Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis User Reviews

• Fan...
• October 1, 2018

"I’ve had UC for 30 years now. Life was hell for the first 15 years, and I tried everything that is out there, including energy healing and experimental cell therapy in Mexico! I was ready to have my colon removed before I finally learned how to get in remission and stay in remission by watching what I eat. I have not been on any medication for 15 years now. I keep a variety of meds handy just in case. Twice I had mild flare-ups, and both times I took Apriso, and within 5 days, I went back to remission, and then I stopped taking the med again. I stay away from milk, spicy food, alcohol when my stomach feels sensitive, certain fruits such as strawberries and cantaloupe, and greasy food. Pay attention to what you eat and keep a chart. You’ll be able to pinpoint what irritates your body."

• Mic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 25, 2023

"I was first diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 27 years ago. I was put on Pentasa 500mg twice daily. My GP took me off it after 10 years as he felt it was no longer needed. This was a big mistake. I suffered numerous diarrhea occasions over the 5 years I was off it. This then resulted in needing multiple periods on steroids. My consultant put me back on Pentasa then and I've never had to take steroids since. Pentasa has brought normality back into my life. However, I do find I am very prone to picking up infections. I'm not sure if this is linked to the Pentasa or ulcerative colitis. Overall, it has been a lifesaver in that I no longer miss work and can live a normal lifestyle."

• Deb...
• January 3, 2021

"Received a diagnosis last year of ulcerative colitis when I stopped smoking. Two months later, all the symptoms hit: bloated, pains in the stomach, constipation, and lots of blood! I went for a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. At first, I was given the rectal foam... I found the process awful, once inserted, you couldn’t move, otherwise it triggered a bowel movement and also caused awful cramps. I then tried the Pentasa tablets, taking 2 a day for 8 weeks now, and what a difference! The bloating and pain in the stomach has gone down loads, bowel movements are more regular, and much less bleeding. I still get the odd niggly feelings and a small amount of blood, so the doctor has recommended upping the dose to 4 a day. So far though, these tablets have massively improved my ulcerative colitis. I’m in the UK and fortunate enough to have the NHS, so I pay £9 for three big boxes. It’s crazy to think people have to pay hundreds for no fault of their own!"

• Non...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2019

"I suffered for almost a year before I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC). It got so severe all I did was work and come home and sleep on the bathroom floor. I would make 40-50 trips to the bathroom a day. I just wished I’d die some days. It was truly debilitating. I’m so thankful my employer was very understanding and supportive! I cannot take steroids, so my options were very limited. My doctor put me on this medication, Apriso, and it has been life-changing for me. The medication is very expensive, but luckily my insurance covers it! When I initially called the pharmacy, they told me my cost was over $800 for a one-month supply, because my insurance denied it. I fixed that issue right away. Out of pocket from a pharmacy is about $30 for a one-month supply. But I found a home delivery service that had a three-month supply for only $24! Most insurance companies will only cover one to two months of this medication, so ask. I highly recommend this medication if you have UC."

• Nou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 29, 2021

"I was diagnosed with UC in 2018 due to high levels of stress causing serious diarrhea, sharp stomach pain, bloating, and bleeding. I got various tests until the doctors were able to diagnose me with UC. Starting off with steroids for a couple of weeks, I then began taking 4 tablets daily, and the improvements were amazing. I am able to eat any food without any complications. When I find myself stressed out, I do see little flare-ups, but they go away after a day or two max. I would 100% recommend this medication for anyone to try if you have these symptoms due to stress."

• Anonymous
• December 16, 2016

"My husband died from taking Lialda. He had been taking it for 3 months, and it totally depleted his white blood cells. When he was admitted to the hospital, he was taken to ICU isolation on a Fri. and died Wed. Autopsy confirmed he died from the Lialda!"

• SUZ...
• September 20, 2019

"I have had colitis for 20 years. I was prescribed steroids but did not want to take them. I had gas, bloating, loose, watery, foul-smelling bowel movements. Up to 20 a day. I started on Asacol 800 mg. I took 6 tabs a day. Two in the morning, 2 midday, and 2 at bedtime. I saw no results and was even passing whole tablets... as I know it is common. I almost threw in the towel. At the 3-month mark, I had formed stools and minimal gas and bloating. You have to be patient. Our bowels did not get sick overnight... so you are not going to be cured overnight. 20 years of issues took about 3 months on Asacol. Now I am down to 2 x 800 mg tabs maintenance dose. 1 tab in the morning and 1 tab at night. I still have the odd loose bowel movement if I eat greasy food or drink too much coffee. But all in all... well worth it."

• Anonymous
• February 26, 2012

"I would probably rate Apriso higher if it were not for some side effects. The only medicine that has actually worked to keep the blood and unreal cramps at a distance. It works. Only twice have I had symptoms since 11/01/2011, I hope it stays that way. Anyone with ulcerative colitis knows how important this is."

