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Mesalazine

Medication aminosalicylate digestive
Aka: mesalamine, Pentasa, Salofalk
Brands seen in Singapore: Pentasa, Salofalk, Asacol, Mezavant XL
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease, as prescribed
When to take
HealthHub: some forms before food, some regardless
Take with
Water · slow-release forms are swallowed whole, not crushed
Pros & cons
Pros
  • HealthHub: oral and rectal forms are both available
  • SG label: dosing is individual, up to 4 g a day
  • HealthHub: a missed dose is taken when remembered
Cons
  • HealthHub: stomach upset, nausea, diarrhoea, headache
  • HealthHub: can affect the blood in the first months
  • HealthHub: liver and kidney effects need blood checks
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “All 14 registered mesalazine products carry Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only' — SIN14479P PENTASA PROLONGED RELEASE TABLETS 1G · SIN09340P SALOFALK 500 TABLET 500 mg · SIN14275P Asacol Tablet 800mg · SIN14999P MEZAVANT XL · SIN10918P SALOFALK ENEMAS”
  2. Singapore National Drug Formulary — PENTASA PROLONGED RELEASE TABLETS 1G [SIN14479P], therapeutic indications · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.”
  3. Singapore National Drug Formulary — PENTASA PROLONGED RELEASE TABLETS 1G [SIN14479P], posology · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Ulcerative colitis Treatment of active disease: Adults: Individual dosage, up to 4 g daily in divided doses … Maintenance treatment: Adults: Individual dosage, usually 2 g daily in divided doses”
  4. Singapore National Drug Formulary — PENTASA PROLONGED RELEASE TABLETS 1G [SIN14479P], method of administration · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “PENTASA® tablets must not be chewed. To facilitate swallowing, the tablets may be dispersed in 50 ml of cold water. Stir and drink immediately.”
  5. Singapore National Drug Formulary — PENTASA PROLONGED RELEASE TABLETS 1G [SIN14479P], contraindications · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Hypersensitivity to mesalazine, any of the excipients, or salicylates. Severe liver or renal impairment.”
  6. HealthHub (National Medication Information workgroup, SG) — Mesalazine: what is this medication for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “This medication is used for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.”
  7. HealthHub — Mesalazine: how should I take or use this medication · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Some preparations taken by mouth should be taken before food while others can be taken irrespective of food … Some modified or slow release or enteric coated preparations taken by mouth should be swallowed whole, not chewed or crushed.”
  8. HealthHub — Mesalazine: forms of this medication · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “This medication may be administered by mouth (e.g. as tablets or granules) or rectally (e.g. as an enema or suppository).”
  9. HealthHub — Mesalazine: what should I do if I forget a dose · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember … skip the missed dose and go back to your normal administration time”
  10. HealthHub — Mesalazine: common side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Common side effects of this medication include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, muscle pain, reduced appetite and a cough.”
  11. HealthHub — Mesalazine: rare but serious side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “This medication may affect the blood particularly in the first few months of treatment … This medication may affect the liver … This medication may affect the kidney … unexplained bleeding, bruising, sore throat, fever or malaise”
  12. HealthHub — Mesalazine: what precautions should I take · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding … You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies … You have a history of liver or kidney disease.”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.