Pentasa Tablets (Mesalazine)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Quick Facts
What Is Pentasa Tablets Used For?
Pentasa tablets contain mesalazine, an anti-inflammatory medicine similar to aspirin that helps reduce inflammation in your bowel.
Primary Uses
Pentasa is used to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – conditions that cause inflammation, ulcers and sores in the bowel, leading to bleeding, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
How It Works
Pentasa works by reducing inflammation in the bowel. It helps control your condition but does not cure it, so it’s important to keep taking it even when you feel well.
Good to know: This medicine helps control your condition and reduce uncomfortable symptoms like bleeding, pain, and diarrhea.
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How to Take Pentasa Tablets
Take Pentasa exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The tablets should be swallowed whole and can be taken with or without food.
Dosage Instructions
For ulcerative colitis: Up to 4g daily during flare-ups, up to 2g daily for maintenance. For Crohn’s disease: Up to 4g daily for both active disease and maintenance. Take at the same time each day. Swallow tablets whole without chewing or crushing, or place in 50mL of cold water, stir rapidly and drink immediately.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Important: Never cut, crush or chew the tablets as this can affect how the medicine works.
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
- Dizziness
- Sun sensitivity (especially with eczema)
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 with bloody stools
- Yellowing of skin or eyes
- Changes in urine or blood in urine
- Severe headaches, vision changes, ringing in ears
- Allergic reactions with rash, swelling, difficulty breathing
- Severe skin reactions with blisters
Important Warnings
Before taking Pentasa, make sure your doctor knows about all your medical conditions and other medicines you’re taking.
Who Should Not Take Pentasa Tablets
Do not take Pentasa if you are allergic to mesalazine, aspirin-like medicines, or any ingredients in the tablets. Also avoid if you have severe kidney or liver problems.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, bleeding disorders, history of asthma, or allergies to sulfasalazine or aspirin-like medicines.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Pentasa should only be used if potential benefits outweigh risks. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.
Children: Do not give Pentasa to children 12 years old or under as safety has not been established in this age group.
Drug Interactions
Pentasa may interact with several medications. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- Blood thinners (warfarin) – may increase bleeding risk
- Diabetes medicines (glibenclamide, glipizide) – may lower blood sugar more
- Methotrexate – may increase toxic effects
- Steroids (prednisolone) – may increase stomach side effects
- Gout medicines (probenicid, sulfinpyrazone) – may be less effective
- Water pills (spironolactone, frusemide) – may be less effective
- Tuberculosis medicine (rifampicin) – may be less effective
- Immune system medicines (azathioprine, mercaptopurine, thioguanine) – may increase bone marrow problems
Alcohol & Driving
Pentasa 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 should not affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery safely.
Storage
Keep Pentasa tablets in their original packaging in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 25°C. Keep away from moisture, heat, sunlight, and out of reach of children. Do not store in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Pentasa, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pentasa helps control your condition but does not cure it. You should continue taking it even when you feel well, as directed by your doctor.
Yes, you can take Pentasa tablets with or without food. Take them at the same time each day to help you remember.
Do not stop taking Pentasa or lower the dose suddenly without checking with your doctor first. If you stop suddenly, your condition may worsen.
Yes, you should have all blood tests recommended by your doctor. Pentasa may cause kidney, liver or blood problems in some people, so regular monitoring is important.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
No, never cut, crush or chew Pentasa tablets. Swallow them whole, or place them in 50mL of cold water, stir rapidly and drink immediately.
Yes, take care to drink plenty of fluids while being treated with Pentasa, as kidney stones may develop during treatment.
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.