• Luc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 26, 2020

"I started taking Lialda in April 2015, 4 tablets a day for my ulcerative colitis. After being sick for many months and in and out of the emergency room, I was ready for something that would help me get my life back. I was having diarrhea with blood multiple times a day, along with abdominal pain and cramps, and down to 106 pounds. Lialda started working almost instantly for me. Within a week, I was no longer having any loose stools, blood, and my pain level was down 80%. I had some side effects such as headaches, chills, fatigue, and dizziness; a small price to pay for how much Lialda helped me and saved my life. I was able to slowly decrease my dose to 2 tablets a day, then 1, and now none. I gained weight and started to feel more like myself again. For me personally, it was a great experience that was worth any side effects that eventually went away after my body was used to the medication. I would definitely recommend Lialda; maybe it can help you like it helped me."

• Sug...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 30, 2018

"Lialda put me in remission for over 12 years. I never experienced any side effects until a few months ago when Lialda almost killed me. It gave me pancreatitis. My lipase was at 10,000, the normal is 0 to 90. I am extremely lucky."

• Jod...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 6, 2014

"Had severe bloody diarrhea for a couple of months, went away for two years, then came back worse. I was then diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. My doctor started me on 6 pills a day of Asacol. Within two weeks, I was having completely normal bowel movements again with no pain. I then began decreasing my dosage (doctor's orders) and now I am currently on 2 pills a day of 800g. My life is completely back to normal. The only side effect I have is slight dizziness during more stressful times. I have had a couple of minor flares. I do miss my dosage once in a while, but it never seems to affect me as long as I take my next dose. Would recommend Asacol in a heartbeat!"

• boo...
• April 19, 2019

"I'm a 63 yr. old male, had UC for over 5 years before my second colonoscopy showed the inflammation in my lower sigmoid colon. Diagnosed as mild. Although I had no pain, the symptoms were debilitating (fatigue, joint ache, loose bowel motions (BM) all morning, poor sleep, anxiety, depression, nausea, chills, and sensitivity to cold with no fever, bleeding internal hemorrhoids during BMs, etc.). My Dr. put me on Apriso, within 3 weeks my symptoms improved, no more fatigue, normal BMs. I've been on it for 6 months and would say my quality of life has improved greatly. I have an occasional mild flare once in a while but nowhere near as bad as without the meds. I find my body wakes me up at about 7 am to use the toilet, but the BMs are 3-4 on the stool chart vs. 5-6. Remission is different for everyone. There is no set standard to quantify remission."

• MAG...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2019

"I have been taking Lialda for 8 weeks. I fought getting started on a prescription as I prefer holistic approaches to healing, but there was way too much stress in my life to be able to focus on that. So I finally attempted a medication and am glad I did. It took about 4 weeks of using it daily. I take 4 tablets in the am with food. After 3 to 4 weeks, the bathroom frequency went from 6 to 8 visits per day to just in the morning. Since then, I have gained 5 pounds, so am thrilled about that as well. At first, the only side effect was sinus-related, but that went away after a couple of weeks. The only thing I have since noticed is my hair more easily breaks when washing my hair, but thinning hair for now sure beats 6 to 8 bathroom visits. It is still a journey to healing, but trying to focus on reducing stress has helped a lot as well. I use a calm app and love it."

• Hap...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 15, 2018

"Initially, when I started taking Lialda, it worked. However, I ignored the side effects because the medication was working well. I pushed aside all the warning signs in my body until my symptoms became severe. I had loss of hair, muscle weakness, fatigue, anxiety, and the final straw was the rash that overcame my body. The doctor did not believe it was due to the Lialda because I was on it for 4 years, however, I know my body better than the doctor and chose to stop taking it. After 2 weeks, I felt like a new person. I am now on Balsalazide Disodium, and for now, it seems to be working fine. Listen to your body despite what the doctor says. Ignoring the warning signs my body was experiencing was ignorance on my part and will never happen again."

• A...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2020

"Mesalazine foam enema. Available from NHS in the UK, so insurance is not an issue. I have only taken this for a week, so it's early to say... But so far, I think it is working better than other formulations. I tried the same brand suppositories, which were not effective, Pentasa was better, but this foam seems to be doing better again. Probably because my inflammation extends to 20 cm. After four days, I started to feel better. I had more energy and more regular and solid stools. At first, it was hard to keep the enema in, which is still true if I use a double dose as prescribed. It is uncomfortable to take, and so far, a double pump often leads to a bowel evacuation... but I'm hoping this improves as the inflammation recedes, as stated in the instructions."

