Is A Prescription Required To have Pentasa Extended Release?
A Prescription is required to purchase Pentasa Extended Release from licensed online Canadian pharmacies.
What Is The Drug Pentasa Extended Release Used For?
Pentasa contains 5- aminosalicylic acid, also known as 5-ASA, mesalamine or mesalazine. It is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat and help maintain remission and prevention of relapse in patients with Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease.
What Are Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease?
Ulcerative Colitis is a disease of the large intestine (colon) and back passage (rectum). In this disease, the lining of the gut becomes red, inflamed and swollen resulting in symptoms of frequent and bloody stools accompanied by stomach cramps.
Crohn’s Disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It mainly affects the intestines but can occur anywhere from the mouth to the end of the rectum (anus).
How Does Pentasa Extended Release Work in the Body?
The medication is believed to act by blocking the production and action of certain substances (such as cyclooxygenase, prostaglandins) involved in causing inflammation. Pentasa passes through colon and rectum to provide relief from this inflammation and reduces symptoms such as bloody stools and diarrhea.
How Is Pentasa Extended Release Supplied and Stored?
Pentasa Extended Release is manufactured by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. This medication is supplied in the form of extended-release tablets with the dosage of 500 mg or 1000 mg. The 500 mg tablets are available in HDPE bottles containing 240 or 500 tablets and the 1000 mg tablets are available in HDPE bottles containing 120 tablets. Pentasa extended release is also available as a rectal suspension in the dosage form of 1 g or 4 g per 100 mL. This medication is also available as a suppository that contains 1 g of mesalazine and is supplied as sealed in aluminum blisters made of double aluminum push through foils.
The Pentasa Extended Release tablets should be stored at room temperature between 15°C and 30°C, protected from light. Pentasa rectal suspension should be stored at a controlled room temperature, preferably below 25°C. Pentasa suppositories should be stored between a temperature of 15°C and 25°C. All the medicines should be kept out of sight and reach of children.
What Is the Cost of Pentasa Extended Release?
Our verified online pharmacy is pleased to offer you the Pentasa Extended-Release Tablets 500 mg at an unbeatable price of $465 for a supply of 500 tablets, which is $0.93 per unit. The Pentasa rectal suspension 1 g/100 mL is available at a price of $73 for a supply of 7 tabs, which is $10.43 per tab. The Pentasa suppository 1 g is available at a price of $99, for a supply of 30 tabs which is $3.30 per tab. It is best to compare the prices of drugs online at edrugsearch or Pharmacychecker.Com.
What Kind Of Drug Is Mesalamine?
Mesalamine belongs to a class of drugs known as aminosalicylates. It is also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA).
Is Pentasa Sulfa Drug?
Pentasa is a 5-aminosalicylic acid product and does not contain sulfa and is effective in ulcerative colitis to both induce and maintain remission.
Can Pentasa Make You Gain Weight?
Pentasa does not lead to weight gain. It makes you feel well enough for proper food intake.
How Should You Take Pentasa?
Always take Pentasa as directed by your doctor. The usual adult dose of Pentasa Extended-release tablets for mild to moderate Ulcerative Colitis is 0.5 mg four times daily. For, Crohn’s disease, the dose of these tablets is 1 g four times daily. Pentasa Extended Release tablets should not be chewed, crushed or broken but should be swallowed as a whole with plenty of water. The tablets should be taken with meals.
For using Pentasa rectal suspension, it is best to empty the bowel immediately before the enema is given in order to achieve effective results. Use one enema at bedtime, for a period as directed by your doctor. Retain the enema overnight for best results. Read the instructions carefully on the leaflet that comes with the rectal suspension, before using it.
Pentasa suppository is not to be taken by mouth. It is recommended to empty the bowel before administration of suppository. You can lubricate the suppository with a water-based lubricant to help in the insertion of the suppository. Using a rubber finger protector on your index finger, insert the suppository, either end first, into the rectum The insertion of the suppository can be done in a standing position or with one leg bent. The suppository should be inserted into the rectum as far as possible and retained as long as possible to achieve best results.
Can Mesalamine Be Crushed?
Do not break, crush or chew the mesalamine tablet as this can break the special outer covering of the tablet. Swallow the tablet as a whole.
How is Pentasa Extended Release Metabolized in Body?
The drug is metabolized in the liver into a major metabolite known as N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid. Due to the continuous release and absorption of 5-ASA from Pentasa through the gastrointestinal tract, the true-half-life of Pentasa cannot be determined after oral use.
