Site of action:
Duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon.

Formulations:
Tablets 250mg, 500mg
Enema 1g/100ml
Suppositories 1g

Dose:
Acute 25mg/kg BD
or 17mg/kg TDS ( max 3g-4g as total daily dose)

Doses will be adjusted to ensure ease of administration with the above formulations

Side-effects:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, headache, exacerbation of colitis symptoms, rarely reversible pancreatitis, hepatitis and interstitial nephritis, bone marrow suppression, fibrosing alveolitis.
Caution if salicylate hypersensitive

Interactions:
None known

Notes:
Pentasa tablets disintegrate in the stomach to form coated slow release granules. Mesalazine is released from these granules at all the physiological pH values but is slower in the acidic conditions.

Tablets can be dispersed in water but they should not be chewed.