Asacol symptoms and conditions

Male 28. Was diagnosed a couple of months ago with Ulcerative Colitis and was prescribed Prednisone. A large dose to start with then tampered off for 4 weeks. The first week I felt great, better than great, fantastic. The only downside was difficulty sleeping. The following 3 weeks, without any exaggeration have been among the worst I have ever experienced. I think the lack of sleep finally caught up with me, so I was constantly tired and generically felt depressed, also knee ache, eye pain, inability to think clearly (quite a problem when you are an Engineer), lacked energy or strength – and the Acne. Never before have I had Acne like this, and I used to suffer quite bad during my teens. Its just so aggressive, every few hours there seems to be new ones appearing. It seems to occur when ever I step down the dose. I think having this bad skin has really added to my depression over the last few weeks, it has been especially difficult considering I have been in the process of starting a new job. To top all of that my UC seems to be worst than ever! I’m worried that when I go back to see the Doctor next week he is going to put me on some equally-annoying medication or maybe another course of Prednisone if I’m lucky.

Does anyone know of some natural alternatives that are good for UC, very reluctant to put anymore man-made chemicals into my body.

22 years old i have had Coltis for 5 years,flair ups pretty much the whole time, i have been on Prednisone a lot this last time has been the WORSE!!! All i can say is i hate it!! i was put in hospital the 4th time steroid thou the iv for 5 days sent home got worse again back to hospital then to try Cyclosporin thou the iv and also the steroid thou the iv. Ten days later they sent me home on prednisone coming off the iv was hard the pain in my legs was unbelievable!!! finally i was sent home on prednisone,coliform anemas,salfak anemas,and salfak granuls,i thought the worst was over but it was far from it... I turned in to a complete loony,crazy women i don't even know myself anymore my poor partner and kids. Having to deal with the pain and everything eles that comes with having a flair up but then also going though the side effects of the prednisone and the coliform was unbearable, i just wanted to die! My flair up was not getting much better and i hated myself as i felt i did not know myself with the mood swings, the crazy flip outs,crying all the time.My partner has been great having to pick me up off the ground and turn the crying reck into someone half normal. I hate the moon face,weight gain, im hungry ALL the time,night sweats,sleepless nights sore teeth,I have come off it now its been 4 days, so now all i need to stop its the coliform then i will be steroid FREE!!!!! i cannot wait!! For my face to go down and to be normal and back to the good old me! I forget what shes like... Coming off the Prednisone has been hard with the leg pain,muscle aches,head aches,mood swings,nausea. Its just hard as no one around me understands what im going though or what it feels like so i just sound like a sookie cry baby or a raving loony. does anyone know how long it takes for moon face to go away??? I wish everyone luck with there battles with Prednisone, its one of the hardest things i have had to deal with. =) your not alone. stay strong and be positive even throu your lowest times.

I was diagnosed with Chrohn's in February. I am 25 years old. I was put on prednisone and asacol to control my systems. I was on 40mg then down to 20mg and finally last Friday 5/22 after weening off I was off the drug completely. I also had EN (a complication of Chrohn's) with severe pain, swelling and bruising in the feet and legs. In fact that was the only reason I went to the doctor, I was just dealing with everything for years. With Prednisone I experienced a slight moon face but also a huge bloated, pregnant like belly, it's awful. I have to hide it with baggy shirts. I also gained about 20 lbs, I have abdomen pain, hair on my upper lip, my ear clogs and clicks, insomnia, insane amount of energy. Oddly though people have been saying they are moody, the good thing the drug did was put me in an excellent mood all the time and took away my acne.

My Question: When do these side effects go away, I have been off for a week. Primarily the bloated stomach and weight gain. I know it takes a while, but how long???

