Contraindications – When should mesalazine not be given?
Mesalazine must not be taken if there is a hypersensitivity to salicylic acid and its derivatives (this includes aspirin). Contraindications for the use of mesalazine are severe liver and kidney dysfunctions. Because of the increased risk of bleeding, mesalazine must not be used in existing stomach and intestinal ulcers (ulcus ventriculi and ulcus duodeni).
Patients with an increased bleeding tendency must not use mesalazine either. Mesalazine should be taken only on the instruction of a physician and under close medical supervision. Besides blood and urine, control of kidney function is recommended.
Dosage of Mesalazine
Mesalazine should always be taken exactly as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. The usual dose of mesalazine tablets in the acute treatment of ulcerative colitis is between 1.5g and 3g of mesalazine per day, divided into two to three individual doses. In the acute treatment of Crohn’s disease, between 1.5g and 4.5g are taken. In the recurrence prophylaxis of ulcerative colitis, 500 mg are taken three times a day, i.e. a total of 1.5 g of mesalazine per day.
Price of Mesalazine
The cost of mesalazine varies depending on the supplier and dosage form. Mesalazine tablets with an active ingredient content of 500 mg in a pack size of 50 tablets cost about 35 €, as suppositories of 500 mg in a pack of 30 tablets about 57 € and granule bags with 1000 mg active ingredient about 54 € for 50 tablets.
Can I take it during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Women who wish to have children should inform their doctor about it. Mesalazine should be taken after careful consideration of the benefit-risk ratio. Although there are not enough studies on this, mesalazine seems to be largely safe in pregnancy.
In general, women should wait for the beginning of a pregnancy if possible during a phase of the disease in which no or only a low dosage of the drug is required. If possible, treatment should be suspended for the last four weeks. Mesalazine passes to breast milk in small amounts, but breastfed babies show no abnormalities.
