| Key to ratings for asacol: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken and Dosage | Date Added | |
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| 1 | colitis | after taking these tablets for three days i had server headaches vommitting sweats heart rate drop felt like my heart was struggling to pump dizzyness . | I think that doctors should be held responsiable for over dosing patients . they are to quick to give tablets without explaining that the tablets could make you worse than what you were | F | 38 | 3 days 400 3X D | 8/22/2010 | 4 | UC | None so far | After taking Asacol for 4 weeks the bleeding and loose movements have stopped. I have now reduced the dose too 1 tablet 3 times a day. I am avoiding very large meals because that does bring back discharge. | M | 36 | 3 months 400mg 3X D | 8/18/2010 | 1 | UC | Acne, rosacea, red bumps all over skin, dry eyes, red eyes | Didn't help at all. | M | 18 | 5 years 1X M | 8/7/2010 | 1 | collagenous colitis | severe gas pains, night sweats, abdominal pain, heartburn, dizziness, back pain | DANGEROUS DRUG! After researching side effects when mine developed after about 5 weeks,- I found that I should have been monitored for blood, liver, kidneys, (and my doctor had not thought to arrange this?- what's with that????) I felt far worse- and was at risk for more serious life threatening events than my disease ever posed me. While I want some help managing my condition, I don't want to be put at risk like this. I stopped the drug. I feel like I can't trust the medical profession. This is criminal that these potentially deadly drugs are handed out so cavalierly. | F | 53 | 2 months 2X D | 8/7/2010 | 2 | uc | Diarhea every 5th to 6th day. | Have to take Immodium AD in order to be able to function when diarhea flares up. True the UC flare up has subsided but to know that within 5-6 days every week I will have diarhea and have to take Imm.AD thats where I was before so what's the point. I thank those who were honest in their oppinions. | M | 46 | 60 days 800mg 2X D | 8/5/2010 | 2 | Inflammed Bowel | Lack of sleep and mood swings (probably not helped by 30mg Prednisolene daily as well). In last couple of weeks started to get dizzy spells as well. | After 4 months on the Asacol (and prednisolene) there has been no change in symtpoms at all. The inflammed descending colon is just as inflammed as it was 4 months ago. There has in the last week, been a slight decrease in the constant passing of blood though. So maybe a sign of slight improvement there. | M | 47 | 4 months 800mg 6X D | 7/12/2010 | 4 | UC | Severe acne, headaches, joint pain, weight gain, night sweats, trouble sleeping | I was hospitalized for 5 days after my 1st flare up and was diagnosed with UC. I was running to the bathroom 20-30 X's a day for almost 2 months before seeking help. I now take Asacol daily. I weened myself off of taking 2 pills 3 times a day down to only taking 2 pills 2 times a day. I'm going to go down to 3 pills total a day and see how my UC reacts. I eventually want to be off of the medication. It has created embarrassment in my life that I would like to go away. Severe acne being one of them. I now have to see a dermatologist and take an acne medication once a day with headaches as a side effect as well. I have had weight gain and none of my clothes fit now. I'm frustrated and ready for a change! I'm going to try the Kefir probotic drink by Lifeway mentioned in another story below. Thanks for the suggestion. | F | 29 | 9 months 400MG 4X D | 7/10/2010 | 3 | crohns | none-but what I've read my joint pain/arthritis could be a side affect which I have had and my doctor told me it was a side affect from having crohns | I have recently taken myself off of asacol due to the fact that I am going the natural route. After seeing an all natural chiropractor and nutritionist who educated me on the effects of medicine in general I started to do some researching. I had a bad flare back in fall of 2009 with severe back pain and of course diarrhea and bleeding/mucous. I went on a strick diet and for the first timein 15yrs I STOPPED BLEEDING AND THE FLARE WITHOUT HAVING TO GET ON PREDNISONE!! I also lost 14lbs from making this change which was a perk. I advise all to consider making a food change. Doctors won't tell you anything about diet, they just prescribe pills, that's their job! Email me if you want to chat. | F | 38 | 15 years 400mg 3X D | 7/3/2010 | 1 | Crhon's UC | tiredness. sore throat. runny nose. diareha. unable to loose weight. caused me to get alot of my colon imflammed. infections. bloody stool. nausea. stomache cramping and pain before going to the bathroom. caused me to go poop 15 to 20 times a day. chaped lips. rashes all over body. | This did not benefit me. I ran distance for track, and would run 4 miles a day and I had no weight loss. This medicine sucks like everything else they wanna give you. Go the natural way. I strongly recomend Shaklee products. They can work wonders on you and your body. Please go to the website! The website is www.shaklee.com | F | 15 | 8 months not sure 6X D | 6/26/2010 | 1 | colitis | This almost killed my mother. She was diagnosed with Agranulocytosis and hospitalized 3 plus weeks. She had no white blood cells and unbelievable mouth ulcers/sores. Thankful for the doctors who immediately recognized Asacol as the culprit. | F | 51 | 2 months 1X D | 6/25/2010 | 5 | ulcerative colitis | none | I had severe symptoms and bleeding when I was first diagnosed in 2004. Started taking 4 pills 3x a day. Used the enemas every day to two weeks when have a flare up. Haven't had a flare for almost 3 years and I've been maintaining on 3 pills, 2x day. Really helps me w/no side effects. Dr. checks my kidneys twice a year with bloodwork. So far, so good. | F | 57 | 6 years 3 pills 2X D | 6/18/2010 | 4 | Crohn's Disease | I experienced mild rash on my face and chapped lips. But, I believe this drug causes sensitivity to the sun. After putting on sun block SPF 30, and being outside for one hour, I got the worse case of sunburn I have ever had in my life. I have very fair skin, but I have never experienced a sunburn like this. So my advice...Be careful in the sun, especially if you are already experiencing skin problems. | Otherwise, I am responding well to treatment. | F | 54 | 3 weeks 40 mg 2X D | 6/2/2010 | 4 | UC | Headache, stomach pain, indigestion | While I don't enjoy taking so much medication, I am grateful to have it. When I get lax about taking it, I have flares. Through careful monitoring have had no major issues. I adjust my dosage up and down as needed. Have never taken steroids as Asacol and Canasa have been able to control my flares. The side effects have been manageable, and when I think of alternatives-I deal with them. | F | 49 | 8 years 1200 2X D | 5/27/2010 | 4 | Ulcerative Colitis | None to speak of | Having been on Asacol for more than a decade i've experienced no bad side effects. I plan to talk to my doctor about any long term issues that can be caused, but i will not stop taking this at this time. The side effects described in this forum seem to be from the disease itself or from other drugs (like Prednisone). I also experienced negative side effects early on but that was from the steroid, not the Asacol. There is nothing wrong with being informed about the drugs but talk to your doctor. Supplements and holistic approaches have no scientific basis and are not monitored by the FDA. Be very weary about managing your disease without a doctor's care. | M | 31 | 12 years 800 mg 2X D | 5/26/2010 | 1 | Crohn's | I believe my extreme hair loss is due to this medication. When I stop taking it for about a month the hair loss stops. When I start taking it regularly, the hair loss starts again. | Kidney function is fine based on blood work but scared that will change so I am going to stop taking the medicine. Don't want to lose any more hair or kidneys. Besides the fact that it is extremely expensive!!! (and I have good insurance) | F | 47 | 1.5 years 400MG 3X D | 5/25/2010 | 2 | Crohn's | Fatigue, diarrhea, intense dreams, painful abdomen cramping | Was just diagnosed with Crohn's disease 2 months ago. This is the first medication I've tried. I stopped taking it on the 21st day, and was FINE two days later. I had my energy back and bowel control. I will never take this medication again. | F | 34 | 21 days 800 mg 1X D | 5/10/2010 | 5 | crohns | none | this drug has helped me a lot.I have been feeling great with no side effects | F | 68 | 15 years 400 3X D | 5/8/2010 | 4 | uc | flatulence | M | 29 | 400 days 2000 mg 2X D | 4/23/2010 | 1 | UC | Hair loss, cystic acne, bumps all over body. | M | 31 | 1200 4X D | 4/13/2010 | 4 | UC | Only side effects so far is acne on forehead and some hair loss. Hair is falling out and thinning in front and top. Also have muscle pain in lower back and legs as well as headaches and fatigue. Side effects suck but it's better than being back in the hospital. | The asacol seems to work fairly well for the UC. As long as I avoid alcohol and spicy foods my life is back to normal. Hope it stays that way. | M | 27 | 4 months 1600 3X D | 4/4/2010 | 4 | Ulcerative Colitis | When I first started taking it, I had some sleep problems and crazy, vivid dreams. Those have abated over time. I recently increased the dose and think it might be causing some hair loss. | F | 35 | 6 months 1.6 G 3X D | 3/26/2010 | 3 | Ulcerative Colitis | Not sure | I was put on Asacol after I was admitted to the hospital for my first bad UC flare. Originally I was taking a total of 9 pills a day, my UC flare up went away, I was also taking prednisone, which I was slowly weaned off of. I felt fine, stool was normal. Recently I started feeling sick again, diarrhea, lots of gas, really bad abdominal pain, night sweats. I don't know if these are side effects from the drug or another UC flare up. My Doctor told me I could go up to 12 pills a day, so I did. Lately I've started feeling like my stomach ache's get worse after I take the pills. I've now reduced them to 11 a day, and am hoping to see my Doctor soon. I would really like to not take any pills at all. Having UC sucks. | F | 24 | 3 months 1600 mg 3X D | 3/23/2010 | 3 | Ulcerative colitus | Extreme hair loss after taking a couple of months; cut hair very short and stopped taking Asacol-as soon as I quit taking it, my hair stopped coming out in clumps | Taking Asacol was not worth going bald | F | 52 | 4 months 400 MG 3X D | 3/23/2010 | 5 | Lymphocytic colitis | None until a month ago when I began to experience diarrhea again without any warning, also gas, so I was in constant need of location of a bathroom. No change in diet so I thought it may be something "going around." | It was the saving grace for me and I would not be enjoying life without it. I swim laps 4 times a week for exercise. Dr. started me out on 2 pills, 3 times a day. Took 2 months for complete bowel movement satisfaction to one bm a day and this has lasted more than 5 years. I gradually moved down the Asacol to 4 pills daily, then to two daily and this worked well for me. Now am increasing the Asacol again in view of diarrhea again in my life, to 2 pills twice daily and will call Dr. for an appt. and maybe colonoscopy. I am in excellent health with no other symptoms except for some sleeplessness, and I use Lunesta. | F | 74 | 5 years 3X D | 3/5/2010 | 3 | Possible Ulcerative Colitis | none | Diagnosed with possible UC and reflux in 2004. Prescribed Asacol and Nexium. Symptoms have not really been active and bowel movements have decreased. Medicine is doing intended effect, but wonder what would happen if not on it. | M | 21 | 6 years 400 mg 2X D | 2/28/2010 | 1 | UC | Hair loss, rashes on face, redness, dry eyes | Actually made my UC symptoms worse! I was doing pretty good before taking Asacol and the other UC drugs, and I actually became seriously ill after taking them. Combine that with all the side effects and it was the worst decision I ever made. | M | 20 | 2 years 1200 1X D | 2/25/2010 | 5 | Collagenous Colitis | Immediately controlled my bowel movements back to once a day - a big relief after constant diarrhoea for 3 months. I’ve been taking Mesalazine for approximately 2 months now. Initially, I took 2 tablets twice a day (400mg) for one month and then cut them down to 2 tablets every other day. My doctor is pleased with the results and has suggested cutting them down even further. I am now on 1 tablet every other day which seems to be working well so hopefully I will be able to discontinue them if all goes well in a few weeks. I have had no side affects