I don't recognize the first one,'osalazine.' But I might could shed some light on the others. 'mesalamine' is the actual antiinflamatory that is delivered to the intestines.
'Sulfasalazine' was the first developed. It combined sulfa with mesalazine. This allowed the combined chemical to survive the trip through the acids of the stomach. After the stomach it would break down into the two parts.
Because of the number of patients who were alergic to sulfa several other drugs were developed which delivered pretty much the same mesalazine, but without the sulfa.
They list three 5-ASA drugs: olsalazine, mesalamine & balsalazide.
Dipentum delivers the 5-ASA drug olsalazine. Asacol & Pentasa deliver the 5-ASA drug mesalamine. Colazal delivers the 5-ASA drug balsalazide.
I have been on sulfazalazine (could not tolerate it), Pentasa, and am now on Colazal.
In addition to delivering pretty much the same 5-ASA anti-inflammatory drug there are the following differences.
Pentasa begins to deliver mesalamine just after passing through the stomach, and continues to deliver more as it travels through the small intestine and colon.
Asacol begins to deliver mesalamine at the beginning of the colon.
Colazal begins to deliver balsalazide about half way through the colon.
Rowasa enemas deliver mesalazine from the other end and it reaches only the lower part of the colon.
I hope I got this right - corrections are welcome. Hopefully your dr will beable to fine the right drug for you - one that you will tolerate & one that will be effective for reducing your inflammation. Howard UC since 1995
"David" <David@asdf.com> wrote in message news:MPG.1c8fccd7197e58c6989682@news.east.earthlink.net...> Anyone know the difference between osalazine, mesalamine, asacol, and> colazal?? How does one know which is the best one to take??
Don't forget Dipentum!!! This is the forgotten drug. It releases like sulfasalazine (2 molecules bound together and broken apart by the same intestinal bacteria), but no sulfa. It's 30 years old, and still not available in generic and almost never prescribed. Apparently, it has a tendency to cause diarrhea. It did not do that for me.
hi i was on dipentum years ago and it was not great for me...asacol has been much better... we tried both colazal and pentasa and neither did much...my doctor said that a lot of it is trial and error with these...what works for one doesnt work for the next... dipentum did NOT cause diarrhea for me..it just didnt stop the problems at all..and i was always on prednisone... now i am on asacol, cipro and 6mp...no pred for a couple of years now...hopefully never again... take care..annie
Annie, why Cipro? Is there a bacterial agent that needs to be addressed, too? I'm glad for you that you are off pred. I was in a panic the other day thinking that was the next step for me, but I've learned so much here in the past two days that I hope I can avoid it for now and forever.
Howard, this is very informative..thx for posting it...
On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 12:33:16 -0700, "Howard Jarrett" <hjarrett1@cox.net> wrote:
I don't recognize the first one,'osalazine.'>But I might could shed some light on the others.>'mesalamine' is the actual antiinflamatory that is delivered to the >intestines.>
'Sulfasalazine' was the first developed. It combined sulfa with mesalazine. >This allowed the combined chemical to survive the trip through the acids of >the stomach. After the stomach it would break down into the two parts.>
Because of the number of patients who were alergic to sulfa several other >drugs were developed which delivered pretty much the same mesalazine, but >without the sulfa.>
They list three 5-ASA drugs: olsalazine, mesalamine & balsalazide.>
Dipentum delivers the 5-ASA drug olsalazine.>Asacol & Pentasa deliver the 5-ASA drug mesalamine.>Colazal delivers the 5-ASA drug balsalazide.>
I have been on sulfazalazine (could not tolerate it), Pentasa, and am now on >Colazal.>
In addition to delivering pretty much the same 5-ASA anti-inflammatory drug >there are the following differences.>
Pentasa begins to deliver mesalamine just after passing through the stomach, >and continues to deliver more as it travels through the small intestine and >colon.>
Asacol begins to deliver mesalamine at the beginning of the colon.>
Colazal begins to deliver balsalazide about half way through the colon.>
Rowasa enemas deliver mesalazine from the other end and it reaches only the >lower part of the colon.>
I hope I got this right - corrections are welcome.>Hopefully your dr will beable to fine the right drug for you - one that you >will tolerate & one that will be effective for reducing your inflammation.>Howard>UC since 1995>
"David" <David@asdf.com> wrote in message >news:MPG.1c8fccd7197e58c6989682@news.east.earthlink.net...>> Anyone know the difference between osalazine, mesalamine, asacol, and>> colazal?? How does one know which is the best one to take?? >
They release in different parts of the intestinal tract. Since the 5ASA drugs work on contact, the location of the disease often determines which is best to use for a given patient. You should ask your GI why he/she chose the specific 5ASA you are taking.
mgbio
David wrote:> Anyone know the difference between osalazine, mesalamine, asacol, and > colazal?? How does one know which is the best one to take??
