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1: Rev Gastroenterol Disord. 2006 Spring;6(2):97-105.Click here to read Links

Treatment of ulcerative colitis with oral mesalamine: advances in drug formulation, efficacy expectations and dose response, compliance, and chemoprevention.

Sandborn WJ.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Sulfasalazine, olsalazine, balsalazide, delayed-release mesalamine, controlled-release mesalamine, mesalamine pellets, and Multi-Matrix System mesalamine are effective first-line therapies for the treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis and for subsequent maintenance of remission. For induction therapy it is unclear if there is a dose response above 1.5 g, and for maintenance therapy existing data do not support a dose response above 1.5 g. Sulfasalazine has more frequent side effects than olsalazine, balsalazide, and mesalamine formulations. Once-daily dosing with multi-matrix system mesalamine 1.2 g tablets may lead to optimal compliance. Mesalamine >/= 1.2 g and sulfasalazine >/= 2 g reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis. Drug formulations, efficacy expectations and dose response, toxicity expectations, compliance considerations, and chemoprevention considerations are reviewed.

PMID: 16699478 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine® , Azulfidine® EN-tabs® )

    Sulfasalazine is used to treat bowel inflammation, diarrhea (stool frequency), rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain in patients with ulcerative colitis, a condition in which the bowel is inflamed. Sulfasalazine delayed-re...

  • Mesalamine (Asacol® , Canasa® , Pentasa® , ...)

    Mesalamine is used to treat ulcerative colitis (a condition in which part or all of the lining of the colon [large intestine] is swollen or worn away). Mesalamine delayed-release tablets and controlled-release capsules m...

  • Olsalazine (Dipentum® )

    Olsalazine, an anti-inflammatory medicine, is used to treat ulcerative colitis, a condition in which the bowel is inflamed. Olsalazine reduces the bowel inflammation, diarrhea (stool frequency), rectal bleeding, and abdo...

  • » See all 4 drug reports ...
  • Source: AHFS Consumer Medication Information