Lialda

Lialda

Generic Name: mesalamine (oral) (me SAL a meen)

Brand Names: Asacol, Lialda, Pentasa

What is Lialda?

Lialda (mesalamine) affects a substance in the body that causes inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhea.

Lialda is used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis. Lialda is also used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring.

Lialda may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Lialda

You should not use Lialda if you are allergic to mesalamine or to aspirin or other salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others).

Before you take Lialda, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, a stomach condition called pyloric stenosis, a heart condition such as congestive heart failure, or a history of allergy to sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).

Do not crush, break, or chew a Lialda tablet. Swallow the tablet whole. It is specially formulated to release the medicine after it has passed through your stomach into your intestines.

Stop using Lialda and call your doctor at once if you have severe stomach pain, cramping, fever, headache, and bloody diarrhea.

Before taking Lialda

You should not use Lialda if you are allergic to mesalamine or to aspirin or other salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others).

To make sure you can safely take Lialda, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

a stomach condition called pyloric stenosis;

a history of allergy to sulfasalazine (Azulfidine);

a heart condition such as congestive heart failure;

kidney disease; or

liver disease.

FDA pregnancy category B. It is not known whether Lialda will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Mesalamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Lialda without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

See also: Lialda pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Lialda?

Take Lialda exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take Lialda with a full glass of water.

Lialda should be taken with a meal. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Do not crush or chew a Lialda extended-release capsule. Swallow the capsule whole. The extended-release capsule is specially formulated to release the medicine after it has passed through your stomach into your intestines. Crushing or chewing a capsule may cause the drug to be released too early in the digestive tract.

Store Lialda at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Lialda dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include ringing in your ears, dizziness, headache, confusion, drowsiness, sweating, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhea.

What should I avoid while taking Lialda?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using Lialda.

Lialda side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Lialda: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Lialda and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

severe stomach pain, cramping, fever, headache, and bloody diarrhea.

Less serious Lialda side effects may include:

mild nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas;

fever, sore throat, or other flu symptoms;

constipation;

headache or dizziness;

tired feeling; or

skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Lialda side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Lialda?

Before taking Lialda, tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

azathioprine (Imuran) or mercaptopurine (Purinethol);

pentamidine (Nebupent, Pentam);

tacrolimus (Prograf);

amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Amphotec, Abelcet);

antibiotics such as capreomycin (Capastat), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled);

antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cidofovir (Vistide), or foscarnet (Foscavir);

cancer medicine such as aldesleukin (Proleukin), carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cisplatin (Platinol), ifosfamide (Ifex), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), streptozocin (Zanosar), or tretinoin (Vesanoid); or

aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin, nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Lialda. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Lialda resources

Lialda Side Effects (in More Detail)

Lialda Dosage

Lialda Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Lialda Drug Interactions

Lialda Support Group

19 Reviews for Lialda - Add your own review/rating

Lialda Prescribing Information (FDA)

Lialda Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Lialda Delayed-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Mesalamine Prescribing Information (FDA)

Mesalamine Monograph (AHFS DI)

Mesalamine Controlled-Release Capsules MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Apriso Prescribing Information (FDA)

Apriso Extended-Release Capsules MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Asacol Prescribing Information (FDA)

Asacol HD Prescribing Information (FDA)

Asacