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Pentasa vs. Delzicol

Are Pentasa and Delzicol the Same Thing?

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

Pentasa is also used to treat proctitis and proctosigmoiditis.

Side effects of Pentasa and Delzicol that are similar include diarrhea, headache, vomiting, gas, fever, flu symptoms, constipation, dizziness, or skin rash.

Side effects of Pentasa that are different from Delzicol include nausea, stomach cramps, sore throat, or tired feeling.

Side effects of Delzicol that are different from Pentasa include abdominal pain, belching, back pain, upset stomach, indigestion, nasal inflammation, runny or stuffy nose, cough, fatigue, joint pain and swelling (arthritis), gastrointestinal bleeding, chest pain, chills, swelling in the extremities, muscle pain, sweating, itching, acne, and feeling unwell (malaise).

Both Pentasa and Delzicol may interact with aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Pentasa may also interact with azathioprine, mercaptopurine, pentamidine, tacrolimus, amphotericin B, antibiotics, antiviral medicines, or cancer medicines.

Delzicol may also interact with arsenic trioxide, chloroquine or halofantrine, cyclosporine, droperidol, narcotics, vinblastine, antibiotics, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, or heart rhythm medicines.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Pentasa?

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.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Delzicol?

Common side effects of Delzicol include:

  • abdominal pain,
  • belching,
  • headache,
  • back pain,
  • dizziness,
  • diarrhea,
  • rash,
  • upset stomach,
  • indigestion,
  • nasal inflammation,
  • runny or stuffy nose,
  • flu syndrome,
  • cough,
  • gas,
  • vomiting,
  • fever,
  • fatigue,
  • joint pain and swelling (arthritis),
  • constipation,
  • gastrointestinal bleeding,
  • chest pain,
  • chills,
  • swelling in the extremities,
  • muscle pain,
  • sweating,
  • itching,
  • acne, and
  • feeling unwell (malaise).

What Is Pentasa?

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.

What Is Delzicol?

Delzicol (mesalamine) is an aminosalicylate used to treat mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC) and to maintain remission of UC.

 

What Drugs Interact With Pentasa?

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).

What Drugs Interact With Delzicol?

Nephrotoxic agents, or drugs that can be harmful to the kidneys such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may interact with Delzicol. Doctors should carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of Delzicol in patients with known kidney dysfunction or patients with a history of kidney disease. Delzicol may interact with arsenic trioxide, chloroquine or halofantrine, cyclosporine, droperidol, narcotics, vinblastine, antibiotics, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, or heart rhythm medicines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Delzicol. Delzicol has not been studied in pregnant women. Doctors should carefully evaluate the risks and benefits when giving Delzicol to a breastfeeding mother.

 

How Should Pentasa Be Taken?

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.

How Should Delzicol Be Taken?

Delzicol is available as a delayed-release capsule in 400 mg strength. For the treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis, patients should take 800mg of Delzicol, three times daily. For the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis, patients should take 1.6g (four capsules) daily, in divided doses. Delzicol should be swallowed whole without cutting, breaking, or chewing, and should be taken 1-2 hours after a meal.