Fiv-asa

Oral:

Mesalamine is a prescription medication used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). UC is a condition in which part or all of the lining of the colon (also known as the large intestine) is swollen or worn away. It is used to cause the disease to temporarily go away ("induce remission") and to keep it from coming back ("maintain remission").

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Topical:

Mesalamine is a prescription medication used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). UC is a condition in which part or all of the lining of the colon is swollen or worn away. It also works inside your rectum (lower intestine) to help reduce bleeding, mucous and bloody diarrhea caused by inflammation (swelling and soreness) of the rectal area.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medicines that can damage the kidneys, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) and aspirin (Ecotrin)
• azathioprine (Imuran)
• 6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol)
• antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Mag-Ox, Caltrate, Tums, or Rolaids

This is not a complete list of mesalamine drug interactions.  Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking mesalamine, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), salicylates (such as aspirin), or mesalamine
• are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) and aspirin (Ecotrin) or other drugs that affect the kidneys
• are taking azathioprine (Imuran) or 6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol)
• have cramping, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, fevers, headaches, or rashes
• have a history of myocarditis or pericarditis
• have had inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)
• are allergic to other things, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes
• have kidney, liver, or heart disease
• have a history of stomach blockage
• repeatedly see intact, partially intact, and/or capsule shells in the stool
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescriptions medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.  

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories – A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Mesalamine falls into category B. Studies in animals have failed to demonstrate a risk to the unborn baby and there are no well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

If you take too much this medication, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store mesalamine at room temperature.
• Protect delayed-release capsules from moisture.
  • Close the container tightly and to leave any desiccant pouches present in the bottle along with the capsules.
• Enema suspension: slight darkening of suspension will not affect quality of the medication. However, suspensions with dark brown solid contents should be discarded.
  • Enema suspension can cause staining of direct contact surfaces, including but not limited to fabrics, flooring, painted surfaces, marble, granite, vinyl, and enamel.
• Rectal suppositories: these can cause stains on things it touches. Therefore keep it away from clothing and other fabrics, flooring, painted surfaces, marble, granite, plastics, andenamel. Be careful since the suppository may stain clothing.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.