Pentasa
Pentasa 400mg capsules are extended-release mesalamine for ulcerative colitis, usually taken four times a day, sold in packs of 30 to 180.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per capsule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400mg | 30 capsules | $45.60 | $1.52 |
| 400mg | 60 capsules | $83.40 | $1.39 |
| 400mg | 90 capsules | $121.50 | $1.35 |
| 400mg | 120 capsules | $159.60 | $1.33 |
| 400mg | 180 capsules | $237.60 | $1.32 |
- Category
- Digestive Health
- Active ingredient
- Mesalamine
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Capsule
- Strengths
- 400mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Ulcerative colitis
- Therapeutic Class
- Anti-inflammatory
- Pharmacological Class
- 5-ASA derivative
- Minor Side Effects
- Headache, nausea
- Moderate Side Effects
- Stomach cramps, bloating
- Dosage Forms
- Capsule
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Shire
- Duration
- Constant
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine
What you will receive
Pentasa is the originator brand name, made by Shire. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Pentasa.
- The same active ingredient (Mesalamine) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which Pentasa strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Pentasa pages list 400mg capsules in packs of 30, 60, 90, 120 or 180. This is generic mesalamine, not the original Pentasa. Larger packs cost less per capsule.
How is Pentasa delivered to Hong Kong?
Pentasa parcels can be sent by standard airmail, which takes 14 to 21 business days, or 30 at most, and is untracked. Every order arrives in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing outside about the contents. Orders can be cancelled within 24 hours if not yet dispatched.
What is another name for mesalamine?
Pentasa and Asacol are brand names of mesalamine, which is also sold as Lialda, Mezavant, Octasa and Rowasa. Here, mesalamine can be bought online as generic Pentasa, and also as generic Asacol. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is mesalazine the same as mesalamine?
Yes — they are the same medicine under two spellings. Mesalazine is the name used in the UK and much of Europe, mesalamine in the US, and both words appear on packs of ulcerative colitis treatment. The strength and the way the capsules work are unaffected by which name is printed.
Does Pentasa make your skin more sensitive to the sun?
It can. Mesalamine makes some people react more strongly to sunlight, so cover up, use sunscreen, and skip sunbeds and tanning lamps while you are taking it.
What should I do if I miss a Pentasa dose?
Take the missed 400mg capsule as soon as you remember, then continue with the remaining doses that day. Do not take two capsules together to catch up, and do not squeeze in an extra one later to make the total up.
How long will I need to take Pentasa?
Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition, and mesalamine is used to keep it quiet once a flare has settled, so treatment usually continues for months or years rather than stopping as soon as you feel well.
About Pentasa
What Pentasa capsules are for
These capsules contain mesalamine, the anti-inflammatory used to calm the swollen, ulcerated lining of the large intestine and rectum in ulcerative colitis. They are taken while a flare is active and afterwards, to keep symptoms from returning. Each capsule is extended-release: the medicine is let out gradually as it travels through the digestive tract instead of arriving all at once. What is sold here is 400mg capsules, in packs of 30, 60, 90, 120 or 180.
Fitting four doses into a day
An adult usually takes one 400mg capsule four times a day, with or without food. Swallow the capsule whole — chewing or crushing it breaks the slow release. If swallowing is hard, one capsule can be opened and its contents sprinkled over a tablespoon of applesauce or yoghurt, then swallowed straight away without chewing. Drink water through the day. Symptoms often quieten before the pack runs out; the capsules are still working, so carry on with them.
Side effects worth knowing about
Loose stools, stomach pain, nausea, headache, a stuffy or runny nose and a sore throat are the ones that come up most, and they tend to settle. Less often mesalamine affects the kidneys or liver, or inflames the heart muscle. Signs to watch for include passing much less urine, swollen ankles or hands, pain under the right ribs, urine that turns dark, a yellow tint to the skin or the whites of the eyes, chest pain, breathlessness and a fast or irregular heartbeat. A few reactions are emergencies: swelling of the face, lips or throat with trouble breathing, or a flare-like illness of cramping, bloody diarrhoea, fever and rash, needs urgent treatment.
Mixing with other medicines
Aspirin and anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen sit alongside mesalamine on the interaction list, as do azathioprine, mercaptopurine, antacids and iron tablets. Where you keep the pack matters too: a dry spot at ordinary room temperature, somewhere around 20 to 25°C, away from children, keeps the capsules in good shape for the months of treatment ahead.
Pentasa or Asacol?
Same medicine, same strength, different shape: Asacol is mesalamine 400mg in tablets, while Pentasa is mesalamine 400mg in extended-release capsules. Tablets of this type are made to release their mesalamine further down the gut; the capsules let it out gradually along the way, which is why they are taken several times a day. If capsules are hard to swallow, the sprinkle method above is the workaround.
Sources
- Mesalamine: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus
- Mesalamine: Uses & Side Effects - Cleveland Clinic — Cleveland Clinic