Lialda is one of the brand name prescription drugs given to adults who have ulcerative colitis. ulcerative colitis is one of the types of inflammatory bowel disease and it causes inflammation/swelling and small sores that are known as ulcers which are found in the colon’s lining and rectum. Some of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain and diarrhea which have blood or mucus. 

For those who haven’t heard about this disease, ulcerative colitis is a chronic or long-term condition and the symptoms may vary over time. Flare-up is the term used for those periods that the disease is active and you experience different symptoms. While remission is used to address those periods when the symptoms are getting better.

There are two ways to treat ulcerative with the help of Lialda:

• Induction of remission: causing remission is the concept of this treatment. Lialda is used to provide treatment for active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis symptoms until the condition gets better or goes away.
• Maintenance of remission: keeping you in remission is the idea of this treatment. With the help of Lialda, you will be free from the different symptoms of ulcerative.

In every Lialda, you will find a drug called mesalamine and it belongs to a class of drugs which is aminosalicylates. When we say a class of drugs, this means that the drugs are acting similarly. For Aminosalicylates, this class of drugs is responsible for reducing the inflammation in the bowel. 

Lialda Dosage

Sine Lialda mesalamine is a common medication prescribed to those adults who have active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, you can find some Lialda dosage that is commonly used or recommended for the patients. But if you want to know the right dosage for your condition, you must take some time to visit your doctor since they can determine the best dosage that you need to treat your symptoms. 

The Forms and Strengths of the Drug

Lialda mesalamine is a delayed-release tablet which means that it comes with special coatings that letting them pass through your stomach before it starts dissolving. Lialda-mesalamine tablets are available in single strength which is 1.2 g.

Lialda Dosage for Induction of Remission of Ulcerative

When we induction of remission of ulcerative, this means that your symptoms are being treated until they go away or get better. The common dosage for this treatment is 2 to 4 mesalamine tablets that must be taken once a day with a full meal. 

To avoid missing your mesalamine dosage, we recommend that you continue taking your medication at the same time every day. Also, you must take this prescribed medication for a specific period that was recommended by your doctor.

Dosage for Maintenance of Remission of Ulcerative

With the maintenance of remission, this means that a patient is taking mesalamine for a long time even though he or she doesn’t feel any symptoms of the disease. With this treatment, the disease can be controlled and the symptoms will be prevented to come back. The common dosage for the maintenance of remission is 2 Lialda tablets that must be taken once a day with a full meal. 

To avoid missing your mesalamine dosage, we recommend that you continue taking your tablets at the same time every day. Also, you must take this prescribed medication for a specific period that was recommended by your doctor.

Lialda Storage Guide

When you start taking mesalamine tablets to treat your ulcerative, you need to follow proper storage guide to make sure that you getting the most from your medication. You should store mesalamine in a controlled room temperature which is between 68 to 77 degrees F. Maintaining this room temperature will prevent the tablets from moisturizing. Also, avoid areas that will expose the drugs to direct heat and sunlight. Humidity must also be avoided and never freeze your medicine. 

Keep the tablets away from the reach of your children since this medication is only intended for adults with ulcerative. Never share your medicine with other patients who were diagnosed with the same condition as yours because this treatment plan was only designed for you. If you have other questions or concerns about your medication, you need to talk to your doctor directly. Never start, stop, or change your dosage unless your doctor gave you the instructions to do it. 

Lialda for Induction of Remission of Ulcerative

This product is a known medication that was approved by the FDA and it is used for the inducing of active mild to moderate ulcerative remission found on in adults. Induction of remission means the symptoms are being treated until they go away or get better.

The Effectiveness of the Treatment

After conducting the two eight-week studies, the medication was discovered effective with inducing remission of the different symptoms of ulcerative. During these studies, patients who have active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis symptoms received either 2.4grams of the medication each day, 4.8grams of the medication each er day, or a placebo which is known as a treatment without the active drug.

