Pentasa® 500mg Tablets for Ulcerative Colitis

Pentasa® is a mesalazine medicine used to manage ulcerative colitis and mild Crohn’s disease affecting the bowel. It helps calm inflammation in the gut lining to ease symptoms and support remission. This page explains how it works, who it suits, and how to use it, with US shipping from Canada and options for those without insurance.

What Pentasa Is and How It Works

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This treatment contains mesalazine, a 5‑aminosalicylic acid anti‑inflammatory. It acts mainly in the intestinal lumen and mucosa. The medicine reduces inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes. That local action can help relieve rectal bleeding, urgency, and abdominal pain in ulcerative colitis.

Tablets and capsules use controlled‑release microgranules to deliver mesalazine along the bowel. Rectal formulations may target the distal colon and rectum. For disease flares and for maintaining remission, your prescriber may recommend this therapy alone or with other agents. See our Ulcerative Colitis page to learn more about the condition. Related gut therapies live in our Gastrointestinal category.

Who It’s For

This medicine is used to induce and maintain remission in adults with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Some prescribers may use it in mild ileocolonic Crohn’s disease. People with known salicylate allergy or severe kidney or liver impairment should avoid it.

Tell your healthcare professional about past pancreatitis, myocarditis, pericarditis, or blood disorders. Discuss all medicines you take, including over‑the‑counter products and supplements. For Crohn’s involvement, see our Crohn’s Disease overview.

Dosage and Usage

Follow the directions on your prescription label. Many adults take oral mesalazine several times daily during flares, then continue a maintenance schedule. Swallow tablets or capsules whole. Do not crush or chew, because the controlled‑release design is important for delivery throughout the bowel.

Pentasa slow release tablets 500 mg are often taken with water, with or without food. Space doses evenly during waking hours. If rectal therapy is prescribed, your clinician will advise on timing relative to bowel movements. Always refer to the official Patient Information for specifics, and consult your prescriber with questions about your regimen.

Strengths and Forms

Availability can vary by country and manufacturer. Common presentations include:

• Extended or controlled‑release oral tablets, often in 500 mg strength
• Extended‑release capsules in select strengths
• Rectal suspension enemas for distal disease
• Rectal suppositories for proctitis

We also carry related mesalazine options. If oral therapy is not suitable, rectal formulations may be considered. One widely used oral option is Mesalazine 500mg tablets, but choices depend on your prescription and regional labeling.

Missed Dose and Timing

If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless it is close to the next scheduled dose. If it is nearly time, skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule. Do not double up. Keeping a daily reminder can help you stay consistent. For rectal forms, choose a routine time you can keep, such as bedtime, for steady use.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store tablets and capsules at room temperature in a dry place, away from excess heat and moisture. Keep the bottle closed tightly and out of reach of children and pets. Do not store in the bathroom. When traveling, keep your medicines in original packaging with your prescription label. Pack enough for the entire trip, plus a small buffer.

Carry a copy of your prescription and a medication list. Place medicines in your carry‑on bag to avoid temperature swings. If using rectal products, pack leak‑proof bags and supplies. Dispose of packaging discreetly and follow local guidance.

Benefits

This therapy can help relieve rectal bleeding, urgency, and diarrhea during active disease. For many, it supports maintenance of remission with ongoing use as directed. Oral controlled‑release technology delivers medicine along the bowel, and rectal options can target the distal colon when needed. Flexible dosing forms allow prescribers to tailor treatment by disease location.

Side Effects and Safety

• Headache or dizziness
• Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
• Diarrhea or gas
• Rash or itching
• Fatigue
• Cold‑like symptoms

Serious effects are uncommon but can include kidney problems, acute intolerance syndrome, pancreatitis, liver issues, blood dyscrasias, myocarditis or pericarditis, and severe skin reactions. Stop the medicine and seek care urgently for chest pain, shortness of breath, severe abdominal pain, yellowing of skin or eyes, unusual bruising, or swelling. Report any persistent or severe symptoms to your healthcare professional. See our anatomy guide on the Right Lower Quadrant if you are learning symptom locations.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Tell your prescriber about all medicines you take. Interactions may occur with azathioprine or 6‑mercaptopurine, which can raise the risk of bone marrow suppression. Use caution with nephrotoxic drugs, including some NSAIDs. Anticoagulants such as warfarin may need closer monitoring. Rarely, mesalazine may affect lithium levels or renal function. Avoid use if allergic to salicylates or to any component of this product.

Periodic kidney function tests are often recommended during long‑term therapy. Let your clinician know if you develop severe diarrhea, fever, chest pain, or new rashes. Discuss use in pregnancy or breastfeeding to weigh potential benefits and risks.

What to Expect Over Time

Symptoms may ease gradually with consistent use. Your clinician may adjust the regimen based on response and disease location. Maintenance therapy helps sustain remission after improvement. Track your symptoms, bowel habits, and any side effects in a diary. Bring the log to appointments to support shared decisions about ongoing care.

Compare With Alternatives

Other 5‑ASA options may suit different segments of the bowel or patient preferences. Some prescribers consider Salofalk for distal disease or when a different release profile is preferred. A generic choice such as Mesalamine may be appropriate when the prescriber deems it therapeutically suitable. Your clinician will select a formulation and route based on your condition and treatment goals.

Pricing and Access

Check current availability and see options aligned with Canadian pricing and Ships from Canada to US fulfilment. If you are comparing cash‑pay choices, you can review the Mesalazine 500mg price against alternatives and discuss what fits your care plan. Use our site tools to view pack sizes and place your request. Encrypted checkout helps protect your information. If you look for seasonal deals, see our Promotions.

Availability and Substitutions

Stock status can change. If a particular form is unavailable, your prescriber may recommend a therapeutically suitable alternative in the same class or a rectal formulation. We cannot guarantee supply dates. Your care team will decide whether a substitution is appropriate.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

This medicine may suit adults with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis who can swallow tablets or capsules and follow a daily schedule. It may not suit those with severe renal impairment, certain cardiac inflammation histories, or salicylate allergy.

To manage costs, ask your prescriber about multi‑month quantities and whether a generic mesalazine option is suitable for you. Set refill reminders before you run low. If rectal therapy is added, combining routes for a limited time may reduce oral amounts per day, as directed by your clinician. Keep an updated medication list to streamline refills and travel.

Questions to Ask Your Clinician

• Which part of my bowel is targeted by this therapy?
• Should I use an oral, rectal, or combined regimen?
• How long should I stay on maintenance after a flare settles?
• What labs should I check before and during treatment?
• Which symptoms mean I should contact the clinic right away?
• Are there dietary or hydration tips that support my plan?
• Could other medicines I take interact with mesalazine?

Authoritative Sources

Ferring Pentasa Product PageFDA DailyMed: Pentasa LabelHealth Canada Drug Product Database

Ready to proceed? You can request your prescription medicine today with express fulfilment, US delivery from Canada, and temperature-controlled handling when required. This page is for general information and does not replace medical advice. Always follow your prescriber’s instructions.