mesalamine (Asacol HD, Pentasa, Delzicol, Lialda, Apriso)
Classes: 5-Aminosalicylic Acid Derivatives
Dosing and uses of Asacol HD, Pentasa (mesalamine)
Adult dosage forms and strengths
capsule, extended-release
- 250mg (Pentasa)
- 375mg (Apriso)
- 500mg (Pentasa)
tablet, delayed-release
- 400mg (Asacol)
- 800mg (Asacol HD)
- 1.2g (Lialda)
capsule, delayed-release
- 400mg (Delzicol)
Ulcerative Colitis
Remission induction of active, mild to moderate disease
- Asacol HD: 1.6 g PO three times daily
- Delzicol: 800 mg PO three times daily 1 hr ac or 2 hr pc
- Lialda: 2.4-4.8 g PO qDay with meal up to 8 weeks
- Pentasa: 1 g PO four times daily for 8 weeks
Remission maintenance
- Apriso: 1.5 g PO qDay in am
- Delzicol: 1.6 g/day PO in divided doses 1 hr ac or 2 hr pc
- Asacol: 1.6 g/day PO in divided doses 1 hr ac or 2 hr pc
- Lialda: 2.4 g PO qDay with food
- Pentasa: 1 g/day PO four times daily for up to 8 weeks
Crohn Disease (Off-label)
Remission induction of active, mild-to-moderate disease
Asacol HD: 1.6 g three times daily
Lialda: 2.4-4.8 g PO qDay with meal for up to 8 weeks
Pentasa: 1 g PO four times daily for 8 weeks
Pediatric dosage forms and strengths
tablet, delayed-release
- 400mg (Asacol)
capsule, delayed-release
- 400mg (Delzicol)
Ulcerative Colitis
Asacol or Delzicol: Indicated for mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis in children aged ≥5 yr
<5 years
- Safety and efficacy not established
≥5 years
- Duration of treatment: 6 weeks
- 17 to <33 kg: 36-71 mg/kg/day PO divided twice daily; not to exceed 1.2 g/day
- 33 to <54 kg: 37-61 mg/kg/day PO divided twice daily; not to exceed 2 g/day
- 54 to 90 kg: 27-44 mg/kg/day PO divided twice daily; not to exceed 2.4 g/day
Asacol HD, Pentasa (mesalamine) adverse (side) effects
1-10%
Abdominal pain (4-8%)
GI discomfort (4-8%)
Headache (7%)
Flatulence (1-6%)
Nausea (1-6%)
Fatigue (3%)
Asthenia (3%)
Malaise (3%)
Weakness (3%)
Fever (3%)
Exacerbation of colitis (3%)
Dizziness (2-3%)
Rash (1-3%)
Pruritus (1-3%)
Acne (1-3%)
Frequency not defined
Pericarditis (rare)
Pharyngitis
Sensitivity reaction
Cholestatic hepatitis
Creatinine clearance decreased
Flulike syndrome
Discolored urine
Postmarketing Reports
Body as a whole: Lupus-like syndrome, drug fever
Cardiac disorders: Pericarditis, pericardial effusion, myocarditis
Gastrointestinal: Pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, perforated peptic ulcer
Hepatic: Jaundice, cholestatic jaundice, hepatitis, liver necrosis, liver failure, Kawasaki-like syndrome including changes in liver enzymes
Hematologic: Agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia
Immune system disorders: Anaphylactic reaction, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), angioedema
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Myalgia
Neurological/psychiatric: Peripheral neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, transverse myelitis
Renal disorders: Interstitial nephritis
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (including interstitial pneumonitis, allergic alveolitis, eosinophilic pneumonitis)
Skin: Psoriasis, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodosum
Urogenital: Reversible oligospermia
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to mesalamine or salicylates
Breastfeeding
Rectal suspension: Patients with history of sulfite hypersensitivity
Children with chickenpox or flulike symptoms
Cautions
Sulfasalazine hypersensitivity, renal insufficiency, coagulation abnormalities, pyloric stenosis
Use caution in active PUD, severe renal failure
Do not use with lactulose or drugs that lower intestinal pH
Although pericarditis rarely occurs, investigate any chest pain or dyspnea
Oligospermia has been reported in males
Hepatic failure may occur, particularly with preexisting liver impairment
May lead to falsely elevated test results when measuring urinary normetanephrine by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, because of the similarity in the chromatograms of normetanephrine and mesalamine’s main metabolite, N-acetyl aminosalicylic acid; an alternative, selective assay for normetanephrine should be considered
Worsening of colitis/IBD may occur following initiation of therapy
Evaluate renal function prior to initiation of Asacol Hd
Evaluate the risks and benefits in patients with known renal impairment or taking nephrotoxic drugs; monitor renal function
Acute intolerance syndrome may occur; symptoms may be difficult to distinguish from an ulcerative colitis exacerbation; monitor for worsening symptoms; discontinue if acute intolerance syndrome suspected
Hypersensitivity reactions, including myocarditis and pericarditis reported; evaluate patients immediately and discontinue if hypersensitivity reaction suspected
Evaluate the risks and benefits in patients with known liver impairment
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: B/C dependent on dosage form
Lactation: Not known whether drug or metabolites are distributed into breast milk; use caution
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Asacol HD, Pentasa (mesalamine)
Mechanism of action
Anti-inflammatory agent; mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid) is the active component of sulfasalazine, but specific MOA is unknown; probably inhibits prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis and release in colon
Absorption
Bioavailability: Immediate-release is extensively and rapidly absorbed; extended-release 20-30% absorbed
Onset: Improvement usually evident in 1 week-3 months
Peak serum time: 4 hr (Apriso); 3 hr (Pentasa); 4-16 hr (Delzicol); 4-7 hr (rectal); 9-12 hr (Lialda); 8 hr (Mezavant); 4-12 hr (Asacol); 10-16 hr (Asacol HD)
Distribution
Protein bound: 43% (5-ASA); 78% (N-acetyl-5-ASA)
Vd: 0.2 L/kg
Metabolism
Rapidly acetylated in colon wall and liver, independent of pt acetylator status, into N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid
Metabolites: N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid (inactive)
Elimination
Half-life: 0.5-10 hr (5-ASA); 2-15 hr (N-acetyl-5-ASA )
Excretion: Feces 72%; urine: 19-30%
Administration
Instructions
Apriso, Asacol HD: May take with or without food
Delzicol: Take 1 hr before or 2 hr after meals
Lialda: Take with food
Do not substitute one Asacol HD 800 tablet for two mesalamine delayed-release 400 mg oral products
Swallow whole; do not chew, break, or crush
Patients unable to swallow tablet or capsule whole
- Pentasa
- Capsules may, alternatively, be opened and the entire contents sprinkled onto applesauce or yogurt
- The entire contents should be consumed immediately; the capsules and capsule contents must not be crushed or chewed
- Delzicol
- For patients who are unable to swallow the capsules whole, carefully open the capsule(s) and swallow the contents (four 100 mg tablets)
- Open the number of capsules required to make up a complete dose
- There are 4 tablets per capsule; ensure all tablets per capsule are swallowed and no tablets are retained in the mouth
- Swallow the tablets whole; do not cut, break, crush or chew the tablets
- Intact, partially intact, and/or tablet shells have been reported in the stool; instruct patients to contact their physician if this occurs repeatedly