Asacol

Proctitis, Proctocolitis, Colitis, Ulcerative + 2 more

Treatment

1 FDA approval

0 Active Studies for Asacol

What is Asacol

Mesalazine

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Mesalazine is a type of anti-inflammatory drug that is related to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is primarily used to treat and maintain remission for ulcerative colitis. Over the years, researchers have developed more stable formulations of mesalazine, such as the eudragit-S coating of Asacol brand mesalazine and the Pentasa brand's encapsulation of mesalazine within microgranules. Research is still ongoing to develop new methods to stabilize mesalazine and to explore its potential to reduce inflammatory activity and the risk of colorectal cancer in ulcerative

Rowasa

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Asacol Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Rowasa

Mesalazine

1988

107

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Mesalazine, otherwise called Rowasa, is approved by the FDA for 1 uses which include Crohn Disease .

Crohn Disease

Effectiveness

How Asacol Affects Patients

Mesalazine is part of a drug combination commonly used to treat ulcerative colitis. It works by reducing inflammation and fighting free radicals, although it is believed to be more effective when applied directly to the area. Studies in mice and guinea pigs have shown that mesalazine can be just as effective as prednisolone or sulphasalazine in treating colitis.

How Asacol works in the body

Mesalazine works to reduce inflammation in the colon. It does this by blocking the production of prostaglandins, which are chemicals that cause inflammation, and blocking the activation of proteins that cause inflammation. It also helps reduce leukocyte migration, abnormal cytokine production, and free radical formation. This combination of effects helps reduce inflammation and ultimately improve symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.

When to interrupt dosage

The suggested dosage of Asacol is contingent upon the identified condition. The measure of dosage is contingent upon the mode of administration outlined in the accompanying table.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Proctitis

400.0 mg, , 1200.0 mg, 800.0 mg, 400.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 375.0 mg, 250.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg/mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 1000.0 mg/pump actuation, 0.2 mg/mg

, Tablet, delayed release, Oral, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Enema, Enema - Rectal, Rectal, Kit, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Suspension - Rectal, Suspension, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Suppository, Suppository - Rectal, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Enema; Liquid - Rectal, Enema; Liquid, Tablet, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, Delayed Release, Kit - Rectal

Ulcerative Colitis

400.0 mg, , 1200.0 mg, 800.0 mg, 400.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 375.0 mg, 250.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg/mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 1000.0 mg/pump actuation, 0.2 mg/mg

, Tablet, delayed release, Oral, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Enema, Enema - Rectal, Rectal, Kit, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Suspension - Rectal, Suspension, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Suppository, Suppository - Rectal, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Enema; Liquid - Rectal, Enema; Liquid, Tablet, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, Delayed Release, Kit - Rectal

Proctocolitis

400.0 mg, , 1200.0 mg, 800.0 mg, 400.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 375.0 mg, 250.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg/mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 1000.0 mg/pump actuation, 0.2 mg/mg

, Tablet, delayed release, Oral, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Enema, Enema - Rectal, Rectal, Kit, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Suspension - Rectal, Suspension, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Suppository, Suppository - Rectal, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Enema; Liquid - Rectal, Enema; Liquid, Tablet, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, Delayed Release, Kit - Rectal

Crohn Disease

400.0 mg, , 1200.0 mg, 800.0 mg, 400.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 375.0 mg, 250.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg/mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 1000.0 mg/pump actuation, 0.2 mg/mg

, Tablet, delayed release, Oral, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Enema, Enema - Rectal, Rectal, Kit, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Suspension - Rectal, Suspension, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Suppository, Suppository - Rectal, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Enema; Liquid - Rectal, Enema; Liquid, Tablet, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, Delayed Release, Kit - Rectal

Colitis, Ulcerative

400.0 mg, , 1200.0 mg, 800.0 mg, 400.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 375.0 mg, 250.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 40.0 mg/mL, 0.4 mg/mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 200.0 mg/mL, 1000.0 mg/pump actuation, 0.2 mg/mg

, Tablet, delayed release, Oral, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Enema, Enema - Rectal, Rectal, Kit, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Suspension - Rectal, Suspension, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Suppository, Suppository - Rectal, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Enema; Liquid - Rectal, Enema; Liquid, Tablet, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, Delayed Release, Kit - Rectal

Warnings

Asacol has eight contraindications. It should not be employed in conjunction with the ailments present in the subsequent table.

Asacol Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions

Do Not Combine

Mesalazine may interact with Pulse Frequency

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Asacol.

Common Asacol Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Macimorelin

Major

The therapeutic efficacy of Macimorelin can be decreased when used in combination with Mesalazine.

Methotrexate

Major

The serum concentration of Methotrexate can be increased when it is combined with Mesalazine.

Mifamurtide

Major

The therapeutic efficacy of Mifamurtide can be decreased when used in combination with Mesalazine.

Neomycin

Major

The risk or severity of nephrotoxicity can be increased when Mesalazine is combined with Neomycin.

Omacetaxine mepesuccinate

Major

The risk or severity of bleeding can be increased when Mesalazine is combined with Omacetaxine mepesuccinate.

