mesalamine

Generic Name: mesalamine (oral) (me SAL a meen)

Brand Names: Apriso, Asacol, Asacol HD, Lialda, Pentasa

What is mesalamine oral?

Mesalamine affects a substance in the body that causes inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhea.

Mesalamine is used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis. Mesalamine is also used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring.

Mesalamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about mesalamine oral?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to mesalamine or to aspirin or other salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others). Before you take mesalamine, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, a stomach condition called pyloric stenosis, a heart condition such as congestive heart failure, or a history of allergy to sulfasalazine (Azulfidine). Do not crush, break, or chew a mesalamine tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially formulated to release the medicine after it has passed through your stomach into your intestines.

Call your doctor if you find undissolved tablets in your stool.

Stop using mesalamine and call your doctor at once if you have severe stomach pain, cramping, fever, headache, and bloody diarrhea.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking mesalamine oral?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to mesalamine or to aspirin or other salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others).

To make sure you can safely take mesalamine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

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  a stomach condition called pyloric stenosis;

  
  


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  a history of allergy to sulfasalazine (Azulfidine);

  
  


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  a heart condition such as congestive heart failure;

  
  


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  kidney disease; or

  
  


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  liver disease.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether mesalamine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Mesalamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take mesalamine oral?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take mesalamine with a full glass of water.

Mesalamine can usually be taken with or without food. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Mesalamine extended-release capsules (Lialda) should be taken with a meal. Do not crush, break, or chew a mesalamine tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole.

The extended-release capsule is specially formulated to release the medicine after it has passed through your stomach into your intestines. Breaking the pill may cause the drug to be released too early in the digestive tract.

The enteric-coated tablet has a special coating to protect your stomach. Breaking the pill could damage this coating.

Call your doctor if you find undissolved tablets in your stool.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Mesalamine dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include ringing in your ears, dizziness, headache, confusion, drowsiness, sweating, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhea.

What should I avoid while taking mesalamine oral?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Mesalamine oral side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking mesalamine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  severe stomach pain, cramping, fever, headache, and bloody diarrhea.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  mild nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas;

  
  


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  fever, sore throat, or other flu symptoms;

  
  


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  constipation;

  
  


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  headache or dizziness;

  
  


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  tired feeling; or

  
  


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  skin rash.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Mesalamine Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Ulcerative Colitis -- Active:

Oral:
Asacol (R): 800 mg orally 3 times a day for the treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis
Asacol HD (R): 1600 mg orally 3 times a day for the treatment of moderately active ulcerative colitis
Lialda (R): 2.4 to 4.8 g orally once a day for the induction of remission of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis
Pentasa (R): 1 g orally 4 times a day for the treatment and induction of remission of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis

Rectal:
Suspension enema: 4 g rectally once a day at bedtime for the treatment of active mild to moderate distal ulcerative colitis, proctosigmoiditis, or proctitis

Usual Adult Dose for Ulcerative Colitis -- Maintenance:

Maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis:
Apriso (TM): 1.5 g orally once a day in the morning
Asacol (R): 1.6 g/day orally in divided doses
Lialda (R): 2.4 g orally once a day
Pentasa (R): 1 g orally 4 times a day

Usual Adult Dose for Ulcerative Proctitis:

Suppository: 1 g rectally once a day at bedtime for the treatment of active ulcerative proctitis

Usual Adult Dose for Crohn's Disease -- Maintenance:

Mildly to moderately active Crohn's disease: 500 mg to 1 g orally 4 times a day as Pentasa (R)

What other drugs will affect mesalamine oral?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

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  azathioprine (Imuran) or mercaptopurine (Purinethol);

  
  


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  pentamidine (Nebupent, Pentam);

  
  


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  tacrolimus (Prograf);

  
  


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  amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Amphotec, Abelcet);

  
  


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  antibiotics such as capreomycin (Capastat), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled);

  
  


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  antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cidofovir (Vistide), or foscarnet (Foscavir);

  
  


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  cancer medicine such as aldesleukin (Proleukin), carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cisplatin (Platinol), ifosfamide (Ifex), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), streptozocin (Zanosar), or tretinoin (Vesanoid); or

  
  


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  aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin, nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with mesalamine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More mesalamine resources

• Mesalamine Side Effects (in more detail)
• Mesalamine Dosage
• Mesalamine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Mesalamine Drug Interactions
• Mesalamine Support Group
• 88 Reviews for Mesalamine - Add your own review/rating

• mesalamine Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Mesalamine Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Mesalamine Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Mesalamine Controlled-Release Capsules MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Apriso Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Apriso Consumer Overview


• Apriso Extended-Release Capsules MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Asacol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Asacol Consumer Overview


• Asacol Delayed-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Asacol HD Delayed-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Asacol HD Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Canasa Suppositories MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Canasa Oral, Rectal Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Canasa Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Lialda Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Lialda Consumer Overview


• Pentasa Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Pentasa Consumer Overview


• Rowasa Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Rowasa Enema MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Rowasa Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• sfRowasa Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare mesalamine with other medications

• Crohn's Disease
• Crohn's Disease, Maintenance
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Lymphocytic Colitis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Ulcerative Colitis, Active
• Ulcerative Colitis, Maintenance
• Ulcerative Proctitis

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about mesalamine.

See also: mesalamine side effects (in more detail)