User:Mr. Ibrahem/Mesalazine

Mesalazine, also known as mesalamine or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), is a medication used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. It is generally used for mildly to moderately severe disease. It is taken by mouth or rectally. The formulations which are taken by mouth appear to be similarly effective.

Common side effects include headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and fever. Serious side effects may include pericarditis, liver problems, and kidney problems. Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding appears safe. In people with a sulfa allergy certain formulations may result in problems. Mesalazine is an aminosalicylate and anti-inflammatory. It works by direct contact with the intestines.

Mesalazine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1987. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines as an alternative to sulfasalazine. It is available as a generic medication and sold under many brand names worldwide. A month supply in the United Kingdom costs the NHS less than £30 as of 2021. In the United States the wholesale cost of this amount is about 288 USD. In 2017, it was the 246th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than one million prescriptions.