Hey UC’ers,
By request from a fellow UC’er and user of the site, it’s time to create a review page for another colitis medication.
SO…
If you’ve ever used Canansa suppositories to help treat your ulcerative colitis symptoms, please feel free to click the “submit review” button below and type in your experience for others to read.
Canansa suppositories are typically 1000mg of mesalamine which is the active ingredient. They are quite expensive, so if you’ve found a way to reduce your costs, or if your insurance has provided help with this costly medication, definitely share the details in the review.
Submit your review | |
I find that canasa is the only medication that keeps my colitis in check, but I cannot afford it.. one month supply through my insurance is $1,452.24
Used to order from a Canadian pharmacy because my insurance was terrible, but now my insurance covers it for $5 copay. I’m grateful, as it’s the most helpful thing I’ve tried for ulcerative proctitis.
I have used since I was pregnant they said this was safer. It makes my poop oily! But it works better then the pills for me.. quicker anyways since it’s directly to the spot
Diagnosed with mild UC this year, luckily the generic became available in 2019(?). Seems to maintain remission on as little as 3x per week in my case. Anything less and the symptoms come back. Side effects for me include bloating and gas the day after use.
Canasa suppositories helped a lot. Always felt better.
I had severe adverse reactions. It made my symptoms worse and made me a lot sicker.
Once diagnosed the doctor automatically entered me into a clinical trial. It lasted for about 6 months. Terrible experience, suppositories clear me right up. Insurance picked up the cost I paid $120 copay every 3 months. Used the suppositories for about 2 years once a night Non-Stop. Then I tried to stop started bleeding again. Used them again for a year. Stop using them in fine for another year. Canasa is great if your colitis isn't too far up into your rectum.
Thankfully my insurance covered it for a $40 copay. I don't use it regularly but at the first sign of bleeding I use it for a week or so. To expensive as a maintenance drug but great for a flare
I would say across the board that all Mesalamine products are good but I will qualify that with saying that they are good at maintaining remission but not necessarily getting you into it. If you’ve got a rough case of UC, you might need the “big guns” like a biologic to
get you INTO remission but once you are there it seems that mesalamine does a fine job of keeping you there. That’s my experience so far anyway😊
I have been using Canasa suppository 1000mg for the past 2 years. It worked well on my mild colitis. I have been paying $10 for 10 unit out of pocket, using Canasa coupon and my pharmacy insurance Caremark. Today when I refill the prescription, I was told that there is generic (Mesalamine 1000mg Suppository) now for Canasa, manufactured by Greenstone LLC. The insurance will no longer accept Canasa coupon. The generic costs $19.15 per 10 units. So I'm actually paying more now with generic.
I started site shortly after being diagnosed in October of 2008 with severe pancolitis (when my whole colon was inflamed).
For me, it was a very rough start with severe symptoms. Getting bounced from medication to medication was not easy or too helpful. But, I did meet another UC’er, changes several parts of my diet, and of course the rest is history.
Leave a comment, ask a question, take advantage of our past experiences here, use the search boxes, they are your friends to0:)
I’ve written 2 different ulcerative colitis ebooks, you can check them out here.
And, the Free eNewsletter, which has important updates can be joined here.
I currently use Lialda (asacol had recently taken off my insurance preferred list) but keep some canasa on hand in case I feel a flare coming. 2-5 days of using Canasa and I feel good again. I have great insurance and pay $40 for a 90 day supply (written daily as needed). I have blue shield ppo
Some tips for taking the suppositories learned through trial and error…
*Warm the suppository to at least room temperature! Helps a lot.
*Right before insertion squeeze the bottle until all the extra air is removed. This helps greatly with the gassy feeling.
*Go slowly, take your time (going in increments) both inserting the medicine and then again easing the suppository out. Spending the extra few minutes will help with your comfort level.
Sounds like common sense things but I had never used a suppository before and these tips were very helpful for me :-)
Joyce: I think you are talking about the enemas, not the suppositories. The suppositories are little waxy bullet-shaped things that you put in your bottom and they melt. Your tips on using the enemas, however, are absolutely correct and are very helpful.
Oh my gosh…you are absolutely right, Kris! Sorry about that. I have used both. Found the enemas to work better than the suppositories though so that was on my mind. Thanks for the correction :-)
Hello, all. Great site.