I was recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and was hospitalized in March 2008 for pancreatitis - a reaction I had to Asacol. A week later I was discharged then went back to the hospital a day later for a severe flare-up. There, they started me on antibiotics and prednisone through an IV. When I left the hospital I started taking 40mg. The initial side affects were severe sweaty palms, racing heartbeat and dizziness. Within 2 weeks I started experiencing insomnia, acne, hair loss, extreme mood swings, depression, anxiety, and was OCD on top of the sweating to where the skin on my palms was starting to peel. It suddenly got out of control fast. I became suicidal - nearly attempted suicide twice. I was paranoid, had severe lack of concentration to the point that I felt cognitively delayed, couldn't do anything on my own, lacked emotion, and felt that I WAS crazy. Luckily my family was very supportive. During the second suicidal attempt they begged me to stay at a psychiatric hospital. I did and was there for about three days. A week later I was finally completely tapered off prednisone. Within 2 weeks I was completely normal and back to myself. My three months of hell was finally over. I tell myself I will never take prednisone ever again but the truth is it might be the only thing down the line that can save my life. I hate this drug and I don't recommend anyone take it unless it's the last option you have.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003, have been treated with Asacol ever since, and was in remission for nearly 5 years. I flared in December of 2007, and had my first experience with prednisone; I was on 40 mg/day for nearly 6 months. I gained 35 pounds, got the moon face, double-chin, tummy fat, muscle aches, extreme mood swings, excruciating headaches, night sweats, and UNCONTROLLABLE hunger. I, too, noticed the sensitive teeth, and now I feel like my enamel is really thin...almost see-through. Anyway, I've been off prednisone for about 5 months. The moon face went away for the most part, but my cheeks still seem a little chubbier than before, and my double-chin is a lot smaller, but still there. I've lost about half the weight, but only after joining weight watchers and working out 6 days a week. I feel like I can't lose any more weight to save my life. Does anyone have any suggestions? I never struggled with weight prior to taking this stupid drug. I'd appreciate any input.

My daughter is 12 and just started taking Prednisone 5 days ago (40mg - she weighs 105lbs) .. I've been watching her salt intake - tonight she looks a little pale to me - is that a side effect? has anyone else experienced that? She has Ulcerative colitis (2 years this month) - started w/asacol, colazol, 6mp (gave her pancreatits) now is on methotrexate since Nov '07 - was put on prednisone because of a recent flare - to me none of these medications have put her into remisson - always goes 3-5 times a day - sometimes blood - sometimes not - don't know if prednisone will help - so afraid of the side effects -
Dr. said if it doesn't - Remicade will be the next option - after that surgery - only thing - my daughter has never complained of pain - except when she was on 6mp -
sorry for babbling - just so scared...

My brother has been on Asacol for about 2 years, since initially being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He started to bleed again about 1.5 months ago and his physician recommended he go on a Lialda study. He has not stopped bleeding since switching to Lialda from Asacol and soon developed pneumonia. I am not saying that the pneumonia is a side effect of the Lialda, but it is secondary to the reduced immunity from the slow and continuous bleeding. He also has what is called "dumping syndrome" where as soon as you eat a couple mouthfuls, you cannot eat anymore and have to wait a while. He also is extremely tired, mostly due to the anemia, and has very loose bowel movements, up to 3-5 times just in the morning hours. He has skin rashes that won't resolve even with prescription ointment. His ulcerative colitis seems to be exacerbated as well. One thing we are countering a lot of his symptoms with is holistic treatments, namely good diet and acupuncture.

6 weeks ago I switched from Asacol to Lialda. I could still be a posterchild for Lialda in every aspect except I have had an extreme issue for the last week. My earlobes and behind my ears itch so bad. The top front part of both of my arms and both of my forearms itch like crazy. One more place, that I cannot stop scratching is right under the tip of my chin. For the life of me, I cannot attribute this reaction to anything else. I do not even know if this could be a possible side effect for Lialda.

I've been taking 100mg of Imuran (with Prednisone and Asacol) for just over a month and am experiencing severe headaches, hair loss, back/joint pain and nausea.

Been on Prednisone for 3 years now for ulcerative colitis. At first tolerated the drug quite well. But after a few months started to gain weight, acne. After 3 years of yo-yoing between large and low doses, each increase in dose made me feel worse. I am now at a state of osteopenia and of extreme tiredness and brain fog. I see 80yo with more energy than I. I cant walk up 10 sets of stairs without feeling tired out. I need to sleep 3-5 hours a day just in order to function. As mentioned before brain fog is amazingly bad. I'm a scientific researcher which can no longer work.

