I started Canasa two days ago. Today, my lips were irritated and swollen. I realized the last time this happened, I was probably on Canasa and it got pretty bad - I ended up going to a mouth doc.
It scares me to think I can't take Canasa any more. Are there alternatives other than cortisone?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Please be careful with this. Allergic reactions (if that's what's happening) can get much worse rather quickly. There are certainly other meds available, depending on exactly what you're taking the Canasa for, and each will have pros and cons. Have you called your doctor?
An allergy to mesalamine is not common, but it happens. Hydrocortisone suppositories are much, much safer than taking a drug you may be allergic to. Continued exposure could be life threatening, particularly when the reaction is anywhere close to your airway!
Jan 
Thank you for your replies. Life has been far too busy and I have finally been back to check. I took the canasa for cuffitis. After the 2nd day, I knew something was up so quit the canasa. Fortunately, whatever was going on cleared up. If I catch cuffitis early enough, I usually only have to do a few days of treatment to calm it down. I will call my doc when I feel the cuffitis coming back on because I sure don't want the swelling thing in the mouth again. I was hoping there was an alternative to a steroid, but it sounds like there may not be.
Are you allergic to sulfa, by any chance? I think there might be some sulfite something or other in the canasa. (I know that there is in Rowasa enema and they make a version called Rowasa-SF (sulfite free) for people who are allergic or sensitive to it.)
I'm not sure what other type of suppository you can use but you can get the hydrocortisone ones in a low dose and maybe that would do the trick.
Sulfite is not the same as sulfa. Sulfa is the antibiotic-like component that is in Azulfidine (sulfasalazine). Sulfa allergy is common.
There is no sulfa in Rowasa or Canasa. However, regular Rowasa contains sulfites, which some people can be sensitive to, and it might increase bleeding. I looked up the Canasa prescribing information and the only ingredients are mesalamine and hard fat.
Jan
