What is Asacol (Mesalamine)?
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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Asacol (Mesalamine)?
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 Asacol (Mesalamine)?
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).
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take mesalamine:
- a stomach condition called pyloric stenosis
- a history of allergy to sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
- a heart condition such as congestive heart failure
- kidney disease; or
- liver disease
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
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.
Asacol Side Effects
What are the possible side effects of Asacol (Mesalamine)?
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 using mesalamine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- severe stomach pain, cramping, fever, headache, and bloody diarrhea
Less serious side effects may include:
- mild nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas
- fever, sore throat, or other flu symptoms
- constipation
- headache or dizziness
- tired feeling; or
- 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.
Asacol Interactions
What other drugs affect Asacol (Mesalamine)?
Before taking mesalamine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- azathioprine (Imuran) or mercaptopurine (Purinethol)
- pentamidine (Nebupent, Pentam)
- tacrolimus (Prograf)
- amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Amphotec, Abelcet)
- antibiotics such as capreomycin (Capastat), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled)
- antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cidofovir (Vistide), or foscarnet (Foscavir)
- cancer medicine such as aldesleukin (Proleukin), carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cisplatin (Platinol), ifosfamide (Ifex), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), streptozocin (Zanosar), or tretinoin (Vesanoid); or
- aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel)
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with mesalamine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What should I avoid while taking Asacol (Mesalamine)?
Follow your doctor’s instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using mesalamine.
Asacol Dosage
How should I take Asacol (Mesalamine)?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. 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 mesalamine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I overdose on Asacol (Mesalamine)?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include ringing in your ears, dizziness, headache, confusion, drowsiness, sweating, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What happens if I miss a dose of Asacol (Mesalamine)?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Edited from everydayhealth.com