Prednisone has introduced to me what panic attacks are, mood swings, joint pain and swelling, extreme muscle fatigue and wasting, blurry vision, in habitual eating habits, depression.

This drug has ruined my life. I would have preferred having surgery to remove the colon and going to the toilet 10 times a day rather than not living as brain fog and tiredness that makes my life a dream-state nightmare.

Hi!
I have ulcerative Colitis. I had a bad flare up since Thanksgiving 07.I have been on Prednisone since the beginning of Dec.07. The first 3 days it was giving to me by IV every 6 hrs.I was hospitalized due to tremendous blood lost. After this my doctor put me on 60 MG a day. 6 pills of Asacol and I also was on ennama with Cortisone which totally almost killed me. The side effects were sooooooooooooo bad,let say I had them all.Right now I'm dealing with the side effects of the evil Pill " Prednisone" Moon face and this awful bloating in my upper abdomen, tiredness, no energies, heavy legs. It makes it really hard for me to get out & around.I hope my doctor will get me off this Prednisone. Not only messes it up your normal living no it also makes you look like a ugly bulldog! I hate it!

I was prescribed to take 30mg/day (Prednisone) to try to reduce the inflammation brought upon by Ulcerative Colitis. I have taken Prednisone before....up to 60mg/day, when I was first diagnosed with UC. I don't really remember all of the side effects I experienced, but I do remember my calves and feet swelling, a bit a of moon face and very little weight gain due to the UC. Does anyone have any suggestions to how/and when I should take the daily dose of Prednisone (early morning, with food...what kind of food)? Also, I would love to hear from anyone with Ulcerative Colitis and how they are coping with the disease. From their diet when in remission to during a flare-up! Thanks...

During the 2000/2001 school year I became extremely ill from a pnuemonia type disease. It was my first year as a public school teacher and I was reluctant to miss any days. I tried self medicating myself and was not able to get over it. I sought relief from this from my family doctor. He examined me and prescribed the antibiotic levaquin. He described the drug as the "cadilac" of all antibiotics. I took the medication as prescribed. During this course of this medication I developed yeast infection in my mouth. My doctor prescribed the recommened medication for the yeast infection. Soon after the levaquin I began to experience severe ulcerated colitus including bleeding stools several times a day. I notified my doctor who emphatically denied that levaquin was in any way the cause of this. He advise me to seek treatment from a specialist. I was treated with such drugs as Asacol (12 capsules a day) and for a time predisone. These symptoms continued for the next two to three years. As a middle school teacher I experienced much stress from my duties as a new teacher and along with the daily rigor of the effects of the disease was unable to perform my teaching duties to the standards of expectation. In the spring of 2003 my teaching contract was not renewed. I have not been in the class room since. Additionally in the Spring of 2004 I switched medical plans and went under the care of a new specialist. He performed a colonoscopy outpatient and determined that I was free from the Colitus. Even though I am pronounced free from the disease the above circumstances have had a direct impact on my general health.

I was diagnosed w/ Crohn's Disease at the age of 15. I am now 18 and have had no luck w/ any drug that they have tried to treat me with. Endocort and Asacol. After two years of these two drugs they decided to try Prednisone because I was not getting better. I have been on it for one month at 30 mg a day. I love it SO FAR. I am waiting to see what happens. I am scared because I haven't heard the best things about Prednisone. I have had mild weight gain. I weighed 93 lbs and now I am a healthy 105. I am not getting fat, I am just putting on the weight my body was lacking. I looked anorexically skinny and now my body is healing so I am able to eat more and not get sick. I have had mild heartburn as well. Especially when I drink pop. I have had slight muscle cramps. The worst part is the acne I have been experiencing. It came on out of nowhere. But, just wash your face 2-3x a day and keep it oil free and you should be fine. And to help control the weight gain I work out 3x a week. I also am eating healthier foods.

Are any of you losing hair with Imuran? I'm on 50 mg and my hair is falling out worse and not growing on my arms or legs. Previously I was losing hair with asacol and pentasa, and just quit prednisone.