What is mesalamine (oral)?
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 should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking mesalamine (oral)?
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 using mesalamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
-
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.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or
special tests to safely take mesalamine.
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.
How should I take mesalamine (oral)?
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 miss a dose of mesalamine (oral)?
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.
Where can I get more information about mesalamine (oral)?
Your pharmacist has information about mesalamine (oral) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of mesalamine (oral)?
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. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about mesalamine (oral)?
Tell your doctor if you have any type of kidney or liver disease, or if you are allergic to
aspirin. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take mesalamine.
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 avoid while taking mesalamine (oral)?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while
you are using mesalamine.
What other drugs will affect mesalamine (oral)?
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),
plicamycin (Mithracin), 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 happens if I have an overdose of mesalamine (oral)?