After the first eight weeks of the study, the symptoms’ remission was completed in:

• 34.1% of patients who have taken 2.4 g of the medicine each day
• 29.2% of patients who have taken 4.8 g of the medicine each day
• 12.9% of patients who have taken the placebo

After the second eight weeks of the study, the symptoms’ remission was completed in:

• 40.5% of patients who have taken 2.4 g of the medicine each day
• 41.2% of patients who have taken 4.8 g of the medicine each day
• 22.1% of patients who have taken a placebo

With these results, the patients who have remission from their ulcerative symptoms had experienced lesser rectal bleeding and lesser bowel movements. Their colon’s lining was also examined using a sigmoidoscopy. During this examination, a thin, flexible tube with a camera and a light on will be inserted into the patient’s colon through the rectum. The patient in remission had fewer ulcers and less inflammation in the colon’s lining.

Lialda for Maintenance of Remission of Ulcerative

The drugs are also known as an FDA-approved medication for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative found on adults. With the maintenance of remission, this means that a patient is taking Lialda for a ling time even though he or she doesn’t feel any symptoms of the disease. With this treatment, the disease can be controlled and the symptoms will be prevented to come back.

The Effectiveness of the Treatment

The conducted 6 months clinical study had proven the effectiveness of Lialda with maintaining remission from the ulcerative condition. During this study, those patients who are experiencing minimal to zero symptoms were administered with either 2.4 g of Lialda or 1.6grams of mesalamine each day. 

After six months, the study turned out that 83.7 percent of those patients who were taking 2.4 g of Lialda each day remained in remission. While 81.5 percent of those patients who were taking 1.6 g of mesalamine each day remained in remission. 

What will happen if you miss a dosage?

Since this medication is given to adults, some patients tend to forget taking their Lialda dose during the scheduled time. When this happens to you, you can take your missed dosage once you have remembered it. But you should remember that if it’s almost time for the next Lialda dose, you should skip your missed dosage and take your next medicine during the scheduled time. 

You should never take 2 doses of Lialda so you can make up with the missed dosage. If you do this, you may increase your risk for different side effects of the medication. Setting an alarm or reminder with your phone will help you with making sure that you will never forget or miss any dosage of your medicine. Make use of the meditation timer so you can take your medicine on time each day.

Do you need to use this medication for the long term?

Lialda is a long term treatment given to those patients who have ulcerative. Once you and your doctor discovered that Lialda is effective and safe for your condition, there is a high chance that you take this medication for the long term. 

Alternative Medication to Lialda

Aside from Lialda, other drugs can be used to treat ulcerative. Sometimes, these alternative drugs will work better for your condition. If you want to know about the alternative drugs for Lialda, you can talk to your doctor and discuss your options. Your doctor or medical care provider can give you the best information about all the drugs that will work well for you. 

Alternative Drugs for Induction of Remission of Ulcerative

The induction of remission means we are treating the symptoms of active ulcerative until they go away or get better. Here are some of the other drugs that you can use for inducing the remission of your ulcerative:

alternative aminosalicylates that must be taken by mouth:

• balsalazide (Colazal)
• sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• olsalazine (Dipentum)
• other forms of mesalamine (Asacol HD, Delzicol, Pentasa)

alternative aminosalicylates that must be taken rectally:

• mesalamine (Rowasa, Canasa, sfRowasa)

• alternative corticosteroids that must be taken by mouth:
• budesonide (Uceris)
• methylprednisolone (Medrol)
• hydrocortisone (Cortef)
• prednisone (Rayos)

alternative corticosteroids that must be taken rectally:

• hydrocortisone (Cortenema, Colocort)
• budesonide (Uceris rectal foam)

some immunomodulators:

• 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)
• azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan)

some biologic therapies:

• adalimumab (Humira)
• golimumab (Simponi)
• infliximab (Inflectra, Renflexis, Remicade)
• vedolizumab (Entyvio)

Alternative Drugs for Maintenance of Remission of Ulcerative

With the maintenance of remission, this means that your symptoms are being kept under control and preventing all the other symptoms from reoccurring or coming back. Here are some of the alternative drugs that you can use for treating ulcerative aside from Lialda:

alternative aminosalicylates that must be taken by mouth:

• balsalazide (Colazal)
• sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• olsalazine (Dipentum)
• other forms of mesalamine (Apriso, Delzicol)

alternative aminosalicylates that must be taken rectally:

• mesalamine (Rowasa, Canasa, sfRowasa)

immunomodulatory:

• 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)
• azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan)

biologic therapies:

• adalimumab (Humira, Imraldi)
• golimumab (Simponi)
• infliximab (Inflectra, Renflexis, Remicade)
• vedolizumab (Entyvio)

Lialda and Alcohol

No study can tell that there are no interactions between Lialda and alcohol. But if you are experiencing headaches or you get nauseated while you are taking Lialda, you should refrain from drinking alcohol because it can worsen your condition. For some patients, drinking alcohol has also shown that flare-up of the condition may happen. While for some patients, drinking alcohol can start different symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and cramping.

