Pentasa

Generic name:mesalamine (oral) [ me-SAL-a-meen ]
Drug class:5-aminosalicylates

Medically reviewed by Sophia Entringer, PharmD. Last updated on Apr 16, 2021.

What is Pentasa?

Pentasa affects a substance in the body that causes inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhea.

Pentasa is used to treat mild to moderate ulcerative colitis in adults. Ucerative colitis is associated with inflammation, ulcers and sores in the bowel causing bleeding, stomach pain, and diarrhoea.

Pentasa is also used off-label in the USA as a treatment for Crohn’s disease. Use of Pentasa to treat Crohn’s disease is officially approved in some other countries.

Warnings

Stop using Pentasa and call your doctor at once if you have severe stomach pain, stomach cramping, bloody diarrhea (may occur with fever, headache, and skin rash).

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Pentasa if you are allergic to mesalamine, aspirin, sulfasalazine, or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doans Pills, Dolobid, Kaopectate, NuprinBackache, Pepto-Bismol, Tricosal, Trilisate, and others).

To make sure Pentasa is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a kidney stone or kidney disease;

• liver disease;

• a blockage in your stomach or intestines (such as pyloric stenosis); or

• a skin condition such as eczema.

Tell y...