Pentasa and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Juv...
• November 20, 2017

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I'm a Filipina, 44 years old, and was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2014. I've been taking Pentasa tabs and suppositories as well. My first 6 months were four Pentasa 500 mg tablets twice a day and 1 suppository before bedtime. There was an improvement, I had less diarrhea and cramping of the stomach. I maintained taking Pentasa for 2 years and reduced the dosage until I took two 500 mg Pentasa a day and 1 suppository. Since I feel better, I decided to stop taking the medicine. Now I'm 3 years without taking any medicine and starting again with diarrhea and bloody stools. Maybe I need to start back on Pentasa again."

• wal...
• October 27, 2015

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I have started the Pentasa. It has given me diarrhea and some stomach cramps when taking it. I have to see if after taking it for a week how it will do with the Crohn's or see about getting off of it. I am also getting cramps in the stomach area when taking this medication."

• OVE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2018

For Ulcerative Colitis, Active "I've been taking Pentasa tablets for about 3 weeks. I take two 500 mg tablets, 3 times a day. During the 3rd week, diarrhea set in. So far, I've gone through 7 straight days of diarrhea. I'll be seeing my doctor next week."

• bel...
• March 31, 2015

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "My main symptoms were diarrhea and bloody mucus stools. Once on Pentasa 4g a day, the symptoms had stopped. Until a month ago, where they began, along with a lot of wind. Was using suppositories as well, initially 1, then 2 per day. I've stopped taking all medication till I see my specialist. So far, symptoms are on worse-better, if anything. No longer running to the toilet all day. I've had colitis for less than a year. I'm 35."

• Anonymous
• July 10, 2017

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "Well, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 29... but the doctors thought I had it before then, I was pregnant, and it laid dormant for about a year. My intestines burst one year ago, and I had to have bowel resection...20 inches and my appendix. After all that, they put me on steroids and Pentasa, two 500 mg, three times a day. At first, I did okay with it, but I'm horrible at taking medicine, so I started decreasing the amount that I took. The doctor is not thrilled, of course, but now that I haven't taken it for a while, I feel no different than when I'm on it. I have diarrhea anytime I eat and occasional gas with pain, but that's it... I'm lucky, I know, and still not sure if I'm making the right choice, but meds are $70/mo."

• Gaz...
• May 4, 2016

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "This drug Pentasa is the worst drug that I have ever taken. I had severe vomiting, at least over 20 times in the space of 3 to 4 hours, and severe diarrhea, which was even worse. This occurred every 20 minutes or less sometimes, but no bloody [unintelligible] that I was aware of. So people be warned, this drug is crap. It really is."

• pur...
• December 10, 2009

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "The pain I have after eating is relieved if I take my medicine on time. Before this, I was unable to eat any foods without having loose stools and severe pain."

• KOd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2021

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "Pentasa gave me diarrhea within 24 hours of using it. Stopped it, returns to normal and tried it again to make sure. Diarrhea returned."