Active Substance: Pirfenidone.
Overview
Welcome to Dwaey, specifically on ESBRIET 267 mg page.
This medicine contains an important and useful components, as it consists of
Pirfenidoneis available in the market in concentration
5 Aminosalicylic Acid (Mesalamine)
- **Pregnancy and Breastfeeding**: Mesalamine is considered a **Category B** drug in pregnancy, meaning it is **not expected** to harm the fetus based on animal studies. However, pregnant women should use mesalamine only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. It is also excreted into **breast milk**, but the effects on a nursing infant are not well understood. **Caution** is advised, and the benefits of use should be weighed against any potential risks. - **Renal Function**: **Renal impairment** is an important consideration when prescribing mesalamine. It is metabolized and excreted through the kidneys, and **renal dysfunction** can increase the risk of mesalamine-induced **nephrotoxicity**, including conditions like **acute interstitial nephritis**. Kidney function should be regularly monitored, especially in patients with a history of kidney disease. - **Liver Function**: Patients with **liver disease**, particularly those with **hepatic dysfunction**, may require caution, as mesalamine can sometimes affect liver function, especially with long-term use. Monitoring of **liver enzymes** is advisable in these patients. - **Hypersensitivity Reactions**: Mesalamine can cause hypersensitivity reactions, including **fever**, **rash**, and **eosinophilia**. Patients should be monitored for signs of such reactions, and treatment should be discontinued if any severe reactions occur. - **Monitoring**: Routine monitoring should include **renal function** tests (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and glomerular filtration rate), **liver function tests**, and complete blood counts to assess for potential adverse effects, particularly when using mesalamine for long-term management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). - **Misuse or Dependency**: Mesalamine is not known to cause **dependence** or **misuse**. Its primary purpose is for the treatment of **inflammatory bowel diseases**, such as **ulcerative colitis** and **Crohn’s disease**.
- **Primary Indication**: Mesalamine is primarily used to treat **inflammatory bowel diseases** (IBD), especially **ulcerative colitis**. It works as an **anti-inflammatory** agent in the gut, targeting the colon to reduce **inflammation**, **ulceration**, and other symptoms associated with IBD. - Mesalamine is used in both **acute flares** of **ulcerative colitis** and for **maintenance therapy** to prevent relapses in patients with **remission**. - It can be used to treat **proctitis** (inflammation of the rectum) or **left-sided colitis**, where the inflammation is limited to the descending colon. - **Off-label Uses**: Mesalamine may also be used **off-label** in the treatment of **Crohn's disease**, particularly in cases where inflammation is isolated to the **ileum** or **colon**. While not as commonly used for Crohn's disease, it may still be effective for mild cases or as part of combination therapy. - Mesalamine has also been used to treat other inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions, such as **pouchitis** (inflammation of the ileal pouch after colectomy).
- **Hypersensitivity**: Mesalamine is **contraindicated** in patients who have a known **hypersensitivity** to **mesalamine**, **sulfasalazine**, or any components of the formulation. **Sulfasalazine** is a similar drug that contains mesalamine and can cause **allergic reactions** that may cross-react with mesalamine. - **Severe Renal Impairment**: In patients with **severe renal impairment**, mesalamine should be avoided, as the drug is excreted through the kidneys, and impaired kidney function can lead to toxicity. - **Active GI Bleeding**: In patients with **active gastrointestinal bleeding**, mesalamine should be used with caution or avoided, as the drug may further irritate the gastrointestinal tract and complicate bleeding. - **History of Severe Hepatic Disease**: While mesalamine is generally well-tolerated in most patients, those with a **history of severe hepatic disease** should be carefully monitored, as mesalamine can affect liver function in some cases. - **Age Considerations**: There are no strict **age restrictions** for mesalamine use, but **pediatric patients** (especially infants and young children) should be monitored closely due to potential gastrointestinal side effects and the need for accurate dosing.
