Is it me or the horsepill that is Pentasa?

[CD68]

I take those giant 500 mg sized capsules. That's 1000 mg of Pentasa 3 times a day. They are an inch long, yep I measured them, the same length as the pill cam only skinnier. So pretty and blue--they look like a piece of broken crayon.

But....

At least once a day I choke on one.

Never thought much of this except to wonder if the FDA puts an upper limit on the size of pills until I read another thread where someone discussed how choking on items eventually led to a diagnosis of Crohn's in the esophagus.

And come to think of it I have been having reflux and on occassion my stomach taking forever to digest food, but the refux could be the fact that I've gained a lot of weight or it could be my meds.

Now that I have this disease I worry about every little thing.

 

[danman]

I had those big pills a while back, but I broke them in half. It was much easier to swallow.

Now I use the Pentasa granules. The come in a small satchy, muh easier.

 

[Collette]

Pentasa

I am completely frustrated this morning. I was on Pentasa years ago and HATED taking the 4 HUGE pills 4 times a day. Been on Asocol, Pentasa, Lialda and this past week Entocort. After calling the doc today to see if I could get a generic of Entocort because the co-pay is $50, he took me off the Entocort and back on Pentasa. I don't know about anyone else out there but I have a really hard time taking pills so many times a day.

Glad to be getting off the Entocort though....bad mood swings. Or maybe it is a coincidence and it's just everything else I am dealing with in life!

Doc seems really focused on Remicade. Nahhh...that is a path I don't think I am willing to take.

Kind of a weird question but does anyone deal with loud embarrassing noises coming from your belly all the time? I think people think I am hungry all the time!!

crohnes of the ileum

 

[danman]

Hiya Collette,

Ha, ha.... I've had the same problem for years, I think we all get it.

My son calls it "the monster in daddys belly"!!!!

 

[ErinDF]

I actually had to STOP taking Pentasa for just this reason. It had me to the point where I couldn't even take my OTHER pills without having an up-chuck reflex. It took me like five minutes everytime I had to get them down (and trust me, I'm a pretty good pill taker). Eventually I decided it wasn't worth it and stopped taking them (I was traveling at the time...probably wasn't the SMARTEST idea ever since I ended up in the hospital a few weeks later, but I blame the fact that I was flaring already and not the stopping taking Pentasa.)

 

[Collette]

The Monster

danman, that's pretty funny. My daughter said it sounds alien like. Wonderful isn't it?!

I wasn't on the Pentasa long enough to see if it worked or if it had side effects. What's the majority opinion for Pentasa besides the massive size?

 

[CD68]

danman, that's pretty funny. My daughter said it sounds alien like. Wonderful isn't it?!

I wasn't on the Pentasa long enough to see if it worked or if it had side effects. What's the majority opinion for Pentasa besides the massive size?

I've been taking it for five weeks and I can't tell. In some ways I'm doing better but in others I'm worse.

 

[Mark33180]

I have the same belly problem... A kid sitting next to me one day heard it and asked why my belly sounded like that.... I told him I ate a bear and it wanted out. You should have seen his face. it was so funny.

 

[Cookie]

[
Now that I have this disease I worry about every little thing.[/QUOTE]

Funny how that is...especially since I found this website and have read everyone else's experiences, the littlest things that I would have passed off in an instant send me into a tizzy. "OMG...I didn't have a BM today...I must have a stricture!" Thank God I have my husband to keep me sane!

 

[CD68]

I had those big pills a while back, but I broke them in half. It was much easier to swallow.

Now I use the Pentasa granules. The come in a small satchy, muh easier.

I was thinking about requesting a different version of Pentasa when this script is up. I looked up the side effects and bad outcomes with Pentasa and choking was not listed. What a croc that list is:

Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Pentasa Controlled-Release Capsules:

Diarrhea; headache; heartburn; mild abdominal discomfort or pain; nausea; vomiting

I can't believe that warning is for real. The side effects of Pentasa are identical to Crohn's.