other than itchy skin, but I’m not even sure that is due to the Asacol. It’s early days but I am very pleased with the results so far. | F | 57 | 2 months 2 x400mg 2X D | 2/20/2010 | 5 | UC | No side effects. | Has worked as promised. One UC flareup in 3.5 years. Controlled with additional medicine, mercaptopurine. | M | 57 | 3 years 1600mg 4X D | 2/19/2010 | 1 | Ulcerative colitis | Thanks to this site, I quit Asacol the first day. I definitely have UC and it was hidden until I quit smoking 5 years ago. After one year, the UC got so bad, the doc wanted to hospitalize me because my blood count was so low. She told me that any more bleeding, I was to go directed to the hospital. That same day, my 20-year-old daughter brought some Kefir to me. She said "Try this dad. I've been reading good things on how it helps the colon." THAT DAY, the bleeding stopped and has never returned!!! I drink some twice a day (maybe 1/2 cup each). If I stop drinking it for 2 days, theUC starts coming back. My doctor is stunned and is now telling other patients about it. I want to choke the specialist that prescribed Asacol without trying a probiotic first and without explaining how dangerous Asacol is. I have told others about it and they threw away their Asacol and steroids!!! | Kefir is a probiotic beverage that is sold in health food stores or departments and is made by Lifeway. Google it and read all the benefits of the 10 beneficial bacteria. It has been years now and NO diarhea and NO bleeding for me!!! And, it is nutritious and delicious. I will never again trust the medical community to disclose that there is such a simple potential solution. | M | 53 | 1 days 1X D | 2/3/2010 | 1 | Crohn's | Rash on face, acne, hair loss | M | 18 | 11 months | 2/2/2010 | 1 | Ulcerative Colitis | Acne, sweating, dry eyes | F | 31 | 1 years | 1/30/2010 | 4 | collagenous colitis | hair loss, chest pain | initial response to med was good--15-20 stools/day started to decrease. Night sweats that were part of my colitis symptoms subsided. After two weeks, developed greatly increased diarrhea, low grade fever, recurrance of night sweats, episodes of severe chest pain with radiation to arms, neck pain. these symptoms persisted about 2 weeks, after which they gradually began to subside. Marked improvement with somewhat normal bowel function after 3 months & almost complete return to normal after 6 months. During the 2 week period of severe reaction to the med, also developed pneumonia noted on x ray and higher blood pressure....not sure if these developements were related to Asacol. Can eat most foods now except extremes. | F | 65 | 6 months | 1/20/2010 | 1 | UC | weight gain, acne, hair loss, profuse sweating | NOT WORTH IT!! Very expensive + doesn't work + has bad side effects. | F | 23 | 4 months | 1/12/2010 | 1 | UC | Acne, severe hair loss, weight gain, dry eyes, rash, sweating, increase of UC symptoms | M | 32 | 1 years | 1/8/2010 | 5 | Ulcerative colitis - C-Diff | None | I started taking Asacol 3 weeks ago. I had antiobiotic related diarrhea for over 3 months! I was never so sick or weak and thought I'd never feell better again. So far, the Asacol has given me my life back! I take 3 - 400 mg pills twice daily. | F | 61 | 3 weeks | 1/1/2010 | 3 | UC | Crabby, tired, sad | Hard to tell what benefit I received though my symptoms went from initail UC to Chrohns disagnosis which isn't good. I take 12 a day and sometimes find them whole in my stool. | F | 39 | 5 days | 12/22/2009 | 1 | UC | M | 18 | 12 months | 11/24/2009 | 4 | Ulcerative Colitis | Sweats - especially at night, Intense cramping and upper abdomen pain only for the first couple days, increased heart rate, dizziness/head rush, possible neck/back pain | I have been taking Asacol for 10 days and have noticed less blood in stool and a noticeable reduction in frequency of bowel movements. Still don't feel completely up to par, but do believe the medicine is having a positive effect. Would advise everyone actively using the med to do regular blood tests and get on fish oil and joint compound supplements at a minimum (email if you would like a good link for pharmaceutical grade supplements). Also, for those with active cramping I have noticed Cannabis provides a GREAT relief... legalize it... | M | 27 | 10 days | 11/23/2009 | 5 | UC | Acne, weight gain, leg cramps | The side effects are well worth having my freedom back! Instead of incontinence and running to the bathroom 20-30 times a day, I can go out and live a normal life. This medicine has been a godsend for clearing up my UC symptoms, but my insurance wont cover it and at 6 pills a day this $300 a bottle medicine goes way too quickly. It's frustrating to have to choose between being sick or being broke. | F | 27 | 3 weeks | 11/19/2009 | 1 | Crohn's / Colitis | KIDNEY FAILURE. BLOOD IN STOOL. I ended up needing a transplant after 4 or 5 years of my doctors telling me that I'll get better. I was on asacol for 4 months and I'm effected by it for the rest of my life (when I started it I was 19). | Since being on Asacol I had to get a transplant. My kidney's slowly failed and now I'm left with bills I'll never be able to pay, medications I'm slowly becoming not able to pay for, and now that I'm at three years after my transplant I have to find insurance (however I'm now uninsurable). | F | 26 | 4 months | 10/22/2009 | 5 | Crohns Stage 2 | NONE | This drug literally has saved my life. Had 10" of intestine removed, and contracted C-Diff in the hospital. Crohns was so bad it invaded my appendix and ruptured it. They tried me on Endocort and it almost killed me. I take 6 Asacol per day and aside from my hair turning wavy, it has got me back to feeling human again. | M | 53 | 1 years | 10/7/2009 | 1 | Ulcerative colitis | Extreme hair loss after l month | I found the package insert re:side effects very inadequate. There was no mention of possible hair loss. I quit cold turkey and after 10 days am still losing handsful of hair. | F | 83 | | 10/6/2009 | 4 | Crohn's Disease | Dry eyes, runny nose | My doctor was very displeased at my refusal of prednisone, but I feel that a combination of Asacol and an altered diet have saved my life. Though doctors may tell you that diet has nothing to do with it- obviously, if you know you have trigger foods- DON'T EAT THEM! I'll take a drippy nose over 10-12 bathroom visits a day, no question! | F | 26 | 10 months | 10/3/2009 | 5 | Ulcerative Colitis | None | I've had no side affects whatsoever. I was diagnosed in August 2008, therefore, I have been taking the medication for one year. I started out with 2 pills 3x a day (40mg each) and I am now on 2 pills 2x a day. My symptoms cleared up 4 months after I began taking the medication. I personally stopped taking it because I felt good. With this illness, you cannot eat certain foods as suggested by my doctor; fried foods, and dairy products (milk, butter or cheese.) I have changed my diet. