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Drug Details

ASACOL Foam Enema

• Drug Class Description
  Salicylates
• Generic Name
  Mesalazine
• Presentation
  White, aerosol foam enema.
• Description
  Mesalazine (5-aminosalicylic acid), 1g per metered dose.
• Indications
  For the treatment of mild to moderate acute exacerbations of ulcerative colitis affecting the distal colon.
• Adult Dosage
  

  Route of administration: Rectal.

  Adults: For disease affecting the rectosigmoid region, one metered dose 1g a day for 4 - 6 weeks; for disease involving the descending colon, two metered doses 2g once a day for 4 - 6 weeks.

   

• Child Dosage
  

  There is no dosage recommendation.

• Elderly Dosage
  

  The normal adult dosage may be used unless renal function is impaired.The normal adult dosage may be used unless renal function is impaired.

• Contra Indications
  

  A history of sensitivity to salicylates or renal sensitivity to sulphasalazine. Confirmed severe renal impairment (GFR less than 20 ml/min). Children under 2 years of age.

• Special Precautions
  

  Use in the elderly should be cautious and subject to patients having a normal renal function.

  Renal disorder: Mesalazine is excreted rapidly by the kidney, mainly as its metabolite, N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid. In rats, large doses of mesalazine injected intravenously produce tubular and glomerular toxicity. Asacol should be used with extreme caution in patients with confirmed mild to moderate renal impairment. Treatment with mesalazine should be discontinued if renal function deteriorates. If dehydration develops, normal electrolyte and fluid balance should be restored as soon as possible.

  Serious blood dyscrasias have been reported very rarely with mesalazine. Haematological investigations should be performed if the patient develops unexplained bleeding, bruising, purpura, anaemia, fever or sore throat. Treatment should be stopped if there is suspicion or evidence of blood dyscrasia.

• Interactions
  

  Concurrent use of other known nephrotoxic agents, such as NSAIDs and azathioprine, may increase the risk of renal reactions

• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  The side effects are predominantly gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Headache has also been reported.

  There have been rare reports of leucopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia and thrombocytopenia, alopecia, peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis, abnormalities of hepatic function and hepatitis, myocarditis and pericarditis, allergic and fibrotic lung reactions, lupus erythematosus-like reactions and rash (including urticaria), interstitial nephritis and nephrotic syndrome with oral mesalazine treatment, usually reversible on withdrawal. Renal failure has been reported. Mesalazine-induced nephrotoxicity should be suspected in patients developing renal dysfunction during treatment.

  Mesalazine may very rarely be associated with an exacerbation of the symptoms of colitis, Stevens Johnson syndrome and erythema multiforme.

  Other side effects observed with sulphasalazine such as depression of sperm count and function, have not been reported with 'Asacol'.

  Rarely, local irritation may occur after administration of rectal dosage forms containing mesalazine.