Post COVID UC flare - Mezavant probs

[Bunnygirl1]

Hi I'm new, feeling a bit scared as it's Christmas time and my gastro not back til 8 January.

I had COVID mid November, very nauseous and some diahhrea and very soft sticky stool.

Mild proctosigmoiditis (low down UC) for 30 years. Been off meds for 20 years until now.

Following COVID my bowel symptoms started to worsen. Did Calprotectin test 11 Dec, was 1,000.

Luckily got a Facetime appt with gastro on her last day til January. She put me on 4.8g Mezavant.

So I've been taking that for 8 full days.

The last few days I began to get upper gastric area discomfort, mild pain, distention/bloating, and gurgling grumbling noises. And bad nausea in middle of last night. And some urgent trips to loo, with just piles of "shredded" looking stool. Very very tiny bits of blood visible occasionally, not much. Mucuous has lessened.

I saw GP yesterday, who said she had no experience with Mezavant. She suggested going to hospital emergency if things went pear shaped over Christmas period. Impossible to see a gastro this time of year any other way (in Australia).

I was up for 2 hours in middle of night last night feeling like vomitting (didn't!), and did 3 lots of unformed poo. Feeling worse than before I started taking Mez.

I've not taken any Mezavant today. I feel it is creating these unusual for me side effects (my upper GI area/stomach? very uncomfortable, mildly painful at times, and bad nausea). I want to stop but scared things may get "out of control" in gastro's words!

Don't know what to do . . .

Anyone have trouble taking Mezavant prolonged release?

Thanks!

[SetteeSofa]

Hi Bunnygirl1.

I'm Peter from the UK.

I take another brand of mesalazine (Octasa) extended release tablets (2.4 gms daily) and have not experienced any real side effects.

However, I see from the internet that Mezavant 'has been known to cause symptoms similar to those of worsening Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis', but then that's not altogether surprising.

I am so sorry that I have no real answer to your dilemma, but can fully appreciate how worrying it is when professional help isn't readily available. These situations always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times!! Maybe see how things go for the next two to three days and then decide whether to seek hospital assistance, or possibly try to go without the drug for a day or so and see whether there is any improvement, and if not then restart the medication?

I do wish you well, and hope that your symptoms improve over the coming days. So easy for me to say, I know, but do try not to become too stressed; my thoughts and best wishes are with you and hopefully you will still be able to enjoy the Christmas celebrations.

Take care.

Peter A

[Bunnygirl1 in reply to SetteeSofa]

Thank you so much Peter! I really appreciate your support and empathy! Makes me feel a bit better.😀 Yes, I have decided to stay off the mezavant for a couple of days and reassess . . . I'll decide then whether to possibly try a "maintenance" dose of 2.4g per day. I've had no more nausea today, (or bowel movements) - so far so good.

I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and thanks again for your kindness!

Jenny

[SetteeSofa in reply to Bunnygirl1]

Hi Jenny,

Thanks so much for your generous response.

Thank goodness you've had a good day thus far; this is a wretched complaint to deal with at times and sticking with the 2.4 g maintenance dose sounds like the way to go.

All the very best - and thanks for your Christmas greetings - it's much appreciated.

All the very best, and take care!

Peter A

[Stukatz in reply to Bunnygirl1]

Hi Bunnygirl1. I’m on mezavant same dose (4.8g) & have been on it since September with no problems (apart from some minor nausea). I did read a study, recently, that showed no difference between 2.4g dosing vs 4.8g dosing so I’ve dropped my dosage in half & still feeling good. Hope you sort it out & start feeling better! Merry Christmas 😊 🎄

Bobby

[Frasina]

I am in the UK and am on Mezavant 2.4g; however, whenever I have a mini flare, I increase it to 4.8g for up to a month. There are a few different types of mesalazine and they do actually work slightly differently although all are the first line of treatment for UC (in my case I have patchy pancolitis). Here in the UK almost all get put on Octasa (it is the cheapest of the mesalazines drugs), but my gastroenterologist swapped me to Mezavant because Octasa was not working well.

I did have some of the symptoms you have at first, especially on the higher dose. In my case it settled, but clearly you are in a flare... I am not medical, but perhaps you need a course of steroids to calm everything down? I would definitely speak to your consultant as soon as she returns though. Taking 2.4 is a maintenance dose, and may not help a flare, so you may need to see the emergency dept at the hospital or straight after Xmas see a GP again. I hope you get sorted!

[Bunnygirl1]

Thank you both Bobby and Frasina .. Merry Christmas!!! Quick reply as we are out the door soon. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences. I def feel much better having had no Mez for 2 full days. But will see another GP after Christmas. Enjoy you day everyone!🎄🎅🏻