Pentasa 500mg (Mesalazine)

Pentasa general information

What is Pentasa used for?

Pentasa tablets 500mg (also known as Asacol) are used to treat mild to moderate Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are both inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Pentasa tablets 500mg help reduce the symptoms of IBD, which include bleeding caused by ulceration in the bowel, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea that contains blood and mucus. Pentasa tablets 500mg are used to treat active ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory disease of the intestine usually the large intestine or colon, where inflammation is acute, and for maintenance treatment when in remission, to prevent flare up of inflammation. For Crohn's disease, which is an autoimmune disease (when the immune system attacks self) that causes inflammation at any point of the gastrointestinal system, Pentasa tablets 500mg are used for maintenance treatment when in remission.

How does Pentasa work?

Pentasa tablets 500mg contain mesalazine, an aminosalicylate derivative of salicylic acid (aspirin) that is the active component of sulfasalazine. Mesalazine in Pentasa tablets 500mg is a bowel-specific locally acting anti-inflammatory and acts directly on the inflamed intestinal tissue without being absorbed into the blood, so that it has little systemic effect. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by migration of certain white cells (leucocytes) into the irritated intestinal tissue, where they release chemicals called cytokines, like prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Mesalazine in Pentasa tablets 500mg inhibits the migration of leukocytes and their production of inflammatory cytokines; it also mops up free radicals that are formed in the inflamed tissue and can cause tissue damage. Pentasa tablets 500mg are covered with a special coating so that they pass through the stomach unaffected by the digestive enzymes and then release mesalazine slowly and in a controlled manner in the intestine at the site of inflammation. The combined actions of Pentasa tablets 500mg help treat active inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as preventing flare-ups of the disease, and relieve symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhoea that often contains blood and mucus.

What does Pentasa contain?

Pentasa tablets 500mg contain the active ingredient mesalazine, a bowel-specific locally acting anti-inflammatory that is used to treat Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They also contain magnesium stearate, talc, ethylcellulose, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose.

Treating inflammatory bowel diseases with Pentasa

Pentasa tablets 500mg contain mesalazine that is used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's Disease, which is an autoimmune disease (when the immune system attacks self) causing inflammation at any point of the gastrointestinal system; and ulcerative colitis an inflammatory disease that usually affects the large intestine or colon, where inflammation causes ulcers and open sores. Mesalazine in Pentasa tablets 500mg is a bowel-specific locally acting anti-inflammatory and acts directly on the inflamed intestinal tissue without being absorbed into the blood, so that it has little systemic effect. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by migration of certain white cells (leucocytes) into the irritated intestinal tissue, where they release chemicals called cytokines, like prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Mesalazine in Pentasa tablets 500mg inhibits the migration of leukocytes and their production of inflammatory cytokines; it also mops up free radicals that are formed in the inflamed tissue and can cause tissue damage. The combined actions of Pentasa tablets 500mg help treat active inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as preventing flare-ups of the disease, and relieve symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhoea that often contains blood and mucus.

What are the side effects of Pentasa?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Pentasa tablets 500mg include: headache diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, rash.

When should Pentasa not be used?

You should not use Pentasa tablets 500mg if you:

• are allergic to mesalazine or any other salicylates like aspirin or any ingredients in Pentasa
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• are taking medicines that interact with Pentasa, including: the immunosuppressant azathioprine, mercaptopurine for leukaemia, NSAIDs

How should Pentasa be taken?

You should take your Pentasa tablets 500mg with a glass of water or dispersed in 50 ml cold water, with or without food. The dose you take and how often depends on what you are being treated for and your doctor’s recommendation. You should continue to take your Pentasa tablets 500mg for as long as your doctor recommends.

How long should you take Pentasa?

You should continue to take your Pentasa tablets 500mg for as long as your doctor recommends.

Missed dose of Pentasa

If you miss a dose of Pentasa tablets 500mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Pentasa be stored?

You should store your Pentasa below 25°C in a cool dry place.