Salofalk (Rectal)

Generic name:mesalamine (rectal route) [ me-SAL-a-meen ]
Drug class:5-aminosalicylates

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 14, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Canasa
• Rowasa
• sfRowasa

In Canada

• Mesasal
• Pentasa
• Salofalk

Available Dosage Forms:

• Suppository
• Enema

Therapeutic Class: Gastrointestinal Agent

Chemical Class: Salicylate, Non-Aspirin

Uses for Salofalk

Mesalamine is used to treat an inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis. Mesalamine suppositories are used to treat mild to moderate active ulcerative proctitis (inflammation of the rectum). Mesalamineenema is used to treat active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, proctitis or proctosigmoiditis (inflammation of the rectum and bowel). It works inside the intestines (bowels) to reduce the inflammation and other symptoms of the disease.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using Salofalk

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of mesalamine in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of mesalamine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have blood problems (eg, agranulocytosis, neutropenia, pancytopenia) and age-related kidney, liver, or heart disease, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving mesalamine.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following...