Mesalamine

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
Mesalamin (5-amino-2-hydroxybenzoic acid).

Mesalamine, frequently called 5-aminosalicylate, 5-aminosalicylic acid, or 5-ASA, is an anti-inflammatory agent used to treate rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome. It is structurally related to the salicylates and is thought be to the active breakdown product of the drug sulfasalazine.

Brand names

It is sold under these brand names:

• Asacol
• Asacolitin
• Canasa
• Claversal
• Fisalamine
• Lixacol
• Mesasal
• Pentasa
• Rowasa
• Salofalk

External Links

• Mesalamine - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Drug Bank http://redpoll.pharmacy.ualberta.ca/drugbank/cgi-bin/getCard.cgi?CARD=APRD01098