Pentasa vs. Asacol

• Are Asacol and Pentasa the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Pentasa?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Asacol?
• What Is Pentasa?
• What Is Asacol?
• What Drugs Interact with Pentasa?
• What Drugs Interact with Asacol?
• How Should Pentasa Be Taken?
• How Should Asacol Be Taken?

Pentasa (mesalamine) and Asacol (mesalamine) are anti-inflammatory agents used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis. Pentasa and Asacol are also used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring.

Side effects of Pentasa and Asacol are similar and include diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, gas, fever, sore throat, flu symptoms, constipation, dizziness, tired feeling, or skin rash.

Both Pentasa and Asacol may interact with azathioprine, mercaptopurine, pentamidine, tacrolimus, amphotericin B, antibiotics, antiviral medicines, cancer medicine, or aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Common side effects of Pentasa include:

• diarrhea,
• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach cramps,
• gas,
• fever,
• sore throat,
• other flu symptoms,
• constipation,
• dizziness,
• tired feeling, or
• skin rash.

Infrequently, Pentasa can worsen ulcerative colitis. Tell your doctor if your symptoms worsen after starting Pentasa (such as increased abdominal pain or cramping, bloody diarrhea, and fever). Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Pentasa including:

• changes in the amount of urine,
• dark urine,
• persistent nausea or vomiting,
• severe stomach or abdominal pain,
• yellowing eyes or skin,
• chest pain, or
• shortness of breath.

Common side effects of Asacol include:

• mild nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach cramps,
• diarrhea,
• gas,
• fever,
• sore throat,
• flu-like symptoms,
• constipation,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• tired feeling, or
• skin rash.

Pentasa (mesalamine) is an anti-inflammatory agent used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis. Pentasa is also used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring.

Asacol (mesalamine) is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis, and is also used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring.

Pentasa may interact with pazathioprine or mercaptopurine, pentamidine, tacrolimus, amphotericin B, antibiotics, antiviral medicines, cancer medicine, or aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Asacol and Humira may interact with azathioprine or mercaptopurine. Asacol may also interact with pentamidine, tacrolimus, amphotericin B, antibiotics, antiviral medicines, cancer medicine, or aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

The recommended dosage of Pentasa for the induction of remission and the symptomatic treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis is 1g (four 250 mg capsules or two 500 mg capsules) 4 times a day for a total daily dosage of 4g. Treatment duration may be up to 8 weeks.

Asacol tablets should be swallowed whole, taking care not to break, cut, or chew the tablets, because the coating is an important part of the delayed-release formulation.