Mesalamine
Mesalamine
Mesalamine (pronounced: meh-sal-a-meen), also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), is a medication primarily used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is part of the aminosalicylates class of drugs and is an anti-inflammatory agent.
Etymology
The term "mesalamine" is derived from the compound's chemical structure, which includes a salicylic acid molecule and an amino group. The "mesa" prefix is a modification of "meta", indicating the position of the amino group on the salicylic acid molecule.
Usage
Mesalamine is used to treat and prevent relapses of ulcerative colitis, a type of IBD. It works by reducing inflammation in the colon. It may also be used in the treatment of Crohn's disease, another type of IBD, although its effectiveness in this context is less well-established.
Related Terms
- Inflammatory bowel disease: A group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine.
- Ulcerative colitis: A chronic, inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract.
- Crohn's disease: A type of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus.
- Aminosalicylates: A class of drugs used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, including mesalamine.
Side Effects
Like all medications, mesalamine can cause side effects. Common side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. More serious side effects can include pancreatitis, neutropenia, and hypersensitivity reactions.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mesalamine
- Wikipedia's article - Mesalamine
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