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables along with chicken and fish. I exercise daily and I must say, I feel "normal." I'm in remission and I see my GI doctor every 3 months. | F | 50 | 1 years | 8/27/2009 | 1 | Ulcerative Cholitis | Nearly destroyed my kidneys until I was taken off it. I am now at stage 4 of Renal diseases because of this awful medicine. First it worked well for about 8 years, then I started having white blood cells show up in my urine. Urologist did not find anything wrong. Primary care physician spotted it and cardiologist noted my creatinine level was high at about 1.9, and referred me to a nephrologist. He never connected asacol to my imminent kidney failure, and my creatinine level jumped rose slowly to 4.1. A second nephrologist knew of the connection between asacol and kidney failure and had me removed from it while giving me huge doses of prednisone. Finally my creatinine level dropped, but I am now on the kidney transplant list and may have to do dialysis if my kidneys fail further. | The makers asacol have no warning anywhere on their drug insert linking asacol and kidney failure. A class action suit should be brought against them for hiding this vital information from patients. | M | 50 | 8 years | 8/25/2009 | 5 | U.C | None | This drug has helped me immensely. I was diagnosed in late '06 after suffering terrible cramping, diarrhea and blood loss. I was hospitalized for two weeks in '07 and was given 4 blood transfusions....since then I take Asacol 6 x day along with Imuran 2 x day. Thankfully I have been in remission for two years. I have cut down dramatically on milk and wheat products as they seem to make me sick, as do spicy foods. I am on a plain diet with plenty of exercise and I feel so much better for it. Good Luck People!! | M | 42 | 2 years | 8/18/2009 | 1 | crohns | severe joint pain | I never had any symptoms and was surprised to find out from a colonoscopy that I had Crohns. I started to get severe joint pain in my ankles, wrists, shoulders and fingers and the doctors denied it was asacol. I stopped the Asacol and after a week the horrible joint pain went away. | F | 55 | 2 years | 8/18/2009 | 3 | U.C. | The Asacol actually helped a skin condition I have had since I was 4years old. It was never diagnosed as anything. problem is it came with a ton of side effects. | side effects were immediatly tiredness and dizzyness. Next muscle cramps or charlie horses. I had them in my feet, calves, thighs, back, and my hands. They were horrible. I also had blinding headaches. I think they fell under the migrane catagory, something I have never had before. I also started to have tenderness where my liver is. That was the final symptom. I can live with my toes and fingers not being clear (normal). I wish I had researched this more before blindly taking meds. | F | 38 | 1 months | 8/12/2009 | 1 | Crohn's | Severe Kidney damage. My kidneys function at 25% now. A biopsy was done to prove the Asacol was the reason, this damage is permanent. I have lost my quality of life. | DON'T TAKE THIS MED!! | M | 54 | 1 years | 8/12/2009 | 5 | Ulcerative Coilitis | None | I consider Asacol to be a miracle for me. Was severly sick with bleeding, incontinence, diarahea, gas, bloating, adominable cramps, spitting, and making 15+ trips to the bathroom each day. Was sick for 5 years before being diagnosed with UC and prescribed Asacol. After three months on the drug, all symptoms were completely gone. After symptoms stopped, I stopped taking it. Had a flare-up a year later and have now started Asacol again. It has been a month and a half and I am already starting to feel better. I haven't had any side effects. | F | 27 | 6 weeks | 8/11/2009 | 5 | Ulcerative Colitis | none | I have been able to keep my UC under control for over 25 years with some form of Mesalazine; sulphasalizine and then asacol. | M | 46 | 25 years | 8/7/2009 | 2 | crohns | high fever, diarreaha, excellerated heart beat | Am in remission and dr wanted me to use this for maintenance. Taking 400 mg x3 twice a day. These side effects came on immediately after 2 doses. After reading this web site and feeling like I do, I'm stopping the med. | F | 50 | 3 days | 8/2/2009 | 4 | crohn's | constipation, mild headache | Hard to take six pills a day. But it works for mild inflammation within three days | M | 44 | 24 days | 7/31/2009 | 2 | Collagenous Colitis | I had reached full remission of sympotoms, and was on a tapering dose of Entocort when GI Physician suggested we try to change to Asocol for continued maintenence. After about 7 days bowel activity started to increase again, and progressed to full out diarrha in less than 3 weeks -- even while continuing on low dose Entocort. Asocol was DISCONTINUED, per Physician. He commented that appx. 5% of people are intolerant of this drug. So, I'm really not anxious to try any of the other 5-ASA's either! | I experienced something of what I considered a full court press from either drug's mfg and/or the pharmacy (I couldn't tell which) with heavy additional advertising and urging me to continue with this drug when it came time to renew the prescription. NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN BEFORE!! ODD!! Reported this to Dr. who shook his head. ??? | F | 71 | 21 days | 7/25/2009 | 1 | Chrons | Kidney Failure and now on the transplant list. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION YOU WILL LOSE YOUR KIDNEY FUNCTION AND BY THE TIME THE DOCTORS FIND OUT It WILL BE TOO LATE.!!!!!!! I AM NOW ON DISABILITY AND LOST MY CAREER OF 25 YEARS AND MY 6 FIGURE SALARY, just waiting for a lawsuit to be filed and I will jump on the band wagon with the thousands of others. