Mesalazines / 5-ASAs

Mesalazines / 5-ASA - ORAL

Patients with Ulcerative Colitis will usually be prescribed one of these preparations. There are several brands of Mesalazine - Each has a different dose and each releases differently in the bowel. There are two doses ‘maintenance’ when you don’t have symptons and ‘treatment’ when you do. It’s perfectly safe for you to increase your Mesalazine therapy to 'treatment' when you have symptons (as indicated in the flare section) but if you do, we ask that you increase therapy for 6 weeks. Some patients may need to stay on the treatment dose.

If you have not seen a definite improvement in your symptoms within 7 to 14 days please contact your IBD Specialist Team

Pentasa

Granules/tablets
Treatment is 4grams once a day.
Maintenance is 2grams once a day.

Salofalk

Granules/tablets
Treatment is 3grams once a day.
Maintenance is 500mg 3 times daily.

Octasa

Treatment is 4.8grams in divided doses.
Maintenance is 1.2 - 2.4grams once a day or in divided doses.

Asacol

Tablets
Treatment is 4.8grams in divided doses.
Maintenance is 1.2 - 2.4grams once a day or in divided doses.

Mezavant XL

Tablets
Treatment is 4.8grams once a day.
Maintenance is 2.4gram once a day.

Mesalazine / 5-ASA – Rectal

Mesalazine Suppositories and Enemas. If you have a supply of these and are familiar with how to use them, it is safe to start these, normally nightly for two weeks, to help control symptoms.
Symptoms should improve after a week or two, but if they don’t get in touch with your IBD Specialist Team.

Pentasa

Suppository
Treatment is 1g once a day for 4 weeks
Enema
Treatment is 1g once a day for 4 weeks

Salofalk

Suppository
Treatment is 1g daily

Enema liquid
Treatment is 2g once a day

Enema Foam
Treatment is 1-2g once a day

PLEASE NOTE: in some cases your flare may require help by using a steroid rectal preparation – (See Steroid section).
Before starting a steroid please contact your IBD Specialist Team.