol has helped control my symptoms almost completely.

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November 21, 2008 4:49 PM
Review by chadTX: User Rating:  
   
5.0

Lialda (mesalamine): I am a male age 30 and I was diagnosed with Pan Colitis 3 years ago. Once I changed my diet (no lactose, less fast food, no sodas) it has seemed to be only confined to my left side. I have had a few flare ups each year but have always used prednisone each time. This works great for my UC but makes me a grump, I gain weight, get acne, etc. Each time (3-4 times) I have tried Asacol or Lialda it flushes out my colon with severe diarrhea to the point it is fluid only and each time I have stopped taking it because of the adverse reactions. Currently I am in a flare to the point of seeing blood and I do not want to have to start on prednisone again. So now I am on day 5 of taking Lialda and the diarrhea has been less each day. Hopefully I will stop seeing blood soon.

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November 14, 2010 11:38 PM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
9.0

Rowasa (mesalamine): I have found that it works great for my flare ups. It is to be retained all night, which isn't difficult as long as you do a full tap water bag enema first, empty, wait an hour or so and then inject the Rowasa enema. If you just simply use the Rowasa with a full colon, it becomes quite difficult to retain. If you do the Rowasa immediately after the big enema, you have absorbed too much water and not the medicine of the Rowasa. Bottom line is this: It's no fun, but clean yourself out with at least one full bag enema first, wait and hour and then put it in. This always works for me. I hope it helps.

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July 19, 2009 9:33 PM
Review by fufa: User Rating:  
   
2.0

Asacol (mesalamine): I am taking Asacol for the last 4 years and I am still having problem with gas and like full stomach with or without eating or drinking. I am having inflammation in the body and increasing weight and increasing the prolactin (milk) and not focusing well and discomfort.

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March 8, 2010 6:09 AM
Review by Sickofbeingsicko: User Rating:  
   
9.0

Canasa (mesalamine): This medicine stopped the pain of two severe colon fistulas (fissures?) in about three days. I'm very glad to have had it prescribed, and to my knowledge, no side effects.

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April 4, 2010 11:53 AM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
7.0

Rowasa (mesalamine): Rowasa is helpful for administering mesalamine to the rectum and lower portion of the colon; my ulcerative colitis is particularly active there (and the Asacol I take is gone before it gets that far). It is a good complement (for me) to the Asacol and prevents the blood that otherwise often shows up in my stool. It is rather messy though. Administering it is a hassle, it tends to drip. They can give you mild cramps, however these go away if you lie on your left side for a few minutes to allow the medicine to flow into and coat the lower colon (this works fine for me, as I use it before bed).

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May 25, 2010 5:03 AM
Review by Anonymous: User Rating:  
   
8.0

Lialda (mesalamine): I have microscopic colitis. Lialda works great but the only major drawback is the expense. $191 every two weeks. My insurance dropped me and that cost is with a local pharmacy prescription discount card. At this rate I will be unable to keep up with it.

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October 14, 2010 1:21 AM
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