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | M | 44 | 5 years | 7/24/2009 | 3 | crohns | severe muscle and joint pain, fatigue, night sweats, frequent burning stools (8-10/day), difficulty completing a bowel movemet (which means wiping to the point of rawness), cramping, waking up 1-2 times a night to urinate. | Overall this med has worked well and I have been on it for 15 years or so, but the last two times I felt I was having a flare up, my scopes showed completely normal intestinal tissue. Recently all of those side effects were severe and after another normal scope I suspected the Asacol. I am now one week off of the asacol and am sleeping all night with no night sweats and am down to 2-3 movements every other day. I have very little joint pain. I will keep some on hand in case of a future real flare up.. PS to those newly diagnosed: buy Cottonelle disposabe wipes. They are bigger and cheaper than the medicated Tucks or Prep H wipes and work just as well | M | 43 | 15 years | 7/22/2009 | 3 | Ulceratice Colitis | HIVES..itchy eyes.. | F | 3 days | 7/20/2009 | 3 | Crohn's | numbness and cramp in hands/arms, hair loss, joint fatigue | I do not feel that my hospital Consultant warned me sufficiently abut this drug, or tested my blood sufficiently for its bad effects. Along with the steroids my bowel movements are now regular from the 12/15 per day plus the fevers are gone, though the steroids had mega bad symptoms, sleepliness, fatigue, poor concentration, shakes, and moon face, everything tasted delicious which of course meant that I gained weight. I am now off the Asacol, and feel that my joints are improving as is the numbness, though my Doctor wants me to take Imuran which reduces the strength of your immune system, sounds like experimenting to me, no thanks! | F | 60 | 5 months | 6/27/2009 | 1 | Ulcerative colitis | | 6/23/2009 | 5 | Collagenous Colitis | Until reading the comments I did not associate my sleeplessness to taking Asacol. It is not so bad that I would stop taking the medication. Before taking Asacol I was so weak and run down that I was hardly able to go to work. After about 90 days of taking it I did not have any more attacks of colitis. I have tried to decrease the dosage per the doctor's instructions but was unable to maintain remission. I now take 2 Asacol in the morning and 2 at night. It has been a lifesaver. | F | 63 | 2 years | 6/22/2009 | 1 | UC | Hair loss, became incontinent (wasn't before and went back to being normal after stoppping asacol, so I am pretty sure it wasn't working right for me...) | M | | 6/21/2009 | 1 | Ulcerative Colitis | Increased Diarrhea, blood in stool(didn't have it prior to Asacol), intense abdominal cramping, fecal incontinence, achy joints. | I had terrible reactions to anything containing mesalamine. Completely exacerbated my UC symptoms. I could immediately feel when the Asacol pill entered my colon, that is when the intense pain would start. I would be curled up in a ball on the couch. Once I discontinued I felt so much better. My GI was shocked at the effects. Mesalamine is usually well tolerated in most patients. | F | 32 | 5 days | 6/18/2009 | 1 | UC | I think it's probably safe at low doses, but at high doses, Asacol can be a very dangerous drug. If your doctor wants you on mega doses, I'd find another doctor. The large doses probably have more to do with your doctor's small penis--and giving his patients powerful drugs at large doses makes him feel big and powerful--than your disease. Even the pharmaceutical company that makes Asacol doesn't recommend the mega doses that some doctors give their patients of this... | M | | 6/15/2009 | 1 | crohns disease | Kidney failure I have been on three transplant waiting lists for a little over a year now. This has turned my life upside down. My Dr. never monitored my kidneys. I was hospitalized with a creatinine of 4.4 normal range is .5 to 1.3 My creatinine never returned to normal and as you age kidney function naturally decreases so my kidneys are working at approximately 23% now and getting worse. Before being treated for crohns with asacol I was strong and healthy. Due to my kidney failure, I'm constantly tired now and many days I'm unable to complete a full work day. | DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. IT CAN DESTROY YOUR KIDNEYS | M | 52 | 7 days | 6/11/2009 | 3 | UC | unable to sleep more than 3-4 hours/night, weight gain, 'beach ball" face, increased hunger . The longer I"m on these meds, the harder it is to think. Sleep deprivation, shaky muscles, and inability to think clearly have me rethinking this combination of meds. | 1200 mg twice daily combined with 3mg of steroids/day stopped the UC bleeding and diarrhea, but side effects of combined drugs are becoming increasingly problematic and difficult to live/work in the real world. | F | 54 | 40 days | 6/8/2009 | 4 | UC | Mild hair loss with extremely dry scalp | I thought I just had dandruff, but the shampoos didn't help and my hair was falling out whenever I ran my fingers through it. Overall, the drug worked pretty well. I took 12 a day for over a year. After a while, it quit working, so now I'm taking Lialda | M | 21 | 1 years | 6/2/2009 | 2 | Colitis | Increased bleeding and pains by back and side. | It worked good at first then after about 6 weeks I went down to maintenance dosage I started getting constipated and having colon aches. I slowly tapered down and felt better for about 4 days then got some mucus and started back up on full dose, but Asacol did nothing to help and started me bleeding. I recommend trying Boswellia in high doses for at least six weeks for improvement and probiotics, I think they help me more anything. | M | 39 | 3 months | 5/7/2009 | 1 | Ulcerative Colitis | Pancreatitis, severe kidney infection, and EXTREME hair loss within 10 days of taking drug. Discontinued use. | F | 23 | 10 days | 4/20/2009 | 5 | UC | runny nose, headache, slight hair loss | I've suffered from UC for over 20 years, but was diagnosed just 3 months ago. Bowel movements have decreased from 10-12 times daily to just 3 or 4. It's marvelous to have some freedom again. | F | 68 | 3 months | 4/16/2009 | 5 | Ulcerative Colitis | NOne | I have not had a flare up in years! | F | 52 | 3 days | 4/16/2009 | 1 | colitis | severe shortness