Generic Pentasa (Mesalamine)

Common Use
Pentasa is a medication to treat ulcerative colitis It belongs to the group of medications called aminosalicylates It works by inhibiting the production of inflammatory chemicals in the lining of the colon It decreases the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes chemicals that lead to the inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis

Dosage and Directions
Take it exactly as directed by your doctor Follow all recommendations Do not crush break or chew a mesalamine tablet or capsule Swallow the pill whole Call your doctor if you find undissolved tablets in your stool

Precautions
Discuss with your doctor if you have pyloric stenosis allergy to sulfasalazine congestive heart failure liver or kidney disease

Contraindications
Do not use the medicine if you have allergy to mesalamine or aspirin or other salicylates Before using it discuss with your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease pyloric stenosis congestive heart failure or a history of allergy to sulfasalazine

Possible Side Effects
The severe side effects include severe stomach pain cramping fever headache and bloody diarrhea Less serious are mild nausea vomiting stomach cramps diarrhea gas fever sore throat or other flu symptoms constipation headache or dizziness tired feeling or skin rash

Drug Interaction
Tell your doctor about all other medications you may use especially 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 aspirin or other NSAIDs nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen Advil Motrin diclofenac Voltaren etodolac Lodine indomethacin nabumetone Relafen naproxen Aleve Naprosyn piroxicam Feldene and others

Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose

Overdose
Seek urgent medical help if you overdosed Pentasa Overdose symptoms are ringing in your ears dizziness headache confusion drowsiness sweating shortness of breath vomiting and diarrhea

Storage
Store at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F 20 and 25 degrees C away from heat moisture and light Do not store in the bathroom Keep it out of the reach of children and away from pets

Disclaimer
We provide only general information about medications which does not cover all directions possible drug interactions or precautions Information at the site cannot be used for selftreatment and selfdiagnosis Any specific instructions for a particular patient should be agreed with your health care adviser or doctor in charge of the case We disclaim reliability of this information and mistakes it could contain We are not responsible for any direct indirect special or other indirect damage as a result of any use of the information on this site and also for consequences of selftreatment