• JLB...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 14, 2016

"I have ulcerative sigmoiditis and proctitis. I couldn't retain Rowasa very long. The GI switched me to sulfasalazine, first 4/day, which worked for a few months, then 8/day, which worked for two to three years. I still had flare-ups a few times per year. Then he upped it to 16/day, but that only worked for about a year. I was having flare-ups all the time. I was tired of taking pills, so I asked my PCP to try me on another drug, Apriso. I was in the middle of a flare-up, so it took a few weeks to kick in. But that's the last flare-up I've had. It's 4 capsules only, once per day, and I haven't had a flare-up since I started taking it about 5 years ago. I have not noticed any side effects."

• Ste...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 1, 2019

"I began taking Pentasa in 1986 when it was still an experimental drug. I have taken over 150,000 250 mg capsules! My UC has been in remission for over 25 years now. I still take six 250 mg capsules daily. For me, Pentasa has been a miracle drug, as I wasn't too far from death in the early 1980s. I just wish it were available as a generic. I am now on Medicare, and the prescription Part D plans don't pay well. It will cost me hundreds per month."

• Pea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 3, 2020

"I’ve been taking Lialda for 6 years. I started on a very high dose but have reduced it over the years. I do believe it gives me gas, stomach aches, and I often have soft stools and mild cramping. I spoke to my doctor about it, and he agrees it is probably the Lialda, but I didn’t want to switch in fear a new drug would not be as effective. I can deal with the side effects I have, but I definitely don’t want another flare-up. With that said, it works for me, but with annoying side effects. Also, the price is ridiculous! For a while, I could use coupons, but they aren’t available since a generic was introduced. Thank goodness I have insurance, but it’s still high."

• pau...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 17, 2020

"2 years ago, very bad colitis, spent 7 days in hospital, drugs, X-rays, etc. I responded well to drugs, and I am now on 3 Pentasa in the morning and 3 at night, with no side effects, and I do eat anything I want. At the time I went to the hospital, I was 74 years old, and it came on over a period of 2 months. In the end, I lived on the toilet. I did see a specialist, and he sent me straight to the hospital. He said I was gravely ill. I am good now."

• Car...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 3, 2018

"It worked for me initially, but then stopped working. I didn't really notice any side effects. Have been on 4 pills daily, but will need to be switched to something else. I was getting my medication shipped free to my house through the manufacturer. If you qualify for their program, you get approved within 2 days."

• Vit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2016

"Age 37, diagnosed with bad UC at 12, recent years only flares up 2-3 times/year. Currently fighting the first bout of the year with Pentasa suppositories, taking 1-2/day. Has stopped the bleeding and going less frequently BUT awful headaches (as with Asacol/Salofalk foam enemas). Note to self/others who are sick of drugs: I have found (25 yrs in) that it IS possible to be symptom-free if you properly and consistently take care of yourself. This means plenty of rest/sleep, chamomile tea/water, gentle exercise, meditation (mindfulness is a cliché/buzzword but there's a lot to it), steamed veggies/rice, avoiding sugar/alcohol/dairy/caffeine (going gluten-free can help some people too)... I intend to cure myself completely one of these days!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2014

"I took Apriso for a year, and it was successful in treating my ulcerative colitis. I was then switched to Asacol HD. My prescription plan eventually decided Asacol HD was too expensive, and I was put back on Apriso. This second course on Apriso was not successful. It did nothing to alleviate my ulcerative colitis symptoms and produced a number of unpleasant side effects - the worst of which was moderate-to-severe stomach cramps around the clock - even waking me from sound sleep. Coupled with an incredibly dry mouth that invited multiple canker sores to erupt in my mouth, these symptoms made eating anything very unpleasant; I lost 15 lbs in the three weeks I was on Apriso. As soon as I stopped taking it, the cramping and canker sores disappeared."

• Anonymous
• February 10, 2012

"I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in April of 2011. After numerous visits with my doctor and exploratory scopes, my gastroenterologist prescribed Asacol last September (2012) and he gave me a discount card to use when I initially filled my prescription for Asacol, so the monthly prescriptions have been FREE! Since taking Asacol on a regular basis, my last scope revealed that ALL of my ulcerations have healed! Thank you, Asacol! You've changed my life!"

• Lee...
• August 28, 2019

"I was diagnosed with UC after lots of fluids when passing gas, loose stools including blood, and bowel incontinence. Within 6 months, I was in remission and could stop wearing incontinence pants. I'm thrilled!"

• tes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2020

"I got UC 3 years after quitting smoking at age 70. As I was always healthy before, I was rather dismayed to be told I have ulcerative colitis. I take the enema and find it difficult to use as well as a nuisance. I do not 'go' as often and there is no more blood, but I am tired, have headaches, bloating, flatulence, and cramps---to the extent that I now get very little sleep. Before, my symptoms were in the morning. Now, I feel urgency to go all day---as well as most nights. Won't say I'm sorry I quit smoking. I'll just say I'm glad I smoked as long as I did. Hope others have better experiences with this drug."