Asacol HD Uses

Asacol HD is a medication that is approved to treat ulcerative colitis. Specifically, it is approved as a short-term treatment for moderately active ulcerative colitis (it should not be used for longer than six weeks). Healthcare providers may also occasionally recommend off-label uses of Asacol HD, such as for maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis (instead of just treating the active disease).

What Is Asacol HD Used For?

Asacol HD® (mesalamine) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed to treat ulcerative colitis. It is part of a group of medications known as aminosalicylates.
 
Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that leads to inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine and rectum. Common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other problems like rectal bleeding or extreme urgency to have a bowel movement. At this time, the causes of ulcerative colitis are not fully understood.
 
Although ulcerative colitis complications can be quite severe, there is one ulcerative colitis cure -- surgery (see Ulcerative Colitis Surgery). However, because surgery is not for everyone, there are also non-surgical ulcerative colitis treatment options, such as:
 
Asacol HD is approved to treat moderately active ulcerative colitis for up to six weeks. It has not been studied for longer than six weeks.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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