I don't know why Annie suggested Cipro to you (since you didn't quote her post), however, specific antibiotics such as Cipro, Flagyl, Rifamab and Biaxen have been shown to help control IBD and have their place in its treatment.
mgbio
Karen wrote:
Annie, why Cipro? Is there a bacterial agent that needs to be> addressed, too? I'm glad for you that you are off pred. I was in a> panic the other day thinking that was the next step for me, but I've> learned so much here in the past two days that I hope I can avoid it> for now and forever.>
Karen wrote:> Annie, why Cipro? Is there a bacterial agent that needs to be> addressed, too?
Certain antibiotics have been proven to be useful for treating Crohn's disease, particularly CD involving fistulas and abscesses. With the possible exception of a bacterium called MAP(Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis) however there is currently not one particular bacterium known or believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's.
Keep in mind that at the same time antibiotics have not been shown to be effective in ulcerative colitis.
"Carole Allen" <carolea7@comcast.net> wrote in message news:42268653.996312@news.individual.net...> Howard, this is very informative..thx for posting it...>
On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 12:33:16 -0700, "Howard Jarrett"> <hjarrett1@cox.net> wrote:>
I don't recognize the first one,'osalazine.'>>But I might could shed some light on the others.>>'mesalamine' is the actual antiinflamatory that is delivered to the>>intestines.>>
'Sulfasalazine' was the first developed. It combined sulfa with >>mesalazine.>>This allowed the combined chemical to survive the trip through the acids >>of>>the stomach. After the stomach it would break down into the two parts.>>
Because of the number of patients who were alergic to sulfa several other>>drugs were developed which delivered pretty much the same mesalazine, but>>without the sulfa.>>
They list three 5-ASA drugs: olsalazine, mesalamine & balsalazide.>>
Dipentum delivers the 5-ASA drug olsalazine.>>Asacol & Pentasa deliver the 5-ASA drug mesalamine.>>Colazal delivers the 5-ASA drug balsalazide.>>
I have been on sulfazalazine (could not tolerate it), Pentasa, and am now >>on>>Colazal.>>
In addition to delivering pretty much the same 5-ASA anti-inflammatory >>drug>>there are the following differences.>>
Pentasa begins to deliver mesalamine just after passing through the >>stomach,>>and continues to deliver more as it travels through the small intestine >>and>>colon.>>
Asacol begins to deliver mesalamine at the beginning of the colon.>>
Colazal begins to deliver balsalazide about half way through the colon.>>
Rowasa enemas deliver mesalazine from the other end and it reaches only >>the>>lower part of the colon.>>
I hope I got this right - corrections are welcome.>>Hopefully your dr will beable to fine the right drug for you - one that >>you>>will tolerate & one that will be effective for reducing your inflammation.>>Howard>>UC since 1995>>
"David" <David@asdf.com> wrote in message>>news:MPG.1c8fccd7197e58c6989682@news.east.earthlink.net...>>> Anyone know the difference between osalazine, mesalamine, asacol, and>>> colazal?? How does one know which is the best one to take??>>
Dipentum did get a brief mention in the middle of my post, but I have not heard much about it, and it doesn't get talked about much on this newsgroup. Don't know why. Howard
"Mike" <hopital_mike@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1109806565.498363.109330@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...> Don't forget Dipentum!!! This is the forgotten drug. It releases like> sulfasalazine (2 molecules bound together and broken apart by the same> intestinal bacteria), but no sulfa. It's 30 years old, and still not> available in generic and almost never prescribed. Apparently, it has a> tendency to cause diarrhea. It did not do that for me.>
I took dipentum for years and it never did anything (although i experienced no side effects). I recently switched to Asacol & Methotrexate injections and the side effects between the two are so terrible that i'd almost rather deal with the chron's flareups. i am nauseated all of the time, with my ears ringing and general fluish type feelings. Also very fatigued and keep a headache. Has anyone else had this combination of meds and these side effects?