If you are drinking alcohol or planning to drink alcohol while you are taking Lialda tablets, you should consult your doctor so he or she can give your advice and information on the safe amount of alcohol that you can drink. Follow your doctor’s recommendation so your medication will be more effective and work better.

Lialda and Pregnancy

There are known studies of mesalamine tablets during pregnancy. In these studies, it shows that mesalamine does not cause any miscarriages, birth defects, and other problems that may happen in pregnant mothers or with the babies. But no study can show that these tablets are safe during pregnancy that’s why this medication must only be used by pregnant women when the known benefits can outweigh the possible risks. 

If ulcerative cannot be treated during pregnancy, the risk of low birth weight and premature birth may increase. This means that these drugs should be given for pregnant women who will be diagnosed with ulcerative to avoid problems. The AGA or American Gastroenterological Association recommends that women should refrain from getting pregnant if their condition has never been remission for 3 months and more. The AGA suggests that mesalamine can be used by pregnant women so remission can be maintained. Some evidence also shows that the benefits of mesalamine with keeping ulcerative during remission is higher than the possible risks of the medication. 

If you are pregnant or you are planning to get pregnant while taking these tablets, you need to consult your doctor and discuss the known information on the benefits and risks of the medication if this will be used during pregnancy.

Lialda and Birth Control

Like the case of alcohol, no study can support that these tablets can be safe when it is taken during pregnancy. Once you or your partner gets pregnant while you are using this medication, you need to consult your doctor right away so you can have the right information on birth control that will go well with your medication.

Lialda and Breastfeeding

No study can show that Lialda tablets are safe to take when the mother is breastfeeding her baby. The mesalamine or the active drug found in the drugs can be passed through breast milk in little amounts. For those mothers who are breastfeeding while taking mesalamine, their children have been reported to experience diarrhea which is a common symptom of the medication.

If you are taking these drugs or you will start the treatment with this medication, you need to consult your doctor and ask for information about the best solution to feed your baby during your treatment. If you want to continue breastfeeding your baby while you are taking these drugs, you need to inform your doctor immediately if your baby starts to experience diarrhea.

How Lialda Works

Lialda mesalamine is an FDA-approved drug when it comes to treating ulcerative in adults. This means that this medication can be given to those who are diagnosed with this condition.

What happens when an adult has ulcerative?

Ulcerative is known as one of the types of inflammatory bowel disease and it commonly happens in adults. With this condition, the colon’s lining, or known as the large intestine, together with the rectum become inflamed or irritated and swollen. This inflammation can start small sores in colon linings and they are called ulcers. The common symptom of this inflammation is diarrhea or continual bowel movements with mucus. The bloody stools are because of the bleeding ulcers. Some other symptoms of ulcerative are anemia, fatigue, nausea, and weight loss. 

Ulcerative is a chronic condition and the symptoms may vary over time with some cases showing acute intolerance syndrome. Flare-up is the term used for those periods that the disease is active and you experience different symptoms. While remission is used to address those periods when the symptoms are getting better.

How Lialda Treats Ulcerative Colitis

Lialda drugs contain an active drug that is known as mesalamine and this is a 5-aminosalicylic acid or 5-ASA. Mesalamine belongs to a class of drugs which is aminosalicylates. When we say a class of drugs, this means that the medications are acting similarly. 

Since Lialda mesalamine drugs are Aminosalicylates, it is working to reduce and prevent the inflammation, or swelling, and the lesions found in the lining of rectum and colon. With mesalamine tablets, you have drugs that directly target the areas of your bowel. When you are taking these drugs, your cells found from the rectum and colon linings will be stopped from producing the various substances that can start inflammation. But the way this medication works cannot be fully explained and understood. 

When the bowel lining begins the healing process and the inflammation can be minimized, the symptoms of your ulcerative will start to get better and go away.

