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Common name
Asacol (Mesalazine)
Description
Asacol (Mesalamine) is an anti-inflammatory used to treat ulcerative colitis. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
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Active Ingredients:
Mesalazine
Therapeutic actions:
Mesalazine belongs to a group of medicines called the aminosalicylates. Mesalazine works by reducing the inflammation in the intestine, which in turn reduces the symptoms of the disease. The way in which mesalazine does this is not fully understood. The tablets are designed to pass through the stomach and small intestine without being absorbed, so that the active ingredient is delivered directly to the site of inflammation in the large intestine.
What is it used for?: (Indications:)
• Treatment of acute inflammatory large bowel disease.
• Maintenance therapy of Crohn's colitis and ulcerative colitis in patients sensitive to
• sulfasalazine.
Contraindications and cautions:
Before taking mesalazine (oral) make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
• If you are suffering from a stomach ulcer.
• If you have had problems with clotting of your blood.
• If you suffer from liver or kidney problems.
• If you are allergic to salicylates.
Your doctor will check your kidney function before you start your treatment and regularly thereafter.
Not to be used in:
• Active peptic ulcer
• Bleeding tendencies
• Blood clotting disorders
• Children
• Severe kidney disease
• Severe liver disease
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Side effects:
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Commonly:
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Cramping
• Flatulence
Uncommonly:
• Headache
• Exacerbation of the colitis
• Hypersensitivity reactions (including rash, urticaria, interstitial nephritis and lupus erythematosus-like syndrome)
• Hair Loss
• Interstitial nephritis
Rarely:
• Acute pancreatitis,
• Hepatitis
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Blood disorders (including agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia)
• Mesalazine avoids the sulphonamide side effects of Sulfasalazine (which contains additional (sulfapyridine), but carries additional rare risks of:
• Allergic lung reactions
• Allergic myocarditis
• Methaemoglobinaemia
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Interactions:
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
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