Pentasa 500 mg Mesalazine Tablets 50 Count

Pentasa prolonged-release tablets contain mesalazine, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, and is used for chronic inflammation of the intestine ( ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease ).

• • Compared to regular tablets, prolonged-release tablets allow a gradual release of the active substance in the intestine, so that the medicine has more time to work at the desired site (the intestinal wall).

How To Use:

• • Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.

• • Contact a doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.

• • The dose and the duration of the treatment are determined by the doctor who adapts it especially for you.

• • For other questions about the medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have forgotten to take Pentasa:

• • You should not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

If you stop treatment with Pentasa:

• • Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about the use of this medicine.

Warnings And Precautions:

Do not use Pentasa:

• • If you are allergic to mesalazine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

• • If you are allergic to salicylates,

• • If you have severe liver or kidney disorders.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Pentasa:

• • If you are allergic to sulfasalazine, as in such cases there may also be a certain risk of allergic reactions to Pentasa prolonged-release tablets (risk of allergy to salicylates).

• • If you have impaired liver or kidney function; further precautions are agreed with a doctor.

• • If you are using certain other medicines at the same time.

• • If you have lung diseases, especially asthma.

• • If serious changes occur in the blood picture or inflammation of the heart muscle and pericardium (myocarditis and pericarditis).

• • A doctor should be contacted and the treatment discontinued.

• • Such conditions are seen in rare cases. Signs of serious changes in the blood picture can be bleeding, bruising, sore throat and fever . Signs of inflammation of the heart muscle and pericardium are fever and chest pain followed by shortness of breath.

• • If you have ever had a severe rash or peeling of the skin, blisters and/or mouth sores after using mesalazine.

• • In connection with treatment with mesalazine, serious skin reactions have been reported, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

• • Stop taking mesalazine and consult a doctor immediately if you develop any of the symptoms associated with severe skin reactions.

• • While you are being treated with this medicine, your doctor will usually carry out blood and urine tests to check your kidney function, especially at the start of treatment.

• • Kidney stones can form when using mesalazine. Symptoms can be pain in the sides of the stomach and blood in the urine . Be sure to drink enough fluids during treatment with mesalazine.

Taking Pentasa together with food and drink:

• • The preparation can be taken regardless of a meal.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding:

• • Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• • There is little experience with the use of Pentasa during pregnancy.

• • The active ingredient in Pentasa crosses the placenta, and it is possible that the fetus could be affected. Therefore, consult a doctor before using Pentasa if you are pregnant.

• • The active substance in Pentasa passes into breast milk, and it is possible that children who are breastfed may be affected. If the child develops diarrhoea , breastfeeding should be stopped.

Driving and using machines:

• • Pentasa prolonged-release tablets have no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Ingredients:

• • The active substance is respectively 500 mg or 1 g (=1000 mg) of mesalazine.

What Pentasa looks like and contents of the pack:

• • Pentasa 500 mg prolonged-release tablets are grey-white to slightly brown, mottled, round tablets with a score line.

• • They are marked with 500 mg on one side and PENTASA on the other.

• • Pentasa 1 g prolonged-release tablets are grey-white to slightly brown, mottled, oval tablets.

• • They are marked with PENTASA on both sides.

• • The prolonged-release tablets are packed in blister packs of aluminum foil which are in turn packed in cardboard boxes.

• • Pentasa 500 mg prolonged-release tablets are available in packs of 100 and 3×100, while

• Pentasa 1 g prolonged-release tablets are available in packs of 60.