Asacol

📦 Всяка поръчка е покрита от нашата Политика за повторна изпратка — ако вашата пратка не пристигне в рамките на 20 работни дни, ние я изпращаме отново.

Защо да поръчвате от MedsBase

Нашите генерични лекарства се доставят от производители, сертифицирани от WHO-GMP, и се изпращат по целия свят в дискретна, обикновена опаковка — без име на лекарството външно на пратката. Плащанията с карта се обработват чрез регулиран процесор (описанието на извлечението включва регулиран процесор за плащане с карта — никога “MedsBase” или име на лекарство). Приемат се също криптовалути и банков превод SEPA. Всяка поръчка е подкрепена от нашата политика за гарантирано преизпращане.

What Is Asacol?

Asacol is an oral aminosalicylate (5-ASA) medicine containing mesalamine (400 mg), supplied as delayed-release Eudragit-S enteric-coated tablets. Manufactured by Win-Medicare in packs of 30, 60, 90 or 180 tablets. Mesalamine is the active metabolite of older sulfasalazine — without the sulfapyridine moiety that caused most of sulfasalazine’s systemic side effects.

Mesalamine has been a first-line therapy for mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis since the 1980s and is recommended as induction and maintenance therapy by ACG, ECCO, and BSG guidelines. The original mesalamine brand Asacol was approved in 1987; today there are several delivery systems (Eudragit-coated, ethylcellulose microgranule, MMX multi-matrix) each designed to release mesalamine at a different point in the gastrointestinal tract.

What Is Asacol Used For?

• Induction of remission in active mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis
• Maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis
• Some mild Crohn’s colitis cases (off-label in many countries; evidence is weaker than for UC)
• Ulcerative proctitis and left-sided colitis (often combined with rectal mesalamine formulations)

Asacol is не a treatment for:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — a functional disorder without mucosal inflammation. IBS is treated with antispasmodics (mebeverine), gut-selective antibiotics for IBS-D (rifaximin), dietary intervention (low-FODMAP), and central modulators (low-dose TCAs/SSRIs)
• Infectious colitis (e.g. C. difficile, Salmonella, Shigella)
• Microscopic colitis — budesonide is preferred

How Does Asacol Work?

Mesalamine is a topical intestinal anti-inflammatory. Its exact mechanism is multifactorial, involving several anti-inflammatory pathways in the colonic mucosa:

• Inhibition of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways — reduces local prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis
• Scavenging of reactive oxygen species produced by neutrophils in inflamed mucosa
• Inhibition of NF-κB — dampens the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines
• PPAR-γ agonism in colonocytes — contributes to resolution of inflammation
• Reduces neutrophil chemotaxis into the colonic mucosa

Because mesalamine’s target is the colonic mucosa, delivery is critical. The delayed-release Eudragit-S enteric-coated tablets of Asacol is designed to release active drug in the colon rather than being absorbed prematurely in the small intestine. Eudragit-S coating dissolves at pH ≥ 7 (terminal ileum/colon); Eudragit-L at pH ≥ 6 (duodenum/jejunum); ethylcellulose microgranules release continuously; MMX uses a lipophilic/hydrophilic matrix for controlled colonic release.

Дозиране и прилагане

Induction of remission in mild-to-moderate UC: 2.4–4.8 g/day in divided doses. Maintenance of remission: 1.6–2.4 g/day.

• Take with or shortly after food (reduces GI upset and may improve colonic delivery).
• Глътайте таблетките цели — do not crush or chew Eudragit-coated or MMX tablets; the coating is the delivery system.
• Seeing intact tablet shells in stool can happen with some formulations (particularly MMX “ghost” tablets) — this is expected and does not mean the drug failed to absorb.
• Maintain good hydration — supports renal clearance.
• Adherence is critical. Mesalamine is a daily maintenance drug; missing doses is the single biggest predictor of UC relapse.
• Miss a dose — take it as soon as you remember, unless close to the next dose; do not double up.

Странични ефекти

Mesalamine is usually well-tolerated compared with sulfasalazine and immunomodulators.

Чести:

• Главоболие
• Nausea, abdominal pain, flatulence
• Diarrhoea (ironic for a colitis drug, but real — 1–3% of users)
• Rash, itching
• Occasional hair loss (mild, reversible)

Нечесто срещани, но важни:

• Бъбречна недостатъчност — interstitial nephritis is a rare but documented class effect. Check serum creatinine at baseline, at 3 months, then annually. Discontinue if eGFR drops by > 25%.
• Acute mesalamine intolerance syndrome — paradoxical worsening of colitis symptoms shortly after starting. Very rare; stop the drug.
• Blood dyscrasias — rare neutropenia, thrombocytopenia; check FBC if unexplained infection or bruising.
• Панкреатит — много рядко
• Myocarditis / pericarditis — very rare; new chest pain warrants evaluation
• Хепатит — very rare, usually reversible

