• You are here: Home > eXpert Advice > Health Notes

View Basket / Checkout

Mesalamine

Also indexed as: Asacol, Mesalazine, Pentasa, Rowasa, Salofalk

Illustration

Mesalamine is used to treat mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis and to prevent recurrence.

Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, a herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized interactions.

Beneficial May Be Beneficial: Supportive interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication work better.

Psyllium
Depletion or interference

None known
Side effect reduction/prevention

None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability

None known
Adverse interaction

None known

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Herbs

Psyllium (Plantago ovata)
Taking 20 grams of psyllium seeds together with mesalamine for 12 months was more effective at maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis than taking either the drug or herb alone.1 People taking mesalamine should consult with their doctor to determine whether they should add psyllium seeds to their treat regimen.

References

1. Fernandez-Banares F, Hinojosa J, Sanchez-Lombrana JL, et al. Randomized clinical trial of Plantago ovata seeds (dietary fiber) as compared with mesalamine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis. Spanish Group for the Study of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU). Am J Gastroenterol 1999;94:427–33.