Mesalamine and Pain: What Users Say

• Gea...
• July 19, 2018

For Ulcerative Colitis, Active "Been on this for two months now, absolutely no more. It's terrible. Makes my symptoms worse. I keep being told not to stop taking it, the effects will eventually stop, they don't. Abdominal pain, in areas I've never felt before, now not just my lower left side but all the way up under ribs. Terrible swelling, nausea, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, general sick feeling, constipation, bloating, pain every time I eat. I'm stopping this now. It's not helping, and even if it did, side effects outweigh the benefit. I was better before starting this rubbish."

• Ano...
• June 25, 2015

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis, Active "I was diagnosed with left-sided UC in May of 2015. My GI prescribed 4.8 grams (4 pills in the a.m.) of Lialda, plus 1 Canasa suppository (1 gram) at night. The suppository was for 3 weeks only. Within 2 weeks, the bleeding stopped, and I no longer saw the remnants of the colon tissue erosions when I had a bowel movement. I stopped taking the Canasa after a week and a half because I think it was leading me towards diarrhea, and I felt slight rectal pain. There was no noticeable negative effect to me stopping the Canasa dose at that point. I continued to take the regular dosage of Lialda. I had some dizziness the first week or two, but that has since abated. I also noticed acne that I haven't had in many years. No issues with hair thinning."

• Tum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2014

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis, Active "I was told to switch to Lialda after being on Asacol HD for 3 years, 2 pills 3x a day, 800mg each, due to my insurance not covering it anymore. My doctor told me the only difference was the coating, so I felt confident making the switch. By the end of week one of Lialda, 1200mg, 2 pills 2x a day, I was starting to get pain and go more frequently until it turned into diarrhea. I had no flare-ups for a year and had been feeling great on the Asacol, so I immediately switched back to it after a month on Lialda. It was too late, the wheels had already started turning on the road to a flare-up. I am now on day 8 of being back on Asacol, waiting for my prednisone to get me better. I am so disappointed this happened."

• Bea...
• April 24, 2014

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis, Active "I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 8 years ago and, due to my financial situation, stopped taking any meds for the past 5 years. But recently, I went back to my GI, and after being reprimanded for my actions, I was put back on Lialda. It has been about 2 and a half months, and most of my symptoms have improved, though I am still having soreness/dull ache in my abdomen and urgency for the bathroom more than my GI thinks I should. A colonoscopy is scheduled in a few weeks to see what the condition of the colon is in, and I may have to add another medication. I would advise, even if you are feeling fine, do not stop taking your meds unless directed by your doctor. I have been told I will need to take meds for the rest of my life."

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2020

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis, Active "I've had ulcerative colitis for nearly 15 years. I'm on quite a few meds for it and have to do intermittent steroid rounds due to active flares. I've had a few flares this year that have been challenging to get under control... with the usual frequency/urgency, blood in stool, pain/discomfort. I have used Canasa suppositories in the past with little improvement. It had been years since I'd used Rowasa - but my doc suggested we try them again... I couldn't be more thankful. Within days, my pain/discomfort/frequency has already been reduced, with an almost immediate decrease in pain/discomfort. ONE THING TO NOTE: before administering this med, make sure to gently shake the bottle THEN SQUEEZE UNTIL THE AIR IS OUT OF THE BOTTLE. Otherwise, it can cause additional gas/pain."

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2018

For Ulcerative Colitis, Active "Almost 54 y/o female, recently had initial recommended colonoscopy. Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and prescribed 1.2 gm tablets of mesalamine. My colitis problem was hardly noticeable to me until beginning this medication. I only had slight change in morning BM routine. Now... I'm nauseous, have terrible stomach cramping and pain, as well as diminished appetite. That part not awful since I'd welcome a healthful 15 lb weight loss. I've only been on this medication for 6 days, but I'm very concerned about the cramping and stomach pain. If it persists another day or two, I'll be contacting my GI Dr rather than wait for my 5-week follow-up. The cost of this medicine for a 30-day supply would be almost $600.00 if I didn't have RX coverage. Still, $127.70 a month is steep."

• MS ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 9, 2013

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis, Active "My daughter takes Lialda for severe Ulcerative Colitis. If the cost is a problem, talk with your doctor for a discount card through the company. When added to your insurance, it only costs about $10, with my insurance, it's $40. If no insurance, I believe it's about $40 a month, not sure, doesn't hurt to check out. The card is good for a year, and you have to call to renew it at no cost. She started taking 4 pills a day, and last summer her doctor dropped her down to 1. Since then, over a period of 5 months, it's back with a vengeance: severe bleeding and pain."

• Pao...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2015

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis "Helps me somewhat. I was diagnosed recently, I'm only 19. I don't bleed anymore, thank God. I would have bloody stool 6-10 times a day. The only thing I do get is really gassy, and it hurts. Is that normal? Also, I am on Remicade."

• Anonymous
• July 10, 2017

Mesalamine 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."

• Ama...
• April 2, 2016

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Proctitis "I've been using Pentasa 2 times a day, a total of 4 pills. It definitely helps! Sometimes I get headaches and feel sick, and sometimes I occasionally get pain, and for some reason, ever since I started taking them, I get these weird skin patches."

• Pat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 5, 2020

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Proctitis "I have been using Canasa for 2 years. First, I wasn't paying for it until I turned 65 years old last year. I now pay a $75 copayment. Three months ago, I tried the generic brand and I noticed lots of symptoms: heart palpitations, lots of bloating, really bad pains. My blood pressure elevated, nervousness, muscle pain in my left calf, pain in my left side, and a really bad headache. I can't deal with it anymore, I am even losing body mass."

• vnd...
• September 1, 2016

Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis "Works fairly well on the ulcers, but the side effects are terrible. Two days in, my knee swelled to twice the normal size, and I can't stand on it. Fever and headache constant. Ache all over. Eyes hurt. Going back to Colazol."

• Rea...
• February 6, 2020

For Ulcerative Colitis, Maintenance "Supposedly diagnosed with segmental colitis, and after my colonoscopy, I was started on Lialda. Now, 6 months later, I have seen no improvement, however, I think I am experiencing bloating, knee pain, and I am still bleeding. My doctor suggested prednisone. At this point, my trust in her is gone, and I decided to stop the medication. 6 months of bleeding, numerous calls to her office/visits, and a ton of blood work, and nothing has changed. Side effects can be increased bleeding."

• Mar...
• March 25, 2021

For Ulcerative Proctitis "This is the second time I have used mesalamine in 2019 and 2021. The first month I took mesalamine I thought I saw some improvement. I have asked my doctor for refills. After 10 days, I started to feel pain in the lower part of my abdomen. I have now been diagnosed with high blood pressure. I started to have rectal bleeding as well."