ASACOL
Mesalazine
400mg tablets
500mg suppositories
1g in 100mL and 4g in 100mL enemas
What Asacol is used for
Asacol contains the active ingredient mesalazine.
Asacol is used to treat and/or keep in remission (ie: not reoccur) inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Asacol belongs to a group of medicines called anti-inflammatories. These medicines work by inhibiting inflammatory agents in the body. Asacol works topically ie: it works on the surface of the intestinal tract and bowel with which it comes into contact.
Your doctor, however, may have prescribed Asacol for another purpose. Ask your doctor if you have any questions why Asacol has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Asacol
Do not take Asacol if:
- you have had an allergic reaction to Asacol or any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include swelling, itching, rash or breathing difficulties
- you have had an allergic reaction to other salicylate medicines eg: aspirin
- you have severe kidney disease
- Asacol is not for children under 2 years of age
- the package is torn or shows signs of tampering
- the expiry date printed on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed it may not work as well
If you are not sure if you should be taking Asacol, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it, tell your doctor if:
- you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether Asacol is harmful to an unborn baby when taken by a pregnant woman. If there is a need to take Asacol when you are pregnant your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits to you and the unborn baby.
- you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Small amounts of Asacol pass into breast milk. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Asacol if you are breast-feeding.
- if you have any other health problems, especially kidney disease
- you are elderly
- if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, do so before you start taking Asacol.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you have bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or healthfood shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Asacol. These medicines include:
- lactulose (Pacific Lactulose Syrup®) - this medicine interferes with the correct release of Asacol and the two medicines should not be used at the same time
- azathioprine (Azamun®, Imuran®, Thioprine®) - an immune system suppressant
- 6-mercaptopurine (Puri-Nethol®) - an anticancer agent
- warfarin (Marevan®, Coumadin®) - a blood thinning agent
These medicines may be affected by Asacol or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Asacol.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about this list of medicines.
How to take Asacol
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How much to take
Take Asacol exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Your doctor will tell you how many Asacol tablets, suppositories or enemas to take each day.
The normal dose of Asacol tablets is usually 2 to 4 tablets three times a day for treatment of acute attacks of ulcerative colitis, and 1 to 2 tablets three times a day ie. 3 to 6 tablets per day, to prevent ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease reoccuring.
The normal dose of Asacol suppositories is 1 to 2 suppositories inserted up to three times daily ie: up to 6 suppositories per day.
The normal dose of Asacol enemas is one 1g or 4g enema per day.
Your doctor may adjust the dose depending on the particular disease you have and/or your response.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not chew the tablets.
Asacol tablets have a special coating to prevent them dissolving until they have gone past the stomach.
Insert the suppositories into the rectum, preferably after emptying the bowels.
Asacol Enemas
Before using the Asacol enema, it should be warmed in a basin or bowl of warm water for about 10 minutes so that it comes approximately to body temperature. It should be shaken well immediately before insertion. After shaking the cap should be unscrewed and the applicator screwed on carefully to avoid leakage. The enema should be inserted with the patient lying on their left side with the left leg extended and the right leg bent. The applicator tip should be carefully inserted into the rectum, the liquid gently pressed out (for at least one minute) and then the tip withdrawn with the container still compressed. The patient should remain relaxed in the administration position for 5-10 minutes or until the urge to pass the enema has disappeared, and then sleep in their usual position if possible without evacuation of the bowels until morning.
When to take it
Take your Asacol at about the same times each day.
It does not matter if you take Asacol with food or not. Taking your medicine at the same times each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take your medicine.
How long to take Asacol
Continue taking Asacol until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
If you are not sure what to do ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering your dose, ask your pharmacist for some advice.
In case of overdose
Immediately telephone your doctor, or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency centre if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Asacol. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
You may need urgent medical attention.
The following are some symptoms which may occur:
- difficulty breathing, rapid breathing
- dehydration - symptoms include being very thirsty, feeling sick (nausea) and tiredness
- feeling faint or dizzy from low blood sugar levels
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
While you are taking Asacol
Things you must do
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Asacol.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Asacol.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Tell your doctor if you feel Asacol is not helping your condition.
Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor may need to do some tests.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Asacol or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
Do not give Asacol to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use Asacol to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Do not take any other medicines, whether they require a prescription or not, without first telling your doctor or consulting with a pharmacist.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Asacol affects you. However, Asacol is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Asacol.
Asacol helps most people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease but may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- nausea (feeling sick)
- fever - high temperature, chills/rigors or flu-like symptoms
- headache
- diarrhoea
- stomach pain
These are the more common side effects of Asacol. Mostly these are mild.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency centre if you notice any of the following:
- chest pain
- joint pain
- severe rash
- breathing difficulties
- yellowing of the skin and/or eyes, dark coloured urine
- excessive tiredness and paleness
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand anything in this list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After taking Asacol
Storage
Keep your Asacol tablets, suppositories or enemas in the pack until it is time to take them. If you take them out of the pack they may not keep well.
Keep Asacol in a cool, dry place where the temperature does not exceed 25°C.
Do not store it, or any medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines
Keep Asacol where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Asacol, or the medicine has passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any Asacol that is left over.
Product description
Availability
Asacol tablets contain 400mg mesalazine, and come in packs of 100.
Asacol suppositories contain 500mg mesalazine, and come in packs of 20.
Asacol enemas contain either 1g mesalazine in 100mL of suspension or 4g mesalazine in 100mL of suspension. Both strengths come in single packs.
What Asacol looks like
Asacol tablets are coated reddish to brownish oblong tablets.
Asacol suppositories are light grey-brown torpedo-shaped suppositories.
Asacol enemas are brownish suspensions.
Ingredients
Active ingredient
Mesalazine.
Inactive ingredients
Tablets: lactose, sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate, talc, povidone, methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymer, dibutyl phthalate, red and yellow ferric oxide, macrogol.
Suppositories: hard fat
Enemas: xanthan gum, sodium metabisulphite, sodium benzoate, purified water
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