What Are The Possible Side Effects of Pentasa Extended Release?
Like all medicines, Pentasa can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common side effects include pain in the abdomen, vomiting, rash, tiredness, fever, back pain, dizziness, headache, itchiness on skin, diarrhea, nausea, trembling or shaking, ear or throat pain, racing heartbeat, changes in blood pressure, pain or bloating in stomach, indigestion, hair loss, acne, rashes, joint pain, weakness, swollen face, inflammation of pancreas or colon. Some of the rare side effects reported with Pentasa include decreased sperm count and motility which are reversible when the treatment is stopped. Side effects reported with other drugs containing mesalazine are low blood cell counts, neuropathy (abnormal or damaged nerves causing a sensation of tingling and numbness), inflammation of heart and lining around heart, inflammation of lung, difficulty in breathing, gallstones, hepatitis, allergic swelling of tongue, lips and eyes, skin redness, muscle pain, kidney problems like inflammation and scarring of kidney. Some of the uncommon side effects include blood problems such as symptoms such as unexplained bruising, unusual bleeding (for example, nosebleeds), anemia (feeling weak), fever, sore throat, acute intolerance syndrome with symptoms such as symptoms cramping, acute stomach pain, blood and excessive stools (diarrhea), fever, headache and rash. These symptoms could be a sign of a serious condition which occurs rarely but means your treatment would have to be stopped immediately. These are not all the possible side effects of Pentasa Extended Release. In case of any unexpected effect, contact your doctor right away.
When Should You Not Take Pentasa Extended Release?
Do not take Pentasa Extended Release if you:
- Are allergic to mesalamine or any other ingredients in Pentasa Extended Release
- Are allergic to salicylates including acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
- Have severe kidney problems
- Have a severe liver disease
- Have a stomach or intestinal ulcer
- Have urinary tract obstruction
- The patient is an infant under 2 years of age
What Should You Tell Your Doctor Before taking Pentasa Extended Release?
Before you start taking Pentasa Extended Release, be sure to tell your doctor if you:
- Have liver or kidney problems
- Have chronic lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis
- Have digestive ulcers
- Have or had inflammation in the heart (which may be the result of an infection of the heart)
- Have pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the outlet from the stomach that causes the contents of the stomach to remain there for a longer period of time). Pyloric stenosis may keep Pentasa extended-release tablet from reaching the colon as quickly as it normally would
- Are pregnant or become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Mesalamine causes the placenta and small amounts have been also found in the human breast milk.
- Have or had the previous allergy to sulfasalazine (an ingredient in medicines used to treat ulcerative colitis)
What Medicines Can Interact With Pentasa Extended Release?
It is important to tell your healthcare professional about all other medicines that you have taken recently including any kind of supplements and non-prescription drugs. Some medicines which can interact with Pentasa Extended Release include:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs and azathioprine (increased risk of kidney reactions)
- Azathioprine (used to treat rheumatoid arthritis) or 6-mercaptopurine (used to treat cancer and auto-immune diseases) (increased possibility of having abnormal blood cells)
- Anticoagulants such as warfarin, coumarin
- Probenecid (a medicine used to treat gout and hyperuricemia)
- Sulfinpyrazone (a medicine used to treat gout)
- Spironolactone or Furosemide (medicines used to treat heart failure)
- Rifampicin (an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis)
- Methotrexate (used to treat autoimmune disease)
Where Can I Buy Pentasa Extended Release Online?
If prescribed by your healthcare professional, Pentasa Extended Release can be bought directly from Canadian Online Pharmacy. You will not have to wait to start your therapy due to the swift shipping service provided by us.
How Is Pentasa Extended Release Delivered?
The standard delivery fee is $10.00. The orders are usually shipped in 2-3 working days after the processing of the order. The medication package is delivered by regular mail within 10-14 business days after it has been shipped.
For further information and aid, you can contact our Customer Service at 1877-240-4438 or email us at
customerservice@canadawidepharmacy.com.
References:
1. http://ferring.ca/media/1574/pentasa-er-tab-500mg-1g-rectal-susp1g-4g-supp-1g-15jan2015-en.pdf
2. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/020049s025lbl.pdf
3. https://www.everydayhealth.com/colitis/specialists/how-can-i-treat-colitis-without-sulfa-drugs.aspx
4. http://www.ferring.ca/media/1696/pentasa-pm-control-no-201731-en_27jul2017.pdf