Mesalamine Uses

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis can be improved by treatment with mesalamine. Uses of the medication include the treatment of ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis, ulcerative proctosigmoiditis, and distal ulcerative colitis. By inhibiting the action of certain chemicals in the colon, inflammation and other symptoms are diminished. "Off-label" mesalamine uses can include the treatment of Crohn's disease, another inflammatory bowel condition.

 

Mesalamine Uses: An Overview

Mesalamine is a prescription medication that is used 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 sores in the lining of the large intestine and rectum. It commonly causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other symptoms, like rectal bleeding or an 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 only one ulcerative colitis cure -- surgery. Other than surgery (see Ulcerative Colitis Surgery), ulcerative colitis treatment options include the following:
 
Mesalamine tablets and capsules are approved to treat ulcerative colitis. Mesalamine suppositories are approved to treat ulcerative proctitis (ulcerative colitis that affects only the rectum). Mesalamine enemas are approved to treat:
 
  • Ulcerative proctitis
  • Ulcerative proctosigmoiditis (which affects the rectum and the sigmoid colon, the very end of the colon)
  • Distal ulcerative colitis (which affects the rectum, sigmoid colon, and the descending colon).
 
(Mesalamine Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;