of breath, interstitial pnumonia diagnosis. Death occured from this drug use | dont use it. | F | 61 | | 4/14/2009 | 4 | UC (in remission) and proctitis | Loss of bowel control (unable to "hold it" when I had to go). Nausea, burping | I was diagnosed with proctitis and UC (in remission) via colonoscopy after having bleeding with bowel movements. I started on Canasa nightly and that did not help. Then they added Asacol 400 mg x3 day and I am completely better. I was taken off Canasa and will go back in June to hopefully be weaned off the Asacol. The first week on Asacol was horrible. I lost control of my bowels (luckily at home) and was so sick all week. But I am fine taking the med on a daily basis. | F | 45 | 3 months | 4/9/2009 | 1 | Mild Crohn's | Headache, dry burning red eyes, insomnia, fatigue, loud ringing in ears, severe bleeding to the point of anemia, dizziness, at every bowel movement. | I restarted this two weeks ago to see if there was any benefit prior to colonoscopy in three weeks. For the past four days, I have experienced heavy bleeding at every bowel movement. The initial gush of blood is followed by steady streaming blood throughout bowel movement. Stopped the med after two weeks. One doctor wanted to admit me for observation due to severe anemia due to blood loss. Prior to taking this med I never experienced any of these symptoms, especially the rather frightening severe blood loss I am convinced this drug caused. | F | 58 | 14 days | 3/27/2009 | 4 | Ulcerative Colitis | None. | I was diagnosed with UC in 2007 and was treated with Asacol 800mg, 6 pills per day. It took me 4 months to get into remission. I now take 4 pills per day. I have not had any flare-ups in almost 2 years. I believe my diet has contributed to my success. I stay away from sugars, wheat and dairy. I take 1 tbsp of Cod Liver Oil per day, (a super strong anti-inflammatory high in Vitamin D and A) and I take probiotics (acidophilus) every other day. I eat barley/quinoa/spelt instead of wheat, which works well because I enjoy eating grains. I highly recommend this diet to all UC sufferers. Will be talking to my GI this week about lowering my dose to two pills per day. | F | 25 | 2 years | 3/22/2009 | 1 | Ulcerative Colitis Proctitus | Day 1 Nausea, Days 2-5 very fatigued, low grade fever, sleeplessness, dizziness, body aches, headache, developed a bad sinus infection, and sore throat with Flu like symptoms. I stopped taking Asacol day six and that is when the night sweats started. It is day nine and I hope things start to improve. I will be trying an improved diet, probiotics, eliminating wheat and glutin. | My GI doctor never recommended having my kidneys tested prior to starting this drug. When I went to Asacol's website they recommend having this done prior to starting this med. Take charge of your health and get very involved in the entire process. Autoimmune disease's are prevalent in western society, but modern western science does not seem to want to acknowledge what is causing all of us to get so sick. | M | 39 | 5 days | 3/21/2009 | 3 | UC | extreme hair loss, frequent urination at night, fatigue, mild headaches, lower back pain at times | was using it with prednisone and canasa for about 3 months. now just with canasa for an additional 2. does anyone know how to deal with the hair loss? | F | 14 | | 3/17/2009 | 2 | mild crohns | Headache, at times severe, dizziness, mild acne, mild hair loss, severe pain in both kidneys. | I was shocked to find out from a colonoscopy that I have mild crohn's disease that effects most of the right colon and part of the ileum, because I have never had ANY of the symptoms. The colonoscopy was scheduled to be routine and determine the extent of a cecal volvulus i have. When I was found to have inflammation and mild dysplasia in the right colon, I was at first given colazal (9 capsules per day) and after 2 weeks, I was awakened with severe pain in both kidneys, accompanied by a horrible migraine and fever. I was told to stop the med. I then was given asacol, which at first seemed more tolerable than the colazal with milder headaches, but seemed to be causing acne. When, after 3 weeks of taking the recommended dose, I once again experienced severe pain in both kidneys, I have since stopped the med and am searching for another possibility to lessen the colon inflammation. I am having a cscopy every 6 months because of the inflammation and the dysplasia found (next stpe af | F | 58 | 3 weeks | 3/15/2009 | 2 | UC | I'M VERY TIRED -SOME CRAMPING WHEN I HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM. | I TASTE SOME STRANGE METAL IN MY MOUTH - please feel free to e-mail me re: this drug - Thank you Toni | F | 48 | 7 days | 3/10/2009 | 5 | Ulceritive Colitis | I normally get headaches and dizziness from allergies, so it is tough to know if any of this is caused by asacol too. But really, no other noteworthy side effects | I was absolutely crippled at times by stomach pain, bleeding, bloating/cramps, diarrhea, aversion to foods, etc. Doctors always said I had IBS (which while that seems good because it is less serious than the other options, there is no way to effectively treat it. At least for me. Believe me, I tried everything). After 3 colonoscopies, I was finally diagnosed with UC. INSTANT relief on this medicine. It makes a world of difference. Asked my doctor if there are any long term side effects and he said that it is a rather mild drug because it is not absorbed into the tissue, that it basically goes in, does its job, and comes out with the waste. | F | 30 | 1 years | 2/27/2009 | 4 | colitis | some itching of skin sometimes i dont take the recommended dosage but then I have a flare up recently some neck and head pain but may not be related to asacol I take 12 tablets a day | F | 68 | 11 years | 2/26/2009 | 4 | for ulcerative colitis | wake up with headache or nausea | was on asacol for 6 weeks with no side effects. so my dr. took me off. then my colitis came back and was put on the asacol again . Side effects bad headaches and nausea! | F | 48 | 7 days | 2/26/2009 | 1 | crohns | Terrible hair loss,itchy red scalp | I would like to know how to stop the hair loss. I quit taking asacol a month ago and my hair is still falling out. I don't have much left. | F | 69 | 2 months | 2/14/2009 | 4 | UC | Fatigue. Have had no real other side effects from Asacol and ten years is a long time on one medication. | Started taking Asacol ten years ago when first diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I initially only had proctitis. Very controlled for years. Now, year ten, have pan colitis and needed to start Imuran with the Asacol. It contnues to work, with fatigue being the major side effect, although that is also a symptom of advancing disease, so could be both. Tried Lialda.....did not work for me at max dose and I was EXHAUSTED! So am back to Asacol. Why that works and Lialda did not is a mystery to me as they are both Mesalamine.......but have heard that from many pts. | F | 44 | 10 years | 2/9/2009 | 5 | Chrons and UC | No real side effects. However, as I read people are saying jt. pain, cramping/diaherria is all part of the diease. It's not the meds doing this to you it the diease it self. Tell you Dr. and maybe you need to add more meds to your daily regimn. I have taken 9 pills dailyof Asacol, predisone up to 60mg a day, flagyl, Imuran, and Remicade treatments. Once I got my diease under control I stopped taking all meds because I hated taking so many in one day. When a flair up comes I go back on Asacol and have taken it for as long as a year and 1/2 and off and on for the last 7 years. Imuran is what made me more sick then helped. It has realy bad side effects, but everybody is different. | M | 31 | 7 years | 2/8/2009 | 2 | possible mild colitis | The first month, I had diarhea, nausea, and hair loss. Second month, more severe hair loss,runny stools, and bloating, and gas all the time, even though taking omeprazole. The third month, I have the most severe hair loss, and at this rate, I am really confused. I thought it was stress related from hospital stay Nov. 1st, 2008. I haven't been under stress since then, and now I am becoming convinced it is asacol. Everything else, I was taking, and no side effects. It is not the thyroid either, or lack of iron, etc. My hair falls out at the root, and so I have long strands in food, and every where I go. I got my hair cut short, use lots of conditioner, and cool water. It comes out in handfuls. I still have stomach ache, bloating, gas, but I try to drink lots of water and take only small amounts of food. What can happen if I don't take it? My doctor has said something about being on it a long time. I wish that I could feel positive about taking myself off of it. | Maybe the dose is too strong. 6 tablets a day? maybe just one in the morning is all I need. How about it? | F | 61 | 3 days | 1/20/2009 | 3 | UC | Dry eyes, wake often in the night - can't sleep; lightheadedness, headache and irregular heartbeat. | Beginning to wonder if this is the best treatment for me. | F | 59 | 30 days | 1/9/2009 | 4 | UC | lower back pain, memory loss, joint pain in knees and hips, frequent urination, painful urination, hair loss, and insomnia | I have been on asacol for six months and I started having side effects in September. Since Septemeber I have had 2 urinary tract infections and am currently in so much pain that I had to go to the emergency room where I was given morphine. My primary doctor referred me to a urologist who said they thought i had kidney stones, but my symptoms have been going on too long and are gaining severity which is not typical or heard of. I am frustrated and tired of being sick and not knowing why I feel so much worse than before i was placed on medication. Yes, Asacol has helped my UC symptoms, but the issues that are replacing my UC symptoms are just as painful if not more so. I don't know what to do ad my doctors are giving me the run around. | F | 18 | 6 months | 1/7/2009 | 1 | UNKNOWN! (pending more tests) | headache, dizziness, confusion, EXTREME HIP PAIN, BACK & JOINT PAIN! UGH! | I've been EXTREMELY hurting to the point I almost can't walk. DID YOU KNOW ARTHRITIS IS A RARE, BUT SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT. I'M SO PISSED! I better not be stuck with this! The doc only stuck me on this stuff because of "possible" crohn's disease...not that I've been actually diagnosed with anything! All I had was a small obstruction. I haven't even had a BM in 3 days. Obviously the wrong call on my docs part...well, so far. I have more tests tomorrow. | F | 28 | 9 days | 1/6/2009 | 5 | for ulcerative colitis | I have had no side effects at all and have been taking the medicine for 9 months now. After exeperiencing bowel problems for 8 years and taking many different meds and being hospitalized and have colonoscopies, this medicine worked wonderfully. | For the first 5 months I took 3 pills, 3 times a day (400 mg pills). Then switched to 2 pills, 3 times a day. Some days I do not go at all - a big difference from the 13 times a day I was going before starting the medicine. I thought sharing my experience might be helpful since I have been on it a long time (9 months) and it still works | F | 35 | 9 months | 1/4/2009 | 4 | UC | Runny nose, joint aches,a few headaches, some minor chest pain, and acid reflux. | Ive only been taking it for about a week but Ive noticed the positive impact almost immediately. After being in and out of the hospital for bleeding, severe cramps and puss in my stool, this is excellent for me. Ill continue to update everyone to see if this progress stays positive. | F | 26 | 6 days | 12/23/2008 | 1 | colitis | fatigue, diareah, fever, loss of apetite, confusion, shortness of breath that became congestive heart failure. | After taking the medication for 6 weeks I was advised to stop taking it, ended up in ER and was admitted to hospital with congestive heart failure. No previous heart condition, high blood pressure, diabetes or other illness. | F | 73 | 6 weeks | 12/22/2008 | 1 | Ulcerative colitis | Severe neck pain, mid-back pain, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, bad taste in mouth, sweating, insomnia, cough, stuffy nose | This medication initially helped with the diarrhea/cramping of my colitis (diagnosed mid-November), but after I started suffering a 'different' kind of stomach pain (up high, under sternum)+ feeling of fullness, my GE upped my daily dose from 2400mg to 3200mg. That's when the real fun began. I could barely move my neck, I couldn't sleep, I felt exhausted and achy and