Type of Drug
Bowel Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (5-ASA Type)
Brand Names
Generic Ingredient: Balsalazide Colazal
Generic Ingredient: Mesalamine 0
Asacol    Pentasa
Canasa    Rowasa Lialda
Generic Ingredient: Olsalazine Dipentum
Prescribed For
Ulcerative colitis; rectal products prescribed for distal ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis.
General Information
Chemical cousins of aspirin, these bowel anti-inflammatory drugs (5-ASA type) are used to treat symptoms of bowel inflammation. No one knows exactly how they work, but they are believed to have a local effect on the bowel. The tablet forms are made to delay drug release until they reach the colon. Little of the drug is absorbed into the blood; 70-90% remains in the colon.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take bowel anti-inflammatories if you are allergic or sensitive to any of their ingredients or to aspirin. Although people who are sensitive or allergic to sulfasalazine have generally been able to tolerate mesalamine—which is an active agent in sulfasalazinethey should be cautious.
Bowel anti-inflammatories may worsev\ 4zo%Vis or cause cramping sudden abiboYrimall pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, headache, or rash. Stop taking the drug at once and call your doctor if any of these symptoms develop.
Some people taking mesalamine have developed kidney problems. People who have or have had kidney disease should be cautious about using these drugs. All people taking mesalamine should have kidney function tests before and during drug therapy.
Possible Side Effects
Bowel anti-inflammatories are generally well tolerated. Tablets and capsules have the most side effects, suppositories the least.
Tablets
♦    Most common: headache; abdominal pain, cramps, or discomfort; belching; nausea; sore throat; and generalized pain.
♦    Common: constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, vomiting, muscle weakness, dizziness, fever, runny nose, rash, skin spots, achy joints, back pain, and stiff muscles.
✓    Less common: worsening of colitis, gas, runny nose, chills, sweating, feeling unwell, tiredness, acne, itching, arthritis, chest pain, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), painful menstruation, swelling, and flu-like symptoms.
♦    Rare: sleeplessness, hair loss, leg or joint pain, and urinary burning or infection. Other rare side effects can occur in almost any part of the body. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Capsules
♦    Less common: abdominal pain, cramps, or discomfort; diarrhea; nausea; headache; respiratory infection; rash; and skin spots.
♦    Rare: worsening of colitis, constipation, gas, vomiting, dizziness, fever, sleeplessness, belching, upset stomach, sweating, feeling unwell, tiredness, itching, acne, achy joints, leg or joint pain, muscle aches, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), swelling, and hair loss. Other rare side effects can occur in almost any part of the body. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Suppositories
✓    Common: headache.
✓    Less commQ(v, abdominal palecramps, or discomfort; diarrhea or frequent stools; worsening of colitis; flatulence or gas; nausea; rectal pain, soreness, or burning; dizziness; dry mouth; fever; sore throat; cold symptoms; acne; rash; skin spots; and swelling.
Possible Side  Effects (continued)
Rectal Suspension
♦    Common: abdominal pain, cramps, or discomfort; gas; nausea; headache; and flu-like symptoms.
• Less common: bloating; diarrhea; hemorrhoids; pain on enema insertion; rectal pain, soreness, or burning; dizziness; fever; feeling unwell; tiredness; cold symptoms; sore throat; itching; rash; skin spots; back pain-, leg pain: and joint pain.
♦    Rare: constipation, muscle weakness, sleeplessness, swelling, hair loss, and urinary burning or infection. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Drug Interactions
None known.
Food Interactions
Take the tablet and capsule with food.
Usual Dose
Balsalazide
Tablets: 2250 mg 3 times a day for 8 weeks.
Mesalamine
Tablets: 800 mg 3 times a day for 6 weeks.
Once-daily tablets: 2-4 (1.2 mg each) once a day with a meal.
Capsules: 1000 mg 4 times a day for up to 8 weeks.
Suppositories: one 500-mg suppository twice a day for 3-6 weeks. Retain the suppository for 1-3 hours for maximum benefit.
Rectal Suspension: 1 bottle of suspension taken as an enema at bedtime every night for 3-6 weeks. The enema liquid should be retained for about 8 hours.
Olsalazine
k4kft, MO mg a day in 2 divided doses.
Overdosage
Symptoms are likely to include: ringing or buzzing in the ears, fainting or dizziness, headache, lethargy, confusion, drowsiness, sweating, rapid breathing, vomiting, and diarrhea. In case of overdose, call your local poison control center or hospital emergency room. You may be told to induce vomiting with ipecac syrup—available at any pharmacy—before taking the victim to the emergency room. If you seek treatment, ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
The tablets and capsules must be swallowed whole. Call your doctor if they are visible in your stool. When using suppositories, handle them as little as possible to prevent melting.
Call your doctor if you develop chest pain, breathing or urinary difficulties, fever, unusual bleeding or bruising, worsening of colitis, or any bothersome or persistent side effects.
If you forget to administer a dose, do so as soon as you remember. If you take a tablet or capsule and it is within 4 hours of your next dose, skip the dose you forgot and continue with your regular schedule. If you take the suppositories or rectal solution and you do not remember until it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you forgot and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: Bowel anti-inflammatories can pass into the fetal circulation. When your doctor considers these drugs crucial, their potential benefits must be carefully weighed against their risks.
Small amounts of these drugs can pass into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take these drugs should consider using infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors may use these drugs without special restriction.

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