Pentasa Enema (Mesalazine)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Pentasa Enema Used For?
Pentasa Enema contains mesalazine, an anti-inflammatory medicine similar to aspirin that helps reduce inflammation in your large bowel and rectum.
Primary Uses
Pentasa Enema treats ulcerative proctosigmoiditis and left-sided ulcerative colitis. These conditions cause inflammation, ulcers and sores in your rectum (back passage) and the large bowel next to the rectum, leading to bleeding, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
How It Works
Pentasa works by helping to reduce inflammation in the large bowel and rectum, similar to how aspirin works as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Good to know: This medicine helps control your condition but does not cure it. It’s important to keep using it even if you feel well.
How to Take Pentasa Enema
Use Pentasa Enema exactly as your doctor prescribes. The medicine should be used at bedtime for best results.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended dose is one enema (1 g) inserted into the rectum once daily at bedtime. If possible, empty your bowels before using the enema. Shake the container well and use within 5 minutes of shaking. Insert the contents into your rectum and lie down for 5 to 10 minutes. You may feel discomfort and urgency to empty your bowels – this is normal. Try to resist this urge as long as possible.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next enema, skip the missed dose and use your next enema when scheduled. Use Pentasa regularly at the same time each day for best results.
Important: Never use a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Do not swallow the enema.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Gas and stomach discomfort
- Mild skin rash
- Discomfort, pain or itching in anus or rectum
- Dizziness
- Sun sensitivity (especially with eczema or dermatitis)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath
- Severe upper stomach pain with nausea and vomiting
- Easy bruising, unusual bleeding, signs of infection
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in arms and legs
- Severe diarrhea, bloody stools
- Yellowing of skin or eyes, urine discoloration
- Changes in urine output, blood in urine, swelling
- Severe headaches, vision changes, ringing in ears
- Allergic reactions with rash, swelling, breathing problems
- Severe skin reactions with blisters and bleeding
Important Warnings
Before using Pentasa Enema, make sure your doctor knows about all your medical conditions and other medicines you take.
Who Should Not Take Pentasa Enema
Do not use Pentasa if you are allergic to mesalazine or any ingredients in the medicine, or if you have severe kidney or liver problems. Do not give to children 12 years old or under.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to sulfasalazine or aspirin-like medicines, kidney or liver problems, bleeding disorders, or a history of asthma. You may need regular blood tests to check your kidney function while using this medicine.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Pentasa should be used with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, only if benefits outweigh risks. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while using this medicine.
Blood Tests Required: You need regular blood tests to monitor kidney function as Pentasa may cause kidney, liver or blood problems in some people.
Drug Interactions
Pentasa belongs to a group of medicines called salicylates that may interfere with other medications. Tell your doctor about all medicines you take.
- Blood thinners (warfarin) – may increase blood thinning effects
- Diabetes medicines (glibenclamide, glipizide) – may increase blood sugar lowering effects
- Methotrexate – may increase toxic effects
- Steroids (prednisolone) – may increase stomach side effects
- Gout medicines (probenicid, sulfinpyrazone) – may decrease effectiveness
- Water pills (spironolactone, frusemide) – may decrease effectiveness
- Tuberculosis medicine (rifampicin) – may decrease effectiveness
- Immune system medicines (azathioprine, mercaptopurine, thioguanine) – may increase bone marrow problems
Alcohol & Driving
Pentasa Enema is not expected to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings are mentioned in the prescribing information.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Pentasa is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery safely.
Temperature Regulation
No temperature regulation warnings are mentioned for this medication.
Storage
Keep Pentasa Enema in its original packaging until ready to use. Store in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 25°C, away from moisture, heat and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you have used too much Pentasa or accidentally swallowed the medicine, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
The medicine helps control your condition over time. You may experience some discomfort initially, but this feeling will subside as treatment continues and inflammation decreases.
Even if you retain just a portion of the enema, it’s a step in the right direction. Try to resist the urge to empty your bowels for as long as possible after insertion.
No, do not stop using this medicine or lower the dose suddenly without checking with your doctor. This medicine helps control your condition but doesn’t cure it, so it’s important to keep using it even when you feel well.
Pentasa enemas may stain clothing, fabrics or other surfaces. Take care when handling and using the medication.
Yes, you should have regular blood tests as recommended by your doctor to check your kidney function, as Pentasa may cause kidney, liver or blood problems in some people.
Yes, take care to drink plenty of fluids while being treated with Pentasa, as kidney stones may develop during treatment.
Pentasa Enema should be used at bedtime. If possible, empty your bowels before using the enema for better effectiveness.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.