feverish. This went on for over two weeks before I finally made the connection! I stopped the drug (on my own) and felt 80% better within 24 hours; back to normal within 48. I have had no recurrence of UC symptoms in the week I've been off the drug so far (actually the opposite -- constipation and hemorrhoids/pain). | F | 50 | 45 days | 12/11/2008 | 2 | Possible Crohn's/UC | Bloating, gas, itchy skin, red eyes, extremely tired, and pain in my right side. | I had no pain at all prior to starting the pills. However I had a colonoscopy 8 weeks ago which found the cause of my bleeding which was ulcers in my colon. I had been bleeding with stool for about 5 weeks which is what prompted me to get checked. There were a couple of areas where there were colitis or swelling. My doctor believe's that it's Crohn's. I took the enema treatments at that time and all of my symptoms went away... temporarily. I went for my follow up appointment with the GI doctor last Thursdayand I was free of symptoms. By saturday, I was down, again, sleeping all weekend, and bleeding again. I also found out that I'm 6 weeks pregnant. The risk of having the colitis while being pregnant are worse than taking medication according to my doctor. Well, I'm not sure about that since now I have pain in my side, and I feel worse. The bleeding has stopped but I don't feel well. Has anyone else been treated with Asacol while pregnant? | F | 33 | 3 days | 12/10/2008 | 3 | Ulcerative Colitis | Wake up after only a couple hours of sleep. Thought it was the prednisone but after seeing a couple of comments here.... | It has controlled my UC quite well. Just recently have developed a pretty severe rash, itchy skin. Not sure if it is Asacol or the prednisone. I plan on renewing my old drug Sulfsalazine 500mg x4 per day; just to see what happens. BTW anyone ever suffer from from a wierd heartbeat while on Prednisone or Asacol?? | M | 45 | 2.5 months | 12/3/2008 | 2 | Chrons Colitis | Started with headaches but those went away after a week or two, insomnia and when i could sleep id wake up in 2-3 hours sweating, ear ache, fatigue, loss of apetite,flu/cold like symptoms,irritability, dizziness | ear ache may not have been side effect but im listing it as it came after I started taking Asacol, I think I'd rather keep the dihorea | M | 15 | 1 months | 11/30/2008 | 2 | Collagenous Colitis | After eight days I started getting headaches, by day nine headaches intensified, and diarrhoea returned with frequency. Day ten onset of dry fever, flu-like symptoms, aches and pains in joints and muscles and fatigue. Day eleven, stopped taking medication, fever changes to night sweats, small tender red spots develop over back, flu-like symptoms continue, by day fourteen symptoms subsiding, still very tired but headache gone. No flu or cold to go with the fever! Contact Doctor on day fifteen and have immediate bloods taken. His comment was that Asacol can play havoc with the bone marrow...didn't say that on the tin! | My dosage was 2 x 400mg three times a day. I am not sure if any improvement was attributable to the drug, or that I was between flare-ups. I was wary of taking this drug as I am already allergic to Aspirin, so I was surprised that the reaction took so long to occur. The Doctor was confident that this method of administration modified release would probably mean the usual reaction would not occur and it didn't. The symptoms when they did occur were characterised by a fairly rapid onset and very intense, feeling completely floored is not an exageration, for three days I spent much of the time asleep. I am only just recovering and hope for an optomistic result from the bloods, but who knows....good luck to the rest of you. SW in the UK. | M | 52 | 11 days | 11/29/2008 | 3 | UC | Originally had very serious UC, undiagnosed for 3 months. Then, after diagnosis, I went on 60mg of prednizone and 2400 mg of asacol. My fevers at night stopped, but still had GI issues. When I would down-dose the Prednizone I would start having a relapse. My doctor worked great with me to wean me off of the Prednizone. But GI was not normal. Continued on Asacol as a maintenence drug. | When I would down-dose the Asacol, I would notice that my GI tract feels much better. I have had days where I missed the Asacol entirely and on those days I was 100% back to normal. I am going to speak with my doctor about ending the Asacol. | M | 38 | 2 years | 11/25/2008 | 2 | UC/Crohn's | Dry eyes, runny nose, headache, joint pain | I think I might try the new worm treatment. Pig whipworm. After reading through all of the side effects people have gotten from this it's scaring me a little. I'm taking a higher dose than most people, too. 6 pills 2x a day. I've only been on it for about 4 days but some of the side effects started almost immediately (runny nose, joint pain, headache). I have an insatiable tooth ache, also. | F | 28 | 4 days | 11/23/2008 | 1 | Ulcerative Colitis | Joint pain, worsening of original symptoms, severe upper abdominal pains, itchy skin, acne, high temperature. | I was initially taking 400mg x 3 twice a day and prednisolone and was fine until pred stopped. A week later joint pain started, followed by bleeding etc a couple of weeks later. Consultant raised this to Asacol 800mg x 2 twice a day and also Asacol enemas. Symptoms worse than ever now, joints ache, have severe upper abdominal pain at times, skin itchy all over, high temperature, can't sleep. I feel to be honest like I am slowly dying but the consultant doesn't believe this is the Asacol and wants me to persevere. | F | 36 | 5 months | 11/17/2008 | 1 | UC | 1 week before Asacol, WBC of 4.9- 1week later, WBC of 19.8- 1 month later, WBC of 47.9. Slight fever. Night sweats. Extreme tiredness. Exacerbation of UC symptoms: pain, diarrhea, blood in stool. | I wish I had read more about Asacol before I took it. People my age (65) have to be very careful about taking it, because it can make your bone marrow go crazy. Currently being evaluated for leukemia. Doctors don't quite know what to think, because the white count looks like leukemia, but other cell don't exactly match. If you are considering Asacol, run for your life! Try other things first. Consider natural. | M | 65 | 8 weeks | 11/6/2008 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |