Generic Pentasa

Common use

Pentasa is a medication to treat ulcerative colitis. It belogs to the group of medications called aminosalicytates. It works by inhibiting the production of inflammatory chemicals in the lining of the colon. It descreases the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, chemicals that lead to the inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis.



Dosage and directions

Take is exactly as directed by your doctor. Follow all recommendations. Do not crush, break, or chew a mesalamine tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole.Call your doctor if you find undissolved tablets in your stool.



Precautions

Discuss with your doctor if you have pyloric stenosis, allergy to sulfasalazine, congestive heart failure, liver or kidney disease.



Contraindications

Do not use the medicine if you have allergy to mesalamine or aspirin or other salicylates. Before using it discuss with you doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, pyloric stenosis, congestive heart failure, or a history of allergy to sulfasalazine.



Possible side effects

The severe side effects include: severe stomach pain, cramping, fever, headache, and bloody diarrhea. Less serious are mild nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas; fever, sore throat, or other flu symptoms; constipation; headache or dizziness; tired feeling; or skin rash.





Drug interaction

Tell your doctor about all other medications you may use, especially azathioprine (Imuran) or mercaptopurine (Purinethol); pentamidine (Nebupent, Pentam); tacrolimus (Prograf); amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Amphotec, Abelcet); antibiotics (capreomycin (Capastat), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled); antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cidofovir (Vistide), or foscarnet (Foscavir); cancer medicine such as aldesleukin (Proleukin), carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cisplatin (Platinol), ifosfamide (Ifex), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), streptozocin (Zanosar), or tretinoin (Vesanoid); or aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin, nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.



Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.



Overdose

Seek urgent medical help if you overdosed Pentasa. Overdose symptoms are ringing in your ears, dizziness, headache, confusion, drowsiness, sweating, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhea.



Storage

Store at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C) away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep it out of the reach of children and away from pets.



Disclaimer

We provide only general information about medications which does not cover all directions, possible drug integrations, or precautions. Information at the site cannot be used for self-treatment and self-diagnosis. Any specific instructions for a particular patient should be agreed with your health care adviser or doctor in charge of the case. We disclaim reliability of this information and mistakes it could contain. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other indirect damage as a result of any use of the information on this site and also for consequences of self-treatment.

Clinical Verification

Last Clinically Updated: August 15, 2026

Written By

Dr. Elena Vance, PharmD

Clinical Specialist in Neuropharmacology

Fact Checked By

Marcus Thorne, MS

Biomedical Data & FDA Label Verification

Medically Reviewed By

Dr. Arthur Campbell, MD

Board-Certified Psychiatrist (ABPN)