Pentasa Slow Release 500mg Tablets
Pentasa® Slow Release 500mg Tablets
(mesalazine)
Patient Information Leaflet
This product is available as the above name but will be referred to as Pentasa throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking
this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What Pentasa is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Pentasa
3. How to take Pentasa
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Pentasa
6. Further information
1. What Pentasa is and what it is used for
The name of this medicine is Pentasa Slow Release Tablets. Each tablet contains mesalazine 500mg as the active ingredient. Mesalazine belongs to a group of medicines called salicylates.
Pentasa is used to treat mild to moderate inflammation of the gut caused by a condition called ulcerative colitis. It can also be used to control the condition and prevent it from coming back.
The tablets release the active ingredient slowly which then acts locally to reduce the inflammation and help relieve or stop the pain.
2. Before you take Pentasa
Do Not take Pentasa if you:
• are allergic to mesalazine or any of the other ingredients in Pentasa.
• are allergic to any other salicylates e.g. aspirin
• have severe liver or kidney problems
• are under the age of 15 years
Take special care with Pentasa
You should consult your doctor before taking these tablets if:
• you experience any unexplained bleeding, bruising, skin rashes, fever or sore throat while using this medicine, stop using this medicine and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
• if you experience any chest pain, an increased heartbeat and excess tiredness while using this medicine, stop using this medicine and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
• you currently have, or have previously had liver or kidney disease
• you are on any medication that may affect kidney function e.g. azathioprine
• you have ever had an allergy to a medication called sulphasalazine
If you suffer from kidney problems you will require regular check ups by your doctor.
You should make sure that you don’t become dehydrated, while you are taking this medicine. This can occur after severe or prolonged attacks of vomiting and/or diarrhoea, high fever or heavy sweating. If this does occur, you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice as soon as possible.
Taking with other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This is especially important if you are taking any of the following:
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS)
• Azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine, as they will need to decide if this medicine is suitable for you.
3. How to take Pentasa
Always take Pentasa exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The tablets should be taken by mouth either whole or broken up, they should not be crushed or chewed. If you have difficulty swallowing the tablets you can disperse them in a small quantity of cold water (approximately 50ml) then stir and drink immediately.
To treat an attack of colitis, your doctor will usually prescribe a dose of up to 4g mesalazine, to be taken as eight tablets once a day or in two or three divided doses.
To help prevent further attacks, your doctor will usually prescribe a dose of 2g mesalazine, to be taken as four 500mg tablets once a day.
If you take more Pentasa than you should
If you accidentally take too many tablets, you should go to your nearest emergency department or contact your doctor immediately. Take the pack and any remaining tablets with you.
If you forget to take Pentasa
If you forget to take a dose, take the next dose as soon as you remember, unless it is less than 3 hours until your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten one.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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• vomiting • nausea |
• stomach pain • diarrhoea |
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• rash with or without itching |
• headache |
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• blood disorders (e.g. low levels of red blood cells) |
• lupus erythematosis (an auto-immune disorder effecting the skin) |
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• tingling or numbness in the hands and feet |
• allergic lung reactions (including breathing problems) |
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• inflammation of the heart or area surrounding the heart |
• changes in kidney function or kidney failure |
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• inflammation of the liver and liver failure |
• inflammation of the pancreas |
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• raised liver enzymes |
• muscle pain |
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• hair loss (reversible) |
• fever |
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• joint pain |
• skin rash or blisters e.g. Erythema Multiforme or Steven-Johnson syndrome |
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• allergic reactions |
POM
Like all medicines, Pentasa can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
STOP taking Pentasa if you notice:
• itching, skin rashes, swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty in breathing or wheeziness (signs of an allergic reaction).
• unexplained bleeding, bruising, skin rashes, fever or sore throat (signs of a blood disorder).
• a change in the colour or amount of urine produced (signs of kidney problems).
If you experience any of the above side effects you should contact your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately.
Common side effects (affecting less than 1 in 10 people) include:
Rare side effects (affecting less than 1 in 1,000 patients) include:
Very rare side effects (affecting less than 1 in 10,000 patients) include:
Store your tablets below 25°C, protected from light.
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use after the expiry date as stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
If the tablets become discoloured or show any other signs of deterioration, you should seek the advice of your pharmacist.
If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, return any leftover medicine to your pharmacist for safe disposal. Only keep the tablets if your doctor tells you to.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Further information
What Pentasa contains
Each tablet contains 500mg of the active ingredient mesalazine in a slow release formulation. Your tablets also contain the following ingredients: povidone, ethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate and talc.
What Pentasa looks like and the contents of the pack
Pentasa Slow Release 500mg tablets are round, off white mottled tablets with a breakline and are marked ‘500’ and ‘mg’ on the front face and ‘Pentasa’ on the reverse.
Your tablets are available in blister packs containing 60 tablets.
Manufactured by: Ferring A/S, Vanlose, Denmark and are procured from within the EU by the Product Licence holder: Caseview (PL) Ltd., 20 Alliance Court, Alliance Road, London W3 0RB and repackaged by OPD Laboratories Ltd, Unit 6 Colonial Way, Watford, Herts WD24 4PR.
PL 13826/1542
Pentasa Slow Release 500mg Tablets
Leaflet revision date (ref): 30/07/2015.
Pentasa is a registered trademark of Ferring BV, The Netherlands.
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call 01923 332 796.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at:
www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.