Asacol 800mg MR Tablets

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 Asacol 800mg MR tablets are and what they are used for
2. Before you take Asacol 800mg MR tablets
3. How to take Asacol 800mg MR tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Asacol 800mg MR tablets
6. Further information

Do not take the Asacol 800mg MR tablets if you:

• are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the ingredients in the product (see Section 6 on “What Asacol 800mg MR tablets contain”).
• are allergic to aspirin or any other salicylate
• had kidney problems or blood abnormalities while taking other medicines such as sulphasalazine
• have confirmed severe kidney or liver impairment
• have stomach ulcers, with or without bleeding.

DO NOT give the tablets to children unless directed by a doctor.

Take special care with Asacol 800mg MR tablets

• Asacol should be used with extreme caution in patients with confirmed mild to moderate kidney impairment
• Asacol should be used with caution in the elderly, and in patients who ever had any blood disorder, especially while taking medicines such as sulphasalazines.

Taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription. Asacol 800mg MR tablets should NOT be taken with Lactulose (a medicine for constipation).

Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, Cox-II inhibitors) and azathioprine in particular may increase the risk of kidney reactions.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not take Asacol 800mg MR tablets unless advised otherwise by their doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Tests on your liver, kidney and blood

Before you start treatment with Asacol 800mg tablets you will have a blood and urine test to check how well your kidneys are working and what your blood is doing. During treatment your doctor will check how well your liver, kidney and blood is working by taking blood and urine sample periodically during your treatment.

Driving and using machines

Asacol 800mg MR tablets are not expected to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Asacol 800mg MR tablets

Lactose - if you know you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine

If you stop taking Asacol 800mg MR tablets

Keep taking the 800mg MR tablets for as long as your doctor tells you. Your symptoms may come back if you stop treatment too early. Remember to get a repeat prescription at the right time so that you do not miss a day of treatment.

If you take more Asacol 800mg MR tablets than you should

Do not exceed the recommended dose. You should only take as many tablets as your doctor has instructed on the pharmacist’s label. If you take too much medicine, tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest Accident & Emergency Department. Take the tablet pack with you if possible.

If you forget to take Asacol 800mg MR tablets

If you forget to take a dose at the required time, take it as soon as you remember and continue taking your tablets as before. DO NOT take two doses together. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and carry on as before.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor immediately

if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• fever, sore throat, mouth or lip ulcers, spots underneath your skin anywhere on your body, including the genital and anal regions, become very pale, swollen ankles or have unusual bleeding (e.g. unexpected nosebleeds or bleeding gums)
• skin rash with flaking, boils or sore lips or mouth
• bruising more easily or suspect blood abnormalities
• problems with kidney function

Common side effects (in more than 1 in 100 people but less than 1 in 10 people):

• diarrhoea
• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• nausea (feeling sick)
• wind
• headache
• joint and muscular pain
• indigestion
• rectal disorder.

Rare side effects (in less than 1 in 1,000 people):

• problems with heart, liver, lung or kidney function
• inflammation of the liver or kidney
• inflammation of the pancreas
• blood abnormalities
• nerve ending damage, vertigo or dizziness
• chest pain or chest infections
• sinusitis (inflammation of lining of sinuses) or rhinitis (inflammation of lining of nose)
• skin rashes
• hair loss
• unexplained wheezing or shortness of breath
• cough
• fever
• flu like symptoms.

Very rare side effects (in less than 1 in 10,000 people):

• worsening of symptoms of colitis
• Erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (skin and mucous membrane disease).

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.

What Asacol 800mg MR tablets contain

The active substance is mesalazine (also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid). Each tablet contains 800mg mesalazine.

The other ingredients are

Core: lactose monohydrate, sodium starch glycolate, talc, povidone, magnesium stearate, colloidal anhydrous silica.

Coating: methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymer (1:2), talc, dibutyl sebacate, ferric oxide red (E172), methacrylic acid – methyl methacrylate copolymer (1:1), ferric oxide yellow (E172), macrogol.

Black ink containing: propylene glycol, ferric oxide black (E172), ammonium hydroxide, shellac.

See also end of Section 2 on ‘Important information about some of the ingredients of Asacol 800mg MR tablets’.

What Asacol 800mg MR tablets look like and contents of the pack

Asacol 800mg MR tablets are red-brown, coated, and oblong shaped, marked with WC 800. They are packed in a plastic bottle with a child- resistant closure that contains cotton/silica gel moisture absorbing pouches. Asacol 800mg MR tablets are available in packs of 12, 36, 84 or 180 tablets (not all pack sizes may be marketed).

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Manufacturer

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Getting more advice about ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s ileo-colitis

In addition to advice and information available from your doctor and pharmacist, you may wish to contact Crohn’s and Colitis UK for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease which offers information, advice and local support groups.

Telephone Information Line:

0845 130 2233 (Monday to Friday 10am - 1pm)

Crohn’s and Colitis Support Line:

0845 130 3344 (Monday to Friday 1.00pm- 3.30pm / 6.30pm - 9pm)

Large print, braille, audio format leaflet

To obtain this leaflet in large print, braille or audio format, please call the following freephone number: 0800 198 5000.

Asacol^® is a Trademark

Asacol® is a Trademark Marketing Authorisation Number:

PL 45496/0002