Asacol Toxicity & Overdose Risk

In a two-year study, no increase in cancer was found when rats were fed up to 320mg/kg/day of mesalazine. Mesalazine was also not linked to any mutations or fertility issues. Signs of mesalazine toxicity include nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, dizziness, confusion, and headaches. If someone overdoses on mesalazine, there is no specific antidote, but treatment may involve removing as much as possible from the stomach and managing fluid and electrolyte levels. People with kidney problems or taking medications that affect the kidneys should be monitored for signs of mesalazine toxicity.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Asacol Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Asacol?

There are 96 active clinical trials examining the potential of Asacol to alleviate symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Proctocolitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Proctitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Crohn Disease

0 Actively Recruiting

Colitis, Ulcerative

0 Actively Recruiting

Ulcerative Colitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Asacol Reviews: What are patients saying about Asacol?

5

Patient Review

4/21/2014

Asacol for Ulcerated Colon

Asacol has been a life-saver for me, so I was really upset to hear that it might be discontinued. Are there any cheaper generic alternatives that would work just as well?

5

Patient Review

7/4/2014

Asacol for Crohn's Disease

Asacol has been working great for me and I've stayed in remission for years now. The only downside is that since starting the drug, I have developed two liver nodules as well as a fatty liver.

5

Patient Review

10/28/2013

Asacol for Crohn's Disease

I have colitis and was going to the bathroom 8-10 times a day. I started taking this medication, four pills per day as opposed to the six prescribed, and it's cut down my trips to the bathroom significantly. It's expensive, but it works.

5

Patient Review

1/1/2014

Asacol for Ulcerative Colitis currently Without Symptoms

I've been taking Asacol for a while now and it's worked great for me up until recently. I was told that Asacol is no longer being manufactured, so I've had to try substitutes. Unfortunately, none of them have given me the same results.

5

Patient Review

4/12/2013

Asacol for Ulcerative Colitis currently Without Symptoms

5

Patient Review

7/24/2013

Asacol for Crohn's Disease

5

Patient Review

8/12/2013

Asacol for Ulcerative Colitis currently Without Symptoms

4.3

Patient Review

4/2/2014

Asacol for Ulcerated Colon

I took Asacol for a couple of months due to my first big UC flare up. The Asacol made my symptoms WORSE. It made me even more sick and I ended up in the hospital.

4.3

Patient Review

12/3/2015

Asacol for Crohn's Disease

I've been on this med for a long time--18 years. The last 16 I was taking asacol until it got renamed to deizacol. I couldn't find Deizacol when looking up medications on this website. Recently, the medication hasn't been helping me as much. Additionally, I have had two hepatic lobes removed from my liver and now feel very bloated. For years there were almost no side effects, but now it seems like there are some emerging.

4.3

Patient Review

3/30/2013

Asacol for Ulcerated Colon

4

Patient Review

6/6/2013

Asacol for Ulcerative Colitis currently Without Symptoms

3.7

Patient Review

5/28/2015

Asacol for Ulcerative Colitis currently Without Symptoms

The side effects I experienced were: Musculoskeletal pain; sore throat; swelling of hands and feet.

2.3

Patient Review

4/16/2014

Asacol for Ulcerated Colon

Worked for several weeks, then sadly stopped being effective. I had to use imodium as a result.

2

Patient Review

2/28/2014

Asacol for Ulcerative Colitis currently Without Symptoms

I was recently diagnosed with UC and put on Asacol. However, this made my symptoms worse so I stopped taking it. The prednisone has helped me feel better for the last two weeks. I am about to start Apriso and hope that it works better for me than Asacol did.

2

Patient Review

1/7/2014

Asacol for Ulcerated Colon

I've taken this treatment for 20 years now with no issues.

1.3

Patient Review

11/20/2013

Asacol for Ulcerated Colon

Asacol has been great for me. No flare-ups since I started taking it.

1.3

Patient Review

2/25/2014

Asacol for Ulcerated Colon

The patient took the tablet as directed but found that it was unchanged in their stool the next morning.

1

Patient Review

4/4/2013

Asacol for Ulcerative Colitis currently Without Symptoms

image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about asacol

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Can Asacol make colitis worse?

"I'm wondering if that's true and if it's something to be concerned about. Asacol is a very safe drug used to treat ulcerative colitis. In very rare cases, it may worsen diarrhea or cause hair loss. These adverse effects usually occur early on, within a few weeks or months, and are reversible."

Answered by AI

What is the drug Asacol used for?

"This medication, mesalamine, is used to treat the bowel disease ulcerative colitis. Mesalamine is part of a class of drugs called aminosalicylates. Reducing symptoms of ulcerative colitis, like diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and stomach pain, is one of the ways this drug helps."

Answered by AI

What are the side effects of the medication Asacol?

"The following are potential side effects of the medication: burping, constipation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, gas, dizziness, cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, back pain, headache, rash, or abnormal liver function tests."

Answered by AI

How long should you take Asacol?

"The average adult should take 800mg of this medication, 3 times per day, for a total of 6 weeks. Children 5 years of age or older should speak to their doctor to determine the proper dosage, as it is based on weight. Children who are younger than 5 years old or weigh less than 17 kg should not take this medication without a doctor's professional opinion."

Answered by AI