 

[Mark33180]

usually the side effects are worse then what its suppose to cure

 

[merrywidow]

i do get mild headach when i increase my pentasa, but that is better than the sytptoms of crohns, sharon xx

 

[AIjen]

My only issue with Pentasa now is that if I take it when I'm finished eating, I get a really sharp pain, I think, in my lower esophagus - almost like it got caught in there. If I eat at least a few bites after taking it, I don't get the pain. I've often wondered if the darn things float and open up in the wrong place......haha.

 

[teeny5]

I never got acid reflux until having Crohn's. I always have loud belly noises. Even my GI kinda laughs at it. It is sooo noisy sometimes.

 

[furiousrose]

I can't believe that warning is for real. The side effects of Pentasa are identical to Crohn's.

i seriously laughed when the pharmacist told me that
isn't that what I am taking them for?

 

[kello82]

i read in a book that a common cause of acid reflux and other esophagul (sp?) problems is pills staying in there and dissolving instead of in your stomach where theyre supposed to be. it helps to drink a lot of water with your meds to make sure the chemicals get flushed away from your esophagus tissue.

personally ive found that when i have that "stuck" feeling that eating like, bread or something, pushes the meds down too

 

[sidney88]

I take the blue 500mg one that has the little balls inside of it. Is that what you guys are talking about or is there a different one?

 

[Serafina]

I was on the browny-grey pills, at least one of the eight every day would get upchucked because I'd try to swallow and it would get stuck.

I laughed too when I read the patient info leaflet with all the side effects, identical to the symptoms I was experiencing anyway!

 

[jennyfoust]

I laughed, and told my friends and family about the side effects! How confusing.

I have been taking Pentasa for a little over a month now. It's the first thing I've taken for Crohn's. For me, it really seems to be working. For the first time since July, I don't have liquid pouring out of my bottom several times a day, and I stopped losing weight.

I choke on them too! I used to pop all four pills in my mouth at once, and swollow them with water. Then I started taking them two at a time. One too many times a pill got turned sideways, and I thought I was going to die. Now, I take them one at a time, placing them in the back of my mouth, and making sure they're turned vertically before I try swallowing.

I also agree that they are very pretty.

 

[Kirby]

I've been on Pentasa for about 18 months. I take the round tablets(500mg). Three at a time twice a day, never had any problem swallowing them. Usually just drink more water if it doesn;t feel like it went down all the way. I swallow the three Pentasa along with three Imuran at the same time. I've had enough practice so my technique is pretty polished.

 

[D Bergy]

If you coat the pills in butter or coconut oil they will not get stuck on the way down.

When I was taking coconut oil I would put any capsules I was taking in my mouth at the same time. Capsules get kind of gluey as soon as they get wet.

Dan

 

[broadwayblondie]

I guess I'm some kind of crazy Crohn's- Monster. I take 4 pentasa, a calcium supplement, omeprazole, a probiotic, and a biotin supplement all in one gulp!

 

[jed]

can someone take a picture of one of these pills in there hand so i can get an idea of the size? i wanna see how big they are!

i was on cyclosporin for a few days in hospital, that was the biggest i've ever taken. huge bloody things!

and i was like broadway when i was inhospital, had about pills i'd take in a single gulp

 

[My Butt Hurts]

can someone take a picture of one of these pills in there hand so i can get an idea of the size? i wanna see how big they are!

Ask and ye shall receive, Jeddie.
This is the pentasa that I take, anyways.

 

[danman]

^^^ Ha, Ha...
That's very good.

I know the pentasa they're talking about Jed, I was given it in hospital.

They are about 15-20mm in diameter. But, it's not the actual size that's the problem. They are very chalky, so when you go to swallow them, they stick in your throat.

I've taken tablets all my life, and I've never had trouble swallowing them, until I was given these.

As I said earlier, I get satchys now. They are granules that I pour unto my tongue. Much easier.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Oopsies - that was the baby doll holding my drugs.
Here's the real deal -

Not too big, I don't think. They get slippery going down.
I have a pretty good pill swallowing technique though. Never have a problem.
I put a multivitamin there just for comparison.

