Pentasa Tablets (Mesalazine)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Pentasa Tablets Used For?
Pentasa tablets contain mesalazine, an anti-inflammatory medication similar to aspirin that helps reduce inflammation in the bowel.
Primary Uses
Pentasa is prescribed 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 bowel inflammation, making symptoms more manageable.
How to Take Pentasa Tablets
Take Pentasa exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Swallow tablets whole without chewing, crushing, or cutting them. You can also dissolve tablets in 50mL of cold water, stir rapidly, and drink immediately.
Dosage Instructions
For ulcerative colitis: Active disease – up to 4g once daily or in divided doses; Maintenance – up to 2g once daily or in divided doses. For Crohn’s disease: Active disease – up to 4g daily in divided doses; Maintenance – up to 4g daily in divided doses. Take at the same time each day with or without food.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as 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 in your body.
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
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Flatulence (gas)
- Mild skin rash
- Dizziness
- Photosensitivity (sun sensitivity)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath
- Severe upper stomach pain with nausea and vomiting (pancreatitis)
- 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 (liver problems)
- Changes in urine output, blood in urine (kidney problems)
- Severe headaches, vision changes, ringing in ears
- Allergic reactions with rash, swelling, difficulty breathing
- Severe skin reactions with blisters and bleeding
Important Warnings
Before taking Pentasa, inform your doctor about all medical conditions and medications 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 known allergies to sulfasalazine or aspirin-like medicines.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Pentasa should only be used if potential benefits outweigh risks, and the underlying bowel condition itself may affect pregnancy outcomes.
Children: Do not give Pentasa to children 12 years old or under as safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.
Drug Interactions
Pentasa belongs to a group of medicines called salicylates that may interfere with other medications. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- Anti-coagulants (warfarin) – may increase blood thinning effects
- Sulphonylureas (glibenclamide, glipizide) – may increase blood sugar lowering effects
- Methotrexate – may increase toxic effects
- Glucocorticoids (prednisolone) – may increase stomach side effects
- Probenicid or sulfinpyrazone – may decrease effectiveness
- Spironolactone or frusemide – may decrease effectiveness
- Rifampicin – may decrease effectiveness
- Azathioprine, mercaptopurine, thioguanine – may increase bone marrow suppression
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. However, discuss alcohol consumption with your doctor.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Pentasa should not impair your ability to drive a car or operate machinery safely.
Storage
Keep Pentasa tablets in their original packaging until ready to use. Store 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 at 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. It’s important to keep taking it even when you feel well, as prescribed by your doctor.
Yes, you can take Pentasa with or without food. Take it at the same time each day to help you remember.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Never take a double dose to make up for the missed one.
No, never cut, crush, or chew Pentasa tablets. Swallow them whole, or dissolve in 50mL of cold water, stir rapidly, and drink immediately.
Your doctor may recommend regular blood tests 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.
No, do not stop taking Pentasa or lower the dosage suddenly without checking with your doctor, as your condition may worsen.
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.