Asacol Drug Interactions

Digoxin, warfarin, and certain other medications can react negatively with Asacol. These drug interactions can decrease the effectiveness of the drugs and increase your risk of potentially serious side effects. To help minimize this risk, your healthcare provider may need to adjust your dosages of these medicines as necessary or monitor you more closely.

An Overview of Asacol Interactions

Asacol^® (mesalamine) can potentially interact with a few other medicines. Among these medicines that may lead to Asacol interactions are:

Chickenpox vaccine
Digoxin (Digitek^®, Lanoxin^®)
Thiopurine medications, including:
- Azathioprine (Azasan^®, Imuran^®)
- Mercaptopurine (Purinethol^®)
- Thioguanine (Tabloid^®)

Warfarin (Coumadin^®, Jantoven^®).

Asacol Interactions Explained

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when Asacol is combined with any of the drugs listed above.

Chickenpox Vaccine

Asacol is a salicylate medication. Salicylates should generally be avoided for six weeks after receiving the chickenpox vaccine, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.

Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin)

Asacol may decrease the absorption of digoxin into your body, perhaps making it less effective. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of digoxin in your blood -- especially when you are starting or stopping Asacol.

Thiopurine Drugs

Asacol could possibly increase the level of thiopurine medications in the blood, increasing the risk of side effects of such medications. Check with your healthcare provider before combining Asacol with a thiopurine medication.

Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)

There have been a few reports of Asacol making warfarin less effective. If you are taking these drugs together, your healthcare provider should monitor you more closely and adjust your warfarin dosage as necessary.

(Asacol Drug Interactions Continued: Page 2)