Hi Mike, it was too me too and what's even stranger is I am on Pentasa and have a remission from it. I don't know why but I will take it! Glad you are feeling better. UM MOM Susan "Mike" <hopital_mike@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1109984489.178712.226740@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...> Asacol did the exact same thing for me.... it was really awful... I> don't know why asacol was so toxic to me, but it was....>
I take asacol and Cipro too. Last summer I stopped the asacol and after 4 months there was no real change in my symptoms. Then I cut back on some supplements and eventually stopped taking the Cipro. Within about 6 weeks I was having a pretty bad flare and thought I was headed for some serious medical intervention. But before I did that I started back on the medications and in about 4 weeks things had improved. But not to the point where I wanted to be. So I made some dietary modifications and went back on all of the supplements I was on when I was doing my best.
Since then I have improved considerably. So I feel that for me it's a combination of the right things that is the most effective. The right meds, diet, supplements, and exercise seems to improve my condition better than any single part.
tx Jeff
"annie" <annieluvrose@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1109817879.381766.291830@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...> hi> i was on dipentum years ago and it was not great for me...asacol has> been much better...> we tried both colazal and pentasa and neither did much...my doctor said> that a lot of it is trial and error with these...what works for one> doesnt work for the next...> dipentum did NOT cause diarrhea for me..it just didnt stop the problems> at all..and i was always on prednisone...> now i am on asacol, cipro and 6mp...no pred for a couple of years> now...hopefully never again...> take care..annie>
I don't think asacol would be indicated in your case since it is designed to be delivered in the colon and you have CD. It's possible the side effects were the result of the drug acting in a place where is was not needed.
In a recent post it is clear that the colon does more than previously thought. I helps in vitamin production and absorption and electrolyte absorption. Hindering this process could result in other symptoms. In Asian medical practices they developed a keen awareness of how different symptoms affect the body in many ways. Often times what my seem like disparate symptoms are actually related. Ringing in the ears is said to be sometimes related to kidney functions. It may seem strange at first but if you think about it whether the kidneys are doing their job or not can effect substances in the blood and also possibly in the lymphatic system. Blood circulates throughout the body and the ears are particularly sensitive piece of mechanics.
But beyond just making these connections they have developed treatment principles that really work. So it's not just an interesting theory. I believe that many of the theories actually grew out of observation and practice which then supported the creation of the theory.
regards, Jeff
"Sdores" <sdores@bellsouth.net> wrote in message news:enhWd.989$Q83.857@bignews5.bellsouth.net...> Hi Mike, it was too me too and what's even stranger is I am on Pentasa and> have a remission from it. I don't know why but I will take it! Glad you
feeling better. UM MOM Susan> "Mike" <hopital_mike@yahoo.com> wrote in message> news:1109984489.178712.226740@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...> > Asacol did the exact same thing for me.... it was really awful... I> > don't know why asacol was so toxic to me, but it was....> >
In a recent post it is clear that the colon does more than previously> thought. I helps in vitamin production and absorption and electrolyte> absorption. Hindering this process could result in other symptoms. In Asian> medical practices they developed a keen awareness of how different symptoms> affect the body in many ways. Often times what my seem like disparate> symptoms are actually related. Ringing in the ears is said to be sometimes> related to kidney functions. It may seem strange at first but if you think> about it whether the kidneys are doing their job or not can effect> substances in the blood and also possibly in the lymphatic system. Blood> circulates throughout the body and the ears are particularly sensitive piece> of mechanics.>
Jeff, I know that you've been doing a lot of research on tinnitus!
It makes a lot of snese on many different levels. Do you know what is the predominant electrolye in the cochlear endolymph? Potassium! The kidneys regulate potassium and salt. Too much of one, means not enough of the other. Mess those up, and your ears will not be happy! I won't even being to talk bout fluid buildup.
"Don't forget Dipentum!!! This is the forgotten drug. It releases like sulfasalazine (2 molecules bound together and broken apart by the same intestinal bacteria), but no sulfa. It's 30 years old, and still not available in generic and almost never prescribed. Apparently, it has a tendency to cause diarrhea. It did not do that for me. Thanks, Mike"
You are right Mike there hasn't been much information on Dipentum, well I tried to look for some and here's what I got...
Olsalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. It is sold under the name Dipentum.
The chemical name is 3,3' -azobis (6-hydroxybenzoate)salicylic acid. It is sold as the disodium salt.
Like Balsalazide, Olsalazine is believed to deliver Mesalazine, or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), past the small intestine, directly to the large intestine, which is that active site of disease in ulcerative colitis.
The common side effects of Dipentum that may go away during treatment, include abdominal pain, cramps, or nausea. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. If diarrhea, rash, or itching is experienced contact your doctor .
