Mesacol 400mg (Mesalamine)

Mesacol general information

What is Mesacol used for?

Mesacol tablets 400mg are used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which are chronic inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract that occur with alternating periods of relapse and remission.  Crohn's disease is an autoimmune (when the immune system attacks self) IBD that causes inflammation at any point of the gastrointestinal system from the mouth to the rectum, usually in the region between the small intestine and the colon.  Ulcerative colitis is an IBD that involves inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum.  Mesacol tablets 400mg are used to relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis, such as ulcers and open sores which cause abdominal pain, cramping and rectal bleeding; also to help maintain remission from symptoms in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, preventing flare-ups of the disease.

How does Mesacol work?

Mesacol tablets 400mg contain mesalamine, an anti-inflammatory that inhibits the production, by the walls of the intestine, of several chemicals that are known to cause inflammation, including prostaglandins and leukotrienes.  Mesalamine in Mesacol tablets 400mg is thought to block the action of the enzymes cyclo-oxygenase, which produces prostaglandins, and lipoxygenase, which produces leukotrienes.  It also inhibits the migration of inflammatory cells like macrophages into intestine wall and acts as an antioxidant, protecting the walls of the intestine from cell damage.  Mesacol tablets 400mg are specially coated with a resin that delays release of mesalamine until it reaches the furthest part of the small intestine, so that it can act at the site of inflammation and the clinical efficacy of mesalamine is based on its local anti-inflammatory effects on inflamed intestinal tissue and not due to systemic effects.  

What does Mesacol contain?

Mesacol tablets contain active ingredient mesalamine 400mg, an anti-inflammatory used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). 

Treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with Mesacol

Mesacol tablets 400mg contain mesalamine, an anti-inflammatory drug that is used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are chronic inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract, with alternating periods of relapse and remission.  Crohn's disease is an autoimmune (when the immune system attacks self) IBD that causes inflammation at any point of the gastrointestinal system from the mouth to the rectum, usually in the region between the small intestine and the colon.  Ulcerative colitis is an IBD that involves inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum.  Mesalamine in Mesacol tablets 400mg inhibits the production, by the walls of the intestine of several chemicals that are known to cause inflammation, including prostaglandins and leukotrienes; and also acts as an antioxidant, protecting the walls of the intestine from cell damage.  Mesacol tablets 400mg are used to relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis, such as ulcers and open sores which cause abdominal pain, cramping and rectal bleeding; also to help maintain remission from symptoms in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, preventing flare-ups of the disease.

What are the side effects of Mesacol?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Mesacol tablets 400mg include: nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, rash.

When should Mesacol not be used?

You should not use Mesacol tablets 400mg if you:

• are allergic to mesalamine or have any sensitivity to salicylates, or any ingredients in Mesacol 
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have severe liver or kidney disease
• are taking medicines that interact with Mesacol including: the laxative lactulose, the immunosuppressant azathioprine, the anticoagulant warfarin, digoxin for heart failure, the anti-cancer drug mercaptopurine

What medications interact with Mesacol?

Several medications interact with Mesacol tablets 400mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Mesacol or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Mesacol: the immunosuppressant azathioprine
• Drugs that affect Mesacol: the laxative lactulose
• Drugs that are affected by Mesacol: the immunosuppressant azathioprine, digoxin for heart failure, the anticoagulant warfarin, the anti-cancer drugs mercaptopurine

How should Mesacol be taken?

You should take your Mesacol tablets 400mg swallowed whole with a glass of water and before a meal once or twice daily.  The dose you take depends on your condition, what you are being treated for and your doctor’s recommendations.  You should continue take your Mesacol tablets 400mg for as long as your doctor recommends.

How long should you take Mesacol?

You should continue take your Mesacol tablets 400mg for as long as your doctor recommends.

Missed dose of Mesacol

If you miss a dose of Mesacol tablets 400mg 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 Mesacol be stored?

You should store your Mesacol tablets 400mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.