Mesalazine

Not to be confused with Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).

Mesalazine
Clinical data
Trade namesAsacol, Lialda, Pentasa, Delzicol, others[1]
Other namesmesalamine, 5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA, Mesalamine (USAN US)
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa688021
License data
Pregnancy
category
Routes of
administration		By mouth, rectal
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailabilityorally: 20–30% absorbed
rectally: 10–35%
MetabolismRapidly & extensively metabolized intestinal mucosal wall and the liver
Elimination half-life5 hours after initial dose.
At steady state 7 hours
Identifiers
  • 5-Amino-2-hydroxybenzoic acid
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.001.745 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC7H7NO3
Molar mass153.137 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point283 °C (541 °F)
  • O=C(O)c1cc(ccc1O)N
  • InChI=1S/C7H7NO3/c8-4-1-2-6(9)5(3-4)7(10)11/h1-3,9H,8H2,(H,10,11) checkY
  • Key:KBOPZPXVLCULAV-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Mesalazine, also known as mesalamine or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), is a medication used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.[1] It is generally used for mildly to moderately severe disease.[1] It is taken by mouth or rectally.[1] The formulations which are taken by mouth appear to be similarly-effective.[12]

Common side-effects include headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and fever.[1] Serious side-effects may include pericarditis, liver problems, and kidney problems.[1][12] Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding appears safe.[12] In people with a sulfa allergy certain formulations may result in problems.[1] Mesalazine is an aminosalicylate and anti-inflammatory.[1][12] It works by direct contact with the intestines.[1]

Mesalazine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1987.[1][8] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[13] It is available as a generic medication.[1][14][15][16] In 2021, it was the 239th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.[17][18]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Mesalamine Monograph for Professionals". Drugs.com. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
  2. ^ "Mesalamine Use During Pregnancy". Drugs.com. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Mesalazine Sun/ Mesalz (Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd)". Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 13 January 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Product monograph brand safety updates". Health Canada. February 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Regulatory Decision Summary for Mezera". Drug and Health Products Portal. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Drug and medical device highlights 2018: Helping you maintain and improve your health". Health Canada. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Asacol SmPC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b "Asacol HD- mesalamine tablet, delayed release". DailyMed. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Pentasa- mesalamine capsule". DailyMed. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Lialda- mesalamine tablet, delayed release". DailyMed. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  11. ^ Human Medicines Evaluation Division (15 October 2020). "Active substance: mesalazine" (PDF). List of nationally authorised medicinal products. European Medicines Agency.
  12. ^ a b c d British national formulary: BNF 76 (76 ed.). Pharmaceutical Press. 2018. pp. 39–41. ISBN 9780857113382.
  13. ^ World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.
  14. ^ "ANDA Approval Reports - 2017 First Generic Drug Approvals". Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 3 November 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  15. ^ "2022 First Generic Drug Approvals". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Competitive Generic Therapy Approvals". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  17. ^ "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Mesalamine - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.