Лекарствени взаимодействия

• Azathioprine / mercaptopurine / thiopurines — mesalamine inhibits TPMT and can raise thiopurine levels; monitor FBC more closely when the combination is used.
• НПВС — additive renal risk; avoid chronic use.
• PPIs and antacids — may alter gastric pH and disrupt pH-dependent coating dissolution; separate Eudragit-coated mesalamine from high-dose PPIs by 4 hours if possible, or choose a pH-independent formulation.
• Warfarin — possible increased anticoagulant effect; monitor INR when starting.
• Метотрексат — additive myelosuppression risk.
• Live vaccines — no meaningful interaction with mesalamine alone (unlike with sulfasalazine or biologics).

Who Should Not Take Asacol?

• Known hypersensitivity to salicylates (including aspirin) or mesalamine
• Severe renal impairment (eGFR < 30 mL/min)
• Тежко чернодробно увреждане
• Children below the label age cutoff (differs by formulation)
• Активна пептична язва
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding — mesalamine has a reassuring safety record and is commonly continued through pregnancy when UC control requires it; discuss with your gastroenterologist and obstetrician

Съхранение

Store Asacol below 25°C in a dry place, in the original blister. Keep out of reach of children. Protect from light and moisture.

Често задавани въпроси

Is mesalamine the same as mesalazine or 5-ASA?

Yes — all three names refer to the same molecule (5-aminosalicylic acid). Mesalamine is the US adopted name (USAN); mesalazine is the international non-proprietary name (INN); 5-ASA is the chemical abbreviation. Different brands and regions label it differently.

Can I take Asacol for IBS or general bloating?

No — mesalamine does not treat IBS. IBS is a functional disorder; there is no mucosal inflammation for mesalamine to work on. For IBS, first-line treatments are dietary changes (low-FODMAP diet, fibre modification), antispasmodics like mebeverine (Colospa) or hyoscine, and — for IBS-D specifically — short courses of rifaximin (Rifagut). Central modulators (low-dose amitriptyline) are used for refractory IBS pain.

How long until Asacol works?

Symptom improvement typically begins within 1–2 weeks; full remission in 4–8 weeks at induction doses. Stool frequency and urgency usually improve first, followed by abdominal pain and finally mucosal healing (visible on colonoscopy at 8–12 weeks).

Do I need to take Asacol forever?

Most patients with ulcerative colitis need long-term maintenance mesalamine to stay in remission — typically at least 1.6–2.4 g/day. Stopping after remission is achieved leads to relapse within 6–12 months in most studies. Mesalamine is safe for decades of use when renal function is monitored.

Why am I seeing intact tablet shells in my stool?

Several mesalamine formulations (particularly MMX “ghost” tablets) pass through largely intact in the stool. This is очаквано and the drug has been released inside the colon as designed. If you see the tablet unchanged with no coating damage, check your technique; otherwise no action is needed.

Can I take aspirin or NSAIDs with Asacol?

Short paracetamol (acetaminophen) is preferred for pain in UC. Chronic NSAID use can both precipitate UC flares и increase the renal risk of mesalamine — avoid where possible. Occasional use is usually tolerated.

Where can I buy Asacol online?

You can order Asacol (400 mg) from MedsBase in packs of 30, 60, 90 or 180 tablets. We ship worldwide with discreet packaging and genuine WHO-GMP certified manufacturer stock.

Related IBS & IBD Medications

• Mesacol — Mesalamine 400/800 mg (Sun Pharma)
• Asacol — Mesalamine 400 mg (Win-Medicare)
• Mesacol OD — Mesalamine 1.2 g once-daily (MMX)
• Sazo — Sulfasalazine 500 mg
• Salazar — Sulfasalazine
• Colospa — Mebeverine 135 mg (IBS antispasmodic)
• Rifagut — Rifaximin (gut-selective antibiotic)
• Browse all IBS & IBD Medications

Защо да поръчвате от MedsBase

Asacol is supplied from a СЗО-GMP сертифициран производител. Every order ships discreetly worldwide and is covered by our Политика за повторна изпратка — if it does not arrive within 20 business days, we reship at no cost. Mesalamine is the cornerstone first-line agent for mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis and is endorsed by ECCO 2022 and ACG 2019 guidelines for both induction and maintenance.

More options in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Treatment

Класирани според скорошния обем на поръчки в MedsBase — какво избират други клиенти в тази категория.

Mesacol

US$16.50 – US$55.60Εύρος τιμών: από US$16.50 έως US$55.60

Colospa

US$39.00 – US$152.00Εύρος τιμών: από US$39.00 έως US$152.00

Mesacol OD

US$69.00 – US$260.00Εύρος τιμών: από US$69.00 έως US$260.00

Salazar

US$42.00 – US$162.00Εύρος τιμών: από US$42.00 έως US$162.00