How long should I wait for the mesalamine to work?

Reducing the inflammation with your bowel will begin once you have started taking these mesalamine tablets as your medication. But you should be aware that the symptoms will only start to get better and eventually go away after a few weeks of your medication. 

Lialda drug interactions

Lialda is used to treat an intestinal disease known as ulcerative colitis. If you are taking Lialda and you experience serious abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, or you develop a rash, you should consult a physician for diagnosis or treatment.

Tell your healthcare provider about every prescription, illegal, over-the-counter, nutritional, herbal, or vitamin-containing supplements drugs you are consuming. Here are the drugs that might severely interact with Mesalamine:

• Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) and Alternagel or Amphojel (aluminum hydroxide)
• Polymyxin B
• Aciphex (rabeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Dexilant (dexlansoprazole), and Prevacid (lansoprazole)
• Axid or Axid AR (nizatidine), Tagamet (cimetidine), and Pepcid (famotidine)
• Live varicella vaccine
• MMR II (live measles, rubella vaccine, and mumps)
• Baciim (bacitracin)

Apart from these prescription drugs, alcohol can also interact with Mesalamine. This is because alcohol can irritate your intestines and stomach, and might potentially aggravate your health condition if you’ve already developed ulcerative colitis. As much as the possible limit or avoid alcohol drinking when consuming Mesalamine. Additionally, you should also stay away from drinking grapefruit juice and eating grapefruit while under Mesalamine. This is because grapefruit can interact with the medication since it impedes the ability of the body to dissolve Mesalamine. When this occurs, it could hazardously result in a high accumulation of the meds in the bloodstream.

When you are taking Lialda (mesalamine), you must avoid taking aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which also includes ibuprofen and naproxen. It’s because when these drugs interact with Lialda it could damage the kidney. Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine are also among the drugs to avoid because they can cause a disorder in the blood.

It is also not advisable to chew the tablet rather you have to swallow it instead. Some drugs can be absorbed in the right amount if the outer coat is not broken when it reaches the stomach.

Drug Interactions between Lialda and Tylenol

There is no interaction found for Lialda and Tylenol. Lialda is known to have interactions with 111 drugs. It belongs to class 5-aminosalicylates and can treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Active, Ulcerative Colitis, Maintenance, Ulcerative Proctitis.

Tylenol is known to interact with 102 drugs. It belongs to the drug class miscellaneous analgesics and is used in treating Fever, Muscle Pain, Pain, Sciatica.

When these drugs are present in the food, there is also no interaction found.

For Imodium and Lialda, there is no interaction found in these drugs. You have to check it with your healthcare provider because it does not mean there is no interaction all the time. Imodium is known to interact with 360 drugs. It belongs to the drug class antidiarrheals and used as treatment to Diarrhea, Diarrhea, Acute, Diarrhea, Chronic, Traveler’s Diarrhea.

Lialda is known to have interactions with 111 drugs. It belongs to class 5-aminosalicylates and can treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Active, Ulcerative Colitis, Maintenance, Ulcerative Proctitis.

When these drugs are present in the food, these drugs interact moderately. The use of alcohol should be limited or should be avoided. Alcohol can increase the side effects of loperamide (Imodium) in the nervous system. Some people experience impairment in thinking and judging, dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty to focus. At the same time, do not use loperamide more than the allowed dosage and keep away from doing activities that need mental alertness such as driving or operating machinery.

Can Lialda cause blood in urine?

Lialda may cause severe kidney problems or other adverse effects if it interacts with other drugs. So before taking Lialda you have to inform your doctor about your medical conditions and for advice diagnosis. Even though it only happens rarely, Lialda can affect or worsen kidney problems such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Can you drink alcohol while taking Lialda?

Medicines can interact with certain foods. Sometimes when they interact they can be worse so you have to consult with your doctor for a medical advice diagnosis or treatment and information if there is some food you have to avoid while taking the medication.

If you happen to have ulcerative colitis and you are taking Lialda for prescription medication, avoid ingesting any alcohol. This is because alcohol can worsen the irritation of your stomach as well as your intestines. This goes the same with drinking grapefruit while taking mesalamine. Hence, it is recommended to limit or avoid drinking while you are taking Lialda.