- **Common Side Effects**: - **Gastrointestinal**: The most common side effects are related to the gastrointestinal tract, including **nausea**, **vomiting**, **abdominal pain**, and **diarrhea**. These are usually mild and transient, but if they persist, medical consultation is advised. - **Headache**: Some patients experience **headaches**, which may be mild to moderate in severity. - **Rash**: A mild **skin rash** can occur, particularly during the early stages of therapy. - **Serious Side Effects**: - **Renal Toxicity**: One of the more serious side effects of mesalamine is **renal toxicity**, including **interstitial nephritis**, which can present with **fever**, **rash**, **elevated creatinine**, and **blood in the urine**. Regular renal function monitoring is recommended to detect early signs of nephrotoxicity. - **Liver Toxicity**: Although rare, mesalamine can cause **hepatotoxicity** in some patients, which may present as **jaundice**, **abnormal liver enzymes**, or **hepatitis**. - **Myocarditis and Pericarditis**: Rarely, mesalamine has been associated with inflammation of the heart, including **myocarditis** or **pericarditis**, which can present with chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations. - **Management of Side Effects**: If **severe side effects** occur, mesalamine should be **discontinued**, and the patient should be evaluated for other treatment options. Mild side effects such as nausea or headache can often be managed symptomatically, and dose adjustments may be necessary.
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Mesalamine works as an **anti-inflammatory** agent specifically in the **colon**. The precise mechanism of action is not fully understood, but it is believed to inhibit **cyclooxygenase (COX)** enzymes and **lipoxygenase** pathways, leading to a reduction in the production of pro-inflammatory **prostaglandins** and **leukotrienes**. This reduces the inflammation, pain, and ulceration characteristic of conditions like **ulcerative colitis**. - **Localized Action**: Mesalamine is **topically active** in the gastrointestinal tract and specifically targets the inflamed areas of the colon, providing localized anti-inflammatory effects without significant systemic absorption. This is especially beneficial for treating colonic conditions like **ulcerative colitis**. - **Pharmacokinetics**: Mesalamine is poorly absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract and is primarily **absorbed in the colon**. Various formulations (e.g., oral, enema, suppository) are designed to deliver the drug to the site of inflammation. **Azo compounds** and other delivery systems allow the mesalamine to be released in the colon for targeted action.
- **Drug-Drug Interactions**: - **Azathioprine** or **mercaptopurine**: Concomitant use of mesalamine with **immunosuppressive drugs**, such as azathioprine or mercaptopurine, can increase the risk of **bone marrow suppression** and **myelosuppression**. Caution and close monitoring of blood counts are advised when these drugs are used together. - **Other Anti-inflammatory Drugs**: The use of mesalamine alongside **nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)** may increase the risk of **gastrointestinal side effects**, such as **ulcers** or **bleeding**, especially in patients with IBD or a history of gastrointestinal issues. - **Antacids and H2-blockers**: Medications that affect **gastric pH**, such as **antacids** or **H2 receptor antagonists**, may interfere with mesalamine's effectiveness, especially in formulations that release the drug in the colon. - **Food and Alcohol Interactions**: - **Food**: Taking mesalamine with food may **slow down** the absorption slightly but is unlikely to affect its overall effectiveness. In general, mesalamine can be taken with or without food. - **Alcohol**: Alcohol consumption can **irritate** the gastrointestinal tract and may exacerbate symptoms of **ulcerative colitis** or other forms of IBD, potentially undermining the effects of mesalamine. Patients should be advised to limit alcohol intake while on mesalamine therapy.
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- **Ulcerative Colitis**: - The typical **oral dose** of mesalamine for **active ulcerative colitis** is **4.8 grams per day**, taken in divided doses (usually 1-2 grams 2-3 times per day). - For **maintenance therapy** to prevent relapse, the dose is often **1.6-2.4 grams per day**. - **Rectal Formulations**: For **proctitis** or **left-sided colitis**, **rectal mesalamine** formulations (enemas or suppositories) may be used. The typical dose for **rectal enemas** is **4 grams per night** for 3-6 weeks.
- **Pediatric Dosage**: Mesalamine is used for the treatment of **pediatric ulcerative colitis** in children over the age of **5 years**. The typical starting dose is **30-50 mg/kg/day** for children with active disease, divided into multiple doses. For maintenance therapy, the dose may be reduced to **15-30 mg/kg/day**. - **Rectal formulations** can also be used for pediatric patients, and dosing should be adjusted based on weight and severity of the condition. Mesalamine is a crucial agent in managing inflammatory bowel diseases, offering localized action with a relatively mild side-effect profile. It requires careful monitoring, particularly in terms of renal and liver function, to ensure its safe and effective use.
- **Renal Impairment**: Mesalamine should be used with caution in patients with **renal dysfunction**. There is no specific renal dose adjustment, but close monitoring of **renal function** (creatinine, glomerular filtration rate) is necessary during treatment. If there is any sign of **nephrotoxicity**, mesalamine should be discontinued.
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