Is A Prescription Required To have Asacol?

A Prescription is required to purchase Asacol from licensed online Canadian pharmacies.

What Is The Drug Asacol Used For?

The medication Asacol is used for the treatment of moderately active ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is gastrointestinal disease which involves chronic inflammation of the inner lining of colon and rectum.

How Does Asacol Work in the Body?

Asacol contains mesalamine which reduces inflammation at the sight where the medication is needed. Mesalamine helps to reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding and stomach pain. It also decreases swelling in colon.

What is the generic form of Asacol?

The generic form of Asacol is mesalamine and is manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals.

How Is Asacol Supplied and Stored?

Asacol is manufactured by Actavis and is available in the dosage forms of 400 mg and 800 mg in bottles of 180 tablets each.

The generic version of Asacol (mesalamine) is available 400 mg dosage in packaging of 500 tablets.

The medication should be stored at a temperature between 15°C and 30°C. It should be kept out of sight and reach of children.

What Is the Cost of Asacol?

Our verified online pharmacy is pleased to offer you the Asacol 400 mg at an unbeatable price of $185 for a supply of 180 tablets, which is $1.03 per unit. The generic form of Asacol (mesalamine) is available at a price of $249 for a supply of 500 tablets, which is $0.50 per unit. It is best to compare the prices of drugs online at edrugsearch or Pharmacychecker.Com.

What Kind Of Drug Is Mesalamine?

Mesalamine belongs to a class of drugs known as aminosalicylates. It is also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA).

Can Asacol Make You Gain Weight?

Asacol does not lead to weight gain. It makes you feel well enough for proper food intake.

How Long Does It Take For Asacol To Take Effect?

The medication Asacol starts to work within a few days of the beginning of treatment. However, the primary treatment lasts for about six weeks. Some patients might experience decrease in symptoms after three weeks. You might have to take Asacol for six months to prevent recurrence of ulcerative colitis. However, the decision on how long you should take the medication will be made by your doctor, as your doctor knows your condition the best.

How Should You Take Asacol?

The usual dose of Asacol for the treatment of ulcerative colitis is 2 to 8 Asacol tablets daily, in divided doses. You should take Asacol exactly as prescribed by your health care professional. Swallow the tablets whole. Do not change the dose without consulting your doctor first.

Do You Need To Take Asacol With Food?

The medication can be taken with or without food. If you have any questions about your medication, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Can Mesalamine Be Crushed?

Do not break, crush or chew the mealamine tablet as this can break the special outer covering of the tablet. Swallow the tablet as a whole.

Can I Just Stop Taking Asacol?

Ulcerative colitis rarely disappears completely. Abrupt stopping of Asacol is not recommended as it can trigger the symptoms of the disease to appear again. Follow your doctor’s instructions closely on taking Asacol in order to prevent the symptoms from reappearing.

How is Asacol Metabolized in Body?

The drug is metabolized in liver into a major metabolite known as N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid. Mesalamina and its metabolite both have a half-life of 12 to 19 hours respectively.

What Are The Possible Side Effects of Asacol?

Asacol is generally well-tolerated but can cause side effects in some patients. Most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen and headache. Other reported reactions with Asacol are worsening of ulcerative colitis, abnormal liver function tests and rashes. If you experience any of the following symptoms while taking Asacol, immediately inform your doctor:

• Worsening of ulcerative colitis
• Fever
• Rash
• Chest pain
• Stomach pain
• Difficulty in breathing

Some of the rare side effects of Asacol include allergic reactions with symptoms of itching, rash, swelling of face or hands, tightness in chest, trouble breathing, kidney problems with symptoms such as change in urine output, cloudy or tea colored urine, blood in urine, weight gain (from retaining fluid), confusion, swelling of eyes, hands, legs and feet. Other less specific side effects include drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, rash, persistent itching and back pain.

When Should You Not Take Asacol?

Do not take Asacol if you:

• Are allergic to mesalamine or any other ingredients in Asacol
• Have a history of sensitivity to salicylates, such as acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)
• Have severe liver problems
• Have severe kidney problems
• Have stomach or intestinal ulcers
• Have urinary tract obstruction
• Are not able to swallow the intact tablet
• If the patient is an infant under 2 years of age

What Should You Tell Your Doctor Before taking Asacol?

Before you start taking Asacol, be sure to tell your doctor if you:

• Have liver or kidney problems
• Have pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the outlet from stomach that causes the contents of the stomach to remain there for a longer period of time). Pyloric stenosis may keep Asacol tablet from reaching the colon as quickly as it normally would
• Are pregnant or become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Small amounts of mesalamine have been found in the human breast milk. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) an inactive ingredient in the enteric coating of Asacol tablet, and its primary metabolite mono-butyl phthalate (MBP) are also excreted into human milk. Caution should be taken when using Asacol while you are nursing. Discuss with your doctor.

What Medicines Can Interact With Asacol?

It is important to tell your health care professional about all other medicines that you have taken recently including any kind of supplements and non-prescription drugs. Some medicines can change the effects of Asacol or other Asacol can change the effects of other medicines. Asacol should not be taken with drugs that change the acidity level of the stool, such as lactulose.

