Pentasa Questions - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

dingbat · 10-06-2008, 11:45 PM

i am just about to start Pentasa for the first time, & know virtually nothing about this medication.

does anyone have any experience of using Pentasa suppositories? & if so, did it help?

also, is it similar to Asacol?

thanks.

hippie4lyfe · 10-06-2008, 11:55 PM

dingbat i just use the regular pills you swallow and take 8 pills which I believe comes to 4,000mg, it is an anti-inflammatory and from what i understand it is one of the mildest meds and least likely to provide any side effects. good luck, why are you taking it as a suppository?

dingbat · 10-07-2008, 12:04 AM

thanks Hippie

taking it in that form because that's where the ulceration is.. well about 7 inches up from there. i can't believe i am talking about my bottom on a public forum!! hahaha

yeah.. the doc did say something about Pentasa being known for good toleration.. i hope he's right!

hippie4lyfe · 10-07-2008, 02:19 AM

ah no worries ding - this is a community of people with bottom issues lol. i hope the pentasa works well for you, let us know.

Mazen · 10-07-2008, 09:40 AM

I have been taking Pentasa orally 3g a day for almost 8 years now. Didn't have nay side effects, but I don't know if it is working also. but my doctor said this is a medicine I should take for life !!!

dingbat · 10-07-2008, 03:33 PM

thank you everyone, for your replies

so - it is a mild anti-inflammatory. could be just what i need - if it can find its way to the right place! lol

dingbat · 10-08-2008, 11:55 PM

ah well, the hope was good while it lasted

used the pentasa for the first time last night, and i had a reaction to it.. was woken up a couple of hours after use, shaking, feeling very faint, sick, dizzy... ho hum. another few weeks wait then i get to tell my GI it is something else i can't tolerate.

dingbat · 10-09-2008, 08:22 AM

thanks Pen - i'm not using it again. once my body has given me the stop signal on a drug, i don't push it. i think it is one of those merry-go-round scenarios - i reckon i am over-sensitive to substances because my immune system is playing up, due to the activity of Crohns.. but then when i try to take something to calm the Crohns down, my immune system complains.. sigh.. anyone got any string and a heavy rock? lol

theability · 10-10-2008, 05:06 PM

Pentasa, asacol, and other preparations are all mesalamine, the difference is the area they are absorbed in the intenstinal tract. I am on Pentasa CR so that the most of the drug will be adbsorbed by my terminal Illuem. asacol is more for the colon. etc.

hope this helps....

10-13-2008, 08:00 AM

When I starting getting treated for Chrons my doctor, a Chrons expert, prescribed Pentasa. For the first couple of days it caused more abdominal pain and gave me temperature. This lasted for a somewhere between 2 - 4 days and then I was fine. I stopped taking it because it simply wasn't enough on its own and I needed stronger medication. I eventually was put on Remicade along with 6mp but still was having problems. My doctor added 8,000 grams of Pentasa a day into my treatment and approximately 3 months later I started feeling the best I had in years. Everyone reacts differently to these medications, but I hope hearing about my experience helps.

10-06-2008, 11:45 PM	#1
dingbat Forum Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Planet Confusion Posts: 4,275	Pentasa Questions i am just about to start Pentasa for the first time, & know virtually nothing about this medication. does anyone have any experience of using Pentasa suppositories? & if so, did it help? also, is it similar to Asacol? thanks.

10-06-2008, 11:55 PM	#2
hippie4lyfe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 422	dingbat i just use the regular pills you swallow and take 8 pills which I believe comes to 4,000mg, it is an anti-inflammatory and from what i understand it is one of the mildest meds and least likely to provide any side effects. good luck, why are you taking it as a suppository? __________________ 100% Vegan (Strict Vegetarian) & Organic, 6-mp, Aloe Vera, Iron, ALIVE Multi-Vitamin, DHA Algae Supplement, HSO Probiotics, Enzymes, B vitamins supplement, and a host of herbs and antioxidants.

10-07-2008, 02:19 AM	#4
hippie4lyfe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 422	ah no worries ding - this is a community of people with bottom issues lol. i hope the pentasa works well for you, let us know. __________________ 100% Vegan (Strict Vegetarian) & Organic, 6-mp, Aloe Vera, Iron, ALIVE Multi-Vitamin, DHA Algae Supplement, HSO Probiotics, Enzymes, B vitamins supplement, and a host of herbs and antioxidants.

10-07-2008, 12:04 AM	#3
dingbat Forum Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Planet Confusion Posts: 4,275	thanks Hippie taking it in that form because that's where the ulceration is.. well about 7 inches up from there. i can't believe i am talking about my bottom on a public forum!! hahaha yeah.. the doc did say something about Pentasa being known for good toleration.. i hope he's right!

10-07-2008, 09:40 AM	#5
Mazen Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Beirut, Lebanon Posts: 1,047	I have been taking Pentasa orally 3g a day for almost 8 years now. Didn't have nay side effects, but I don't know if it is working also. but my doctor said this is a medicine I should take for life !!!

10-07-2008, 03:33 PM	#6
dingbat Forum Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Planet Confusion Posts: 4,275	thank you everyone, for your replies so - it is a mild anti-inflammatory. could be just what i need - if it can find its way to the right place! lol

10-08-2008, 11:55 PM	#7
dingbat Forum Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Planet Confusion Posts: 4,275	ah well, the hope was good while it lasted used the pentasa for the first time last night, and i had a reaction to it.. was woken up a couple of hours after use, shaking, feeling very faint, sick, dizzy... ho hum. another few weeks wait then i get to tell my GI it is something else i can't tolerate.

10-09-2008, 08:22 AM	#8
dingbat Forum Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Planet Confusion Posts: 4,275	thanks Pen - i'm not using it again. once my body has given me the stop signal on a drug, i don't push it. i think it is one of those merry-go-round scenarios - i reckon i am over-sensitive to substances because my immune system is playing up, due to the activity of Crohns.. but then when i try to take something to calm the Crohns down, my immune system complains.. sigh.. anyone got any string and a heavy rock? lol

10-10-2008, 05:06 PM	#9
theability Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 93	Pentasa, asacol, and other preparations are all mesalamine, the difference is the area they are absorbed in the intenstinal tract. I am on Pentasa CR so that the most of the drug will be adbsorbed by my terminal Illuem. asacol is more for the colon. etc. hope this helps....

10-13-2008, 08:00 AM	#10
MGR5951 Guest Posts: n/a	When I starting getting treated for Chrons my doctor, a Chrons expert, prescribed Pentasa. For the first couple of days it caused more abdominal pain and gave me temperature. This lasted for a somewhere between 2 - 4 days and then I was fine. I stopped taking it because it simply wasn't enough on its own and I needed stronger medication. I eventually was put on Remicade along with 6mp but still was having problems. My doctor added 8,000 grams of Pentasa a day into my treatment and approximately 3 months later I started feeling the best I had in years. Everyone reacts differently to these medications, but I hope hearing about my experience helps.