Details

Mesalamine affects a substance in the body that causes inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhoea. Mesalamine is used to treat mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Mesalamine is also used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring. To make sure mesalamine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have a stomach condition called pyloric stenosis heart disease kidney disease liver disease or a history of blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines). Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.

Typical Uses

Mesalamine is used to treat a certain bowel disease (ulcerative colitis). It helps to reduce symptoms of ulcerative colitis such as diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, and stomach pain. Mesalamine belongs to a class of drugs known as aminosalicylates. It works by decreasing swelling in the colon. This drug may also be used to treat Crohn's disease.

Side Effects

Stop using mesalamine and inform your doctor immediately if you have severe stomach pain, cramping, bloody diarrhoea fever, headache, skin rash chest pain, shortness of breath nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) little or no urinating swelling, rapid weight gain or bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Drug Interactions

• Mesalamine+adefovir- Talk to your doctor before using adefovir together with mesalamine. Adefovir may cause kidney problems, and combining it with other medications that can also affect the kidney such as mesalamine may increase that risk. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.
• Mesalamine+cidofovir- Using cidofovir together with mesalamine is not recommended. Cidofovir may cause kidney damage, and combining it with other medications that can also affect the kidney such as mesalamine may increase that risk. If you have been receiving mesalamine, you may need to wait at least seven days after your last dose before you can start treatment with cidofovir.
• Mesalamine+deferasirox- Talk to your doctor before using deferasirox together with mesalamine. Deferasirox may cause kidney problems, and combining it with other medications that can also affect the kidney such as mesalamine may increase that risk. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.
• Mesalamine+tacrolimus- Mesalamine may cause kidney problems, and combining it with other medications that can also affect the kidney such as tacrolimus may increase that risk. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

Mechanism of action

Mesalamine belongs to a class of drugs called as amino salicylate drugs. It acts locally in the intestine to reduce the inflammation and prevents further swelling, ulcers or abscess (puss filled swelling).

Pregnancy Category : B