Where Can I Buy Asacol Online?

If prescribed by your health care professional, Asacol can be bought directly from Canadian Online Pharmacy. You will not have to wait to start your therapy due to the swift shipping service provided by us.

How Is Asacol Delivered?

The standard delivery fee is $10.00. The orders are usually shipped in 2-3 working days after the processing of the order. The medication package is delivered by regular mail within 10-14 business days after it has been shipped.

For further information and aid, you can contact our Customer Service at 1877-240-4438 or email us at customerservice@canadawidepharmacy.com

References:

1. https://allergan-web-cdn-prod.azureedge.net/allergancanadaspecialty/allergancanadaspecialty/media/actavis-canada-specialty/en/products/pms/asacol-800-pm_29dec2014_eng.pdf
2. https://allergan-web-cdn-prod.azureedge.net/allergancanadaspecialty/allergancanadaspecialty/media/actavis-canada-specialty/en/products/pms/asacol-400-pm_29dec2014_eng.pdf
3. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/019651s023lbl.pdf
4. https://www.sharecare.com/health/analgesic-pain-relief/how-soon-taking-asacol-symptoms

DESCRIPTION

Asacol (Mesalamine (5ASA)) is an Rx medication that is used to treat mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis and mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease. 5-ASA acts by reducing inflammation in the bowel. 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA or mesalamine) belongs to the group of medications known as anti-inflammatories.

Different brands of 5-ASA are designed to act on different places in the gastrointestinal tract (the digestion tube that runs from the mouth to the anus). Ulcerative colitis affects the colon and rectum only, while Crohn's disease affects the whole gastrointestinal tract. For this reason, some brands are used to treat only ulcerative colitis, while others can be used to treat both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Asacol should start working in a few days, but the primary treatment lasts for about six weeks. Some people experienced a decrease in symptoms after three weeks. Sometimes Asacol is taken for about six months in order to prevent ulcerative colitis from returning.

PACKAGING

Brand Asacol comes from Canada and is manufactured by Actavis and generic Mesalamine (5ASA) comes from Canada manufactured by . This medication is available in the branded version in doses of 400 mg and 800 mg in quantities of 180 tablets and 540 tablets, respectively. In the generic version, the dose available is 400 mg in quantities of 200 tablets.

Please be advised, that Generic drugs are fully licenced and approved copies of brand-name drugs that have the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug. In other words, their pharmacological effects are the same as those of their brand-name counterparts. We are happy (whenever we are able) to provide a choice, especially as Generic versions are generally cheaper, thereby making them more affordable and accessible!

And please, do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the (our) environment.

Please note that the manufacturing country and the manufacturer may vary depending on the availability.

DELIVERY

The standard shipping fee is a flat rate of $10.00. Orders are normally dispatched in 2-3 working days after the order is processed. Your package will be delivered by regular mail in 10-14 business days after it is shipped out.

For more information and further assistance, please feel free to Customer Service at 1877-240-4438 or email us at customerservice@canadawidepharmacy.com.

SIDE-EFFECTS

Please remember that, just because a side effect is listed here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience any side effect – we are all different.

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Asacol: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Asacol and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, cramping, bloody diarrhea;
• fever, headache, skin rash;
• chest pain, shortness of breath;
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• little or no urinating;
• swelling, rapid weight gain; or
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Common Asacol side effects may include:

• mild stomach discomfort, gas;
• flu symptoms, runny nose;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• headache, dizziness;
• weakness; or
• joint pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Please talk to your pharmacist or doctor about any side effects that concern you – especially if they persist.

SAFETY

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to mesalamine or to aspirin or other salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others).

Before you take mesalamine, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, a stomach condition called pyloric stenosis, a heart condition such as congestive heart failure, or a history of allergy to sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).

Do not crush, break, or chew a mesalamine tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially formulated to release the medicine after it has passed through your stomach into your intestines.

Call your doctor if you find undissolved tablets in your stool.

Stop using mesalamine and call your doctor at once if you have severe stomach pain, cramping, fever, headache, and bloody diarrhea.

It is not known whether mesalamine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

Mesalamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Can Other Medicines Affect Asacol (Mesalamine (5ASA))?

There may be an interaction between 5-aminosalicylic acid and any of the following:

• 6-mercaptopurine;
• antacids (e.g., aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate);
• azathioprine;
• digoxin;
• furosemide;
• H2 antagonists (e.g., cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine);
• Lactulose;
• low molecular weight heparins (e.g., dalteparin, enoxaparin, tinzaparin);
• methotrexate;
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; e.g., naproxen, ibuprofen);
• probenecid;
• proton pump inhibitors (e.g., esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole);
• spironolactone;
• sulfinpyrazone;
• sulfonylureas (e.g., glyburide, gliclazide);
• thioguanine;
• varicella (chicken pox) vaccine;
• warfarin.

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications;
• change one of the medications to another;
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications; or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.