 

[jed]

yup yup, thats pretty big (and damn funny burp!)

i have a feeling the cyclosporins were slightly bigger tho, and they were tablets, not pills, evil evil things!

 

[katiesue1506]

Who's ever hand that is isn't wearing a wedding ring.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Who's ever hand that is isn't wearing a wedding ring.

It's Drew's.

 

[katiesue1506]

mmmm. hmmm.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

What - did they teach you that at your forensics club tonight?? I mean - I know no one's dead here - but it's detective work all the same. And actually - there is no telling if that person is wearing ANYthing at all - right??

But really - did you SEE post #24? That is why I REALLY popped on here, for Jed!

 

[katiesue1506]

See here's how it came about. I was looking at your second pic and then I held out my hand and started to think about how big your hand is compared to mine. And then I saw my ring on my ring finger (not an engagement or wedding ring) and I was thinking "oh well if I took a pic, my ring would be in the way--- HEY MBH has no ring on!"

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I already told you. Not my hand. The dolly was not my hand - and my hand is also not my hand. Any more questions Ms. Forensics?? I deny every accusation.

(And did you just call me Mrs. Big-hands?? Slyly says, "Or MISS big-hands without that WEDDING RING!")

 

[katiesue1506]

You can't plead the 5th if you aren't on the stand. It was a mere observation.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

And a good one at that. I only wear my wedding ring when we go out together. Not even to work. It bugs me. Bracelets too. Never wear a watch.
Okay, it's me... (pout - our fun little game is over... /mopes into the other room and flops on the couch.)

 

[jkess27]

What's the story with the Sachets people talk about. Do they offer these in America because I only see people from other countries mentioning them? I do not think they are manufactured by Pentasa.

Basically, I am looking into alternatives now of the Pentasa pill form. I get some side effects including the light headiness and this reflux issue people talk about. I am really intersted in more on the sachets since that would be great if I could just take it once in the morning and get it over with/ not have the side effects form the pentasa tablets

 

[Missy_anne]

I'm on the same dosage you are (500 mg)- I was just bumped up to 8...yes 8 a day. It is a last chance to keep me off an immunodepressant. I can't take the pills with anything but Chocolate milk. Water or regular milk just doesn't work! They end up moving before I can swallow them and I choke. I haven't choked on one for a while! I actually haven't noticed any side effects. I am just not sure about the medicine all together. It just seems like It's not doing a whole lot! I have YET ANOTHER doctors appointment today to decide! :yrolleyes:

 

[SpoonNinja]

wow, i take the pentasa 500mg to i take 3 3times a day i used to be horrible at taking pills even little ones would make me gag i guess ive tought my self to kill the gag reflex lol my mom tought me she has no gag reflex im thankful she did or i would NEVER be able to take these xp

 

[kel]

I'm on those huge blue pills too. Never choked on one, but after about 4 months of taking them I started having lots of trouble swallowing them. Now I put a little food in my mouth, chew it up, put the pill in, and then swallow both at once. It seems to help.

 

[mikeinmaine]

I'm on Pentasa now- eight pills a day. I'm not sure how well they they target my intestines though because they kind of go through my system undigested and make my poo look like those snow caps you get at the movie theater. Sorry if that mental image ruins snow caps for anyone.

Does that happen to anyone else on Pentasa?

 

[terps02]

I'm on Pentasa now- eight pills a day. I'm not sure how well they they target my intestines though because they kind of go through my system undigested and make my poo look like those snow caps you get at the movie theater. Sorry if that mental image ruins snow caps for anyone.

Does that happen to anyone else on Pentasa?

Wow, I thought I was the only one! I've been on Pentasa for about a month now. At first I was trying to figure out what was in my poo. I thought it was the little seeds from strawberries. Then I thought it was the little seeds from bread or hamburger buns. Then, just the other day, I realized it was the Pentasa. Is that stuff supposed to dissolve? If so, it isn't working for me.

I'm also on 8 pills/day. I'm planning to ask my doctor soon about the presence of those little balls in my poo. Does anyone know if that is right?

 

[ChefShazzy]

I have never been on Pentasa myself, personally, but I have heard from doctors and other Crohnies that the coating on Pentasa and other 5ASA drugs is meant to make it through your stomach and down into your intestines/colon... So, yeah, the pills could very well be not fully dissolved. I think that is normal, but definitely mention it to the Doc; couldn't hurt.

 

[terps02]

Hello and welcome to the forum Terps, yes all this is normal I have been on Pentasa and Salofalk many times, it helps mild problems but I never noticed anything in my bm from the drug. It has a special coating so it will work in the intestines but as we are all different, the mild drug may not be enough to control your Crohns. If you are in pain after a week or 2, usually mean's you may need something else to help control your active Crohns.

Thanks.

Just so we are clear, I'm not talking about a few of those balls....i'm talking hundreds. It just seems like they are all passing right through me.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Is that stuff supposed to dissolve? If so, it isn't working for me.

Believe it or not, those little balls are actually tiny pill casings. All of those are in the pentasa caspsule with medicine inside them. What you are seeing are the empty shells. They are time released too, so they can work in different areas of your intestines. Yup - tons of them - right in your poop. Fun huh?

You could open up one of your pills and examine the little balls. They are hard. You can examine the ones after they come through, and although some will still have the chalky medicine inside them, most will just be empty.

Welcome to the forum terps!

 

[terps02]

You could open up one of your pills and examine the little balls. They are hard. You can examine the ones after they come through, and although some will still have the chalky medicine inside them, most will just be empty.

Wow, wouldn't have guessed that. Thanks for the info.

I have looked closely at them (when I catch one or two on my toilet paper). They sure look like intact little spheres. Would I see an obvious crack or hole in them?

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I have looked closely at them (when I catch one or two on my toilet paper). They sure look like intact little spheres. Would I see an obvious crack or hole in them?

No - they seem to keep their shape. Just squeeze a few - you'll see the difference.
Have fun with that, haha.

 

[terps02]

No - they seem to keep their shape. Just squeeze a few - you'll see the difference.
Have fun with that, haha.

ugh.......I believe you.




I'll ask my doctor as well.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Im on the sachets. They are so easy to take i dnt know why everyone doesnt take them! Just pour onto tounge and swallow with water, tho it does take a while to get the hang of swollowing them all down without them going EVERYWHERE inside your mouth! They are slow relesing so they release when they get into the bowl, i guess sometimes they just dnt desolve before they come out!! I find that they RLY help my crohn's, they r the main thing im on atm.
xxxx

 

[SpoonNinja]

so yeah what happens if you skip a dose of pentasa? im not even sure what it does all i no is im taking 9 a day and its really starting to annoy me!

 

[prettykitty]

Yeah, they totally make me gag. But I agree that they're pretty. And I sort of enjoy the speckled poo -- reminds me of speckled eggs.

 

[SpoonNinja]

why does it do that to your poo tho? does anyone no? i told my mom and she thought my dosage was too high and wanted me to take less but i told her we would have to talk to my dr first...yea its weired tho...

 

[My Butt Hurts]

why does it do that to your poo tho?

See post #46. I think that is the answer you are looking for.

 

[Daisy G]

I've been taking Pentasa (the white tablet) twice daily (since my July '07) and have the same complaints i.e. why the heck is it so large? My issue is that I take the meds in the morning after breakfast and in the evening after supper and because I have to drink so much water to ensure that it goes down properly it forever spoils my meals that I've just had. I've on a couple of occasions noticed the tablets whole in my pooh the morning after (apologies for the pooh talk). I figure why on earth do I have to take these meds and I am never sure if it's working effectively or not and of course I stress about long term side effects!!! Are we always at the mercy of the specialists?

 

[jooles6377]

They dont work anyway, lets just stop taking them, ha ha