LIALDA (MESALAMINE)

What is Lialda and How Does it Work?

If you experience active, mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC), your doctor may provide a prescription to buy Lialda or generic Mesalamine Delayed Release to treat and prevent the symptoms. These usually include rectal bleeding, frequent diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The positive results of Lialda can be seen during the first three to twenty one days of treatment and remission can occur in six to eight weeks.

It is believed that Mesalamine, the active ingredient in Lialda works as an anti-inflammatory medicine in your colon. It seems that ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory diseases cause an increase in the production of chemicals in your body, including prostaglandins that result in the inflammation of your colon. Mesalamine is thought to block the over-activity of the enzymes cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase which are responsible for producing prostaglandins. Once the inflammatory chemicals are calmed down, the inflammation decreases and your symptoms are relieved. There are no drugs that can cure ulcerative colitis, but brand name or Lialda generic can help diminish the inflammation and let you enjoy your life again.

About the Conditions Treated by Lialda

Doctors and researchers are unsure of the exact cause for ulcerative colitis, although it’s believed that the immune system may be the perpetrator. Your immune system usually sits by and only becomes active when there is a threat to your body such as bacteria, viruses, or injury. However, in some cases it seems that the immune system is activated in error and starts to attack the tissue in the lining of your colon. This is known as an autoimmune disease. Ulcerative colitis can also be an inherited condition if either of your parents or a sibling has it and can also be passed on to your own children.

How to Take Lialda

Lialda medication should be taken with a meal and swallowed whole. Until you know how Lialda will affect you, you should not drive, operate machinery, or undertake any task that is considered risky. You should not start a new medicine or stop taking any current ones during treatment with Lialda without talking to your doctor first.

Possible Lialda Side Effects

• Gas
• Dizziness
• Back or joint pain