Ulcerative Colitis:

For the treatment of mild to moderate acute exacerbations. For the maintenance of remission.

Crohn's ileo-colitis

For the maintenance of remission.

Swallow whole with water. Do not break, crush or chew the tablets before swallowing.

ADULTS:

Oral:

Acute disease: Six tablets a day in divided doses, with concomitant corticosteroid therapy where clinically indicated.

Maintenance therapy: Three to six tablets once daily or in divided doses.

ELDERLY: The normal adult dosage may be used unless renal function is impaired (see section 4.4).

CHILDREN: There is no dosage recommendation.

A history of sensitivity to salicylates or renal sensitivity to sulphasalazine. Confirmed severe renal impairment (GFR less than 20 ml/min). Children under 2 years of age.

Use in the elderly should be cautious and subject to patients having normal renal function.

Renal disorder

Mesalazine may produce red-brown urine discoloration after contact with sodium hypochlorite bleach (e.g. in toilets cleaned with sodium hypochlorite contained in certain bleaches).

Mesalazine is excreted rapidly by the kidney, mainly as its metabolite, N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid. In rats, large doses of mesalazine injected intravenously produce tubular and glomerular toxicity. Asacol should be used with extreme caution in patients with confirmed mild to moderate renal impairment (see section 4.3). Patients on mesalazine should have renal function monitored, (with serum creatinine levels measured) prior to treatment start. Renal function should then be monitored periodically during treatment, for example every 3 months for the first year, then 6 monthly for the next 4 years and annually thereafter, based on individual patient history. Physicians should take into account risk factors such as prior and concomitant medications, duration and severity of disease and concurrent illnesses. Treatment with mesalazine should be discontinued if renal function deteriorates. If dehydration develops, normal electrolyte and fluid balance should be restored as soon as possible.

Nephrolithiasis

Cases of nephrolithiasis have been reported with the use of mesalazine, including stones of 100% mesalazine content. It is recommended to ensure adequate fluid intake during treatment.

Blood Dyscrasias

Serious blood dyscrasias have been reported very rarely with mesalazine. Haematological investigations should be performed if the patient develops unexplained bleeding, bruising, purpura, anaemia, fever or sore throat. Treatment should be stopped if there is suspicion or evidence of blood dyscrasia.

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in association with mesalazine treatment.

Mesalazine should be discontinued, at the first appearance of signs and symptoms of severe skin reactions, such as skin rash, mucosal lesions, or any other sign of hypersensitivity.

Excipients with known effect warnings

Lactose

With reference to the presence of lactose monohydrate in the formulation, patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Sodium content

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dosage unit, i.e. is essentially "sodium-free".

'Asacol' Tablets should not be given with lactulose or similar preparations, which lower stool pH and may prevent release of mesalazine.

Concurrent use of other known nephrotoxic agents, such as NSAIDs and azathioprine, may increase the risk of renal reactions (see section 4.4)

No information is available with regard to teratogenicity; however, negligible quantities of mesalazine are transferred across the placenta and are excreted in breast milk following sulphasalazine therapy. Use of 'Asacol' during pregnancy should be with caution, and only if the potential benefits are greater than the possible hazards. 'Asacol' should, unless essential, be avoided by nursing mothers.

Not applicable.

The side effects are predominantly gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Headache has also been reported.

There have been rare reports of leucopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia and thrombocytopenia, alopecia, peripheral neuropathy, Intracranial hypertension, pancreatitis, abnormalities of hepatic function and hepatitis, myocarditis and pericarditis, allergic and fibrotic lung reactions, pleurisy, lupus erythematosus-like reactions and rash (including urticaria), drug fever, interstitial nephritis and nephrotic syndrome with oral mesalazine treatment, usually reversible on withdrawal, nephrolithiasis*. Renal failure has been reported. Mesalazine-induced nephrotoxicity should be suspected in patients developing renal dysfunction during treatment.

* See Section 4.4 for further information

Mesalazine may very rarely be associated with an exacerbation of the symptoms of colitis, Stevens Johnson syndrome and erythema multiforme.

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in association with mesalazine treatment (see section 4.4) (frequency unknown).

Other side effects observed with sulphasalazine such as depression of sperm count and function, have not been reported with 'Asacol'.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Following tablet ingestion, gastric lavage and intravenous transfusion of electrolytes to promote diuresis. There is no specific antidote.

Mesalazine is one of the two components of sulphasalazine, the other being sulphapyridine. It is the latter which is responsible for the majority of the side effects associated with sulphasalazine therapy whilst mesalazine is known to be the active moiety in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

'Asacol' Tablets contain 400 mg of available mesalazine. This is released in the terminal ileum and large bowel by the effect of pH. Above pH 7 the Eudragit S coat disintegrates and releases the active constituent. 'Asacol' Tablets contain, in a single tablet, an equivalent quantity of mesalazine to that theoretically available from the complete azo-reduction of 1g of sulphasalazine.

There are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.

Core:

Lactose

Sodium starch glycollate

Magnesium stearate

Talc

Povidone

Coating:

Methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymer (1:2)

Dibutyl sebacate

Iron oxides (E172)

Macrogol 6000

Not applicable.

2 years.

Store tablets in a dry place at a temperature not exceeding 25° C and protect from direct sunlight. Keep the bottle tightly closed

HDPE oblong bottle with a child-resistant closure, cotton, and silica gel desiccant pouches.

Pack-sizes of 90 or 120 tablets.

HDPE round bottle with a child-resistant closure, cotton, and silica gel desiccant pouches.

Pack-sizes of 84 or 168 tablets.

No special requirements.