Background. An 80 YO with heart, blood pressure and cholesterol issues. UC treatments going on 3 years. Nothing has helped. Have gone through the following:
Colozal – 9 pills a day gave me a headache; cut to 6 without headache.
Mesalamine (3 forms) – Went off Colozal.
Apriso – Started on 4 pills a day, went to 8/day for a few months, now on 4/Day.
Lialda – Off Apriso, on Lialda for a few weeks, back on Apriso 4/day.
Canasa – On for about 6 months.
Prednisone – On for about 6 months; ankle swelling.
Hydrocortisone (Colocort) – Nightly enema about the last year and a half. All I can do to get to the toilet fast enough.
Remicade – 4 infusions.
Humira – Self-administered shots for about 4 months.
Uceris – 1 pill in the morning.
Above are prescriptions; nothing has helped. Currently still taking Uceris, Apriso and Colocort.
I’m also taking a number of supplements — 3 probiotics and a few digestive aids.
I’ve also tried a homeopathic approach (based in India) and acupuncture (4 sessions). Neither helped.
Straining on the toilet resulted in a double hernia; surgically repaired with mesh.
Started the SCD about 5 weeks ago; doesn’t seem to be helping yet.
I’m a mess; frustrated.
R/Bob
I was diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis in June 2013. Prescribed sulfasalazene and Canasa. At 2 a day, without insurance I needed to come up with almost $1,500 monthly. I was given what samples were left for a 2 week supply, and it helped stop the bleeding during that time. Its been over a year and Im still not able to afford this drug. I do not qualify for the patient assistance program. I think I will probably take my chances with canadian pharmacies online.
Beth, the Canadian pharmacies are great. That’s the only way I can afford my Canasa (called different in Canada…maybe mesalimine ). My dr has worked with me so I use 1 suppository per night for 2 weeks, then off for 2 wks, etc. So my prescription is for 30 days….30 suppositories and I pay $81. It comes out to be about $40 per month as the rx lasts me 2 months. The only down side is it takes a good 2-4 weeks to get your medicine. I’ve used Canadian Pharmacies for quite a while and have always been satisfied.
Hi – What a great site this is!
I don’t think we have Canasa in the UK, but as well as taking sulphasalazine for 31 years, I was prescibed Pentasa (mesalazine?) suppositories, 1 x 1gram every night.. they have helped a little, but make me itch and give me a rash. I’m not sure if I will continue taking them, but am starting to look at my diet -never really done that much before- since the medication isn’t working as well as it used to… hoping this will help me.
Diagnosed 4/2016. Found a new GI doc who really seems to get it. Canasa at night now for tenesmus, which worked immediately, Uceris to get off of prednisone. Tapering off the prednisone now. I’m pretty good for the day if I can get the meds in early in the morning. If I happen to wake up really early in the middle of the night like 4 o’clock I have a banana at my bedside that I can eat half of in order to take my meds. By the time I wake up around six I’m doing pretty good might have one or two potty runs and then that’s pretty much it for a while . I also take two Lialda the morning and two at night which is the max dose for the day along with vsl#3 and 3 gm of curcumin per the doctor’s instructions .
I have been on canasa for about 3 weeks now. Im taking it for proctitis. I got the proctitis from radiation treatments. My bleeding continued for about 15 days, after I started it. I called the manufacturer for more info, but they have no info for me and my problem. I am not sure why they have no info, for this problem. I think they have no info for my problem, because doctors prescribe canasa for my problem, and if the manufacturer doesnt list my problem as something canasa is good for, then the manufacturer wont be responsible for any negative side effects. Anyway, I have some questions. I take a 1000mg suppository, at night. I see that the maximum amount of days (or doses) is 42. Which is my dose. How is it that some of you, have been taking this for years? My other question is, how long after I stop taking canasa, will the fatigue stop?
Do you have the names of Canadian pharmacies with phone numbers for the canasa. My copay is over 430 USD monthly. Please respond asap. R. JACKSON 414 – 788-8814. Leave message or text me.
I have ulcerative colitis. I was put on canasa a few years back and it did nothing for me, after going through a lot my inflammation calmed down and I just have a teeny bit left in the end of the rectum. Dr prescribed canasa once again and it seems to be doing a great job! I I’ll soon be in remission!