When the doctor told me I had UC he handed me a bunch of samples of Apriso, which is also mesalamine just with a different delivery system, and said "You'll be taking this the rest of your life." I had to ask the NP about kidney damage. She didn't realize it needed to be monitored, which really bothered me.

talk to your doc about kidney function tests before you decide to stop any treatment because if 5ASA is working and you don't have ant issues it's waaaaaaaaaaay better than going to the next tier of drugs ie immunomodulators of anti TNF drugs where potential side effects get more extreme

Asacol is not treating me very well personally. I am thinking about just using the steroids and then switching back to Boswellia and probiotics.

My neck hurts, my body aches, Im dizzy, my lower back hurts, head hurts....whenever I take the Mesalamine.

I think I have multiple drug sensitives. Thats a big reason why I prefer natural medicine.

Asacol worked for me, I was on it for the better part of two years, I slowly worked my way from 9 pills a day down to one. When I got ready to quit the asacol I went to an accupuncturist and when I was done with accupuncture I quit the asacol and started with probiotics, I havn't taken asacol now for about a year and I'm doing fine. The asacol did make me gain about 40 pounds, but I have lost it all now that I'm off the medication.

Is that a typical side effect?

The Asacol seems like it was helping me, but the neck pain and headache got really bad and it took 4mg IV hydromorphone to subdue it just for a few hours.

I am going to talk to my doctor on monday about either trying half dosage or trying a different medication entirely.

I want to hurry up and get over this flare. Ive been relying on pain medication and I dont like that. Im building a tolerance and the MJ isnt cutting it at this level of irritation.

I was switched from Asacol to Colazal and that worked better for me.

My doc. said it's normal, I dont know about the headaches or neck pain though, I never had that.

It occurs in about 7% of patients and I have multiple medication sensitivity. It seems like I got it especially bad.

When Pat used it it came out as it went in...........whole. :(

Yep, my doc said I would take Asacol for the rest of my life...Yippee!

Wow, I am glad that the neck pain was mentioned. I have had neck pain every day for at least two years. I have always considered it part of my colitic arthritis but I never though of it as being a side effect of Asacol.

Well, I am shocked to learn I may be on this FOREVER. I am doing well if you don't count the fact my hair is falling out at breakneck speed. I am hoping to get into remission and stay there.

I had 2 days of severe neck pain...it was probably the drug but it disappeared. I am on a low dose too. What a horrid disease.

" I was switched from Asacol to Colazal and that worked better for me. "

Weird, my GI switched me from Colazal to Asacol :D

I didn't know that neck pain was a side effect, either. I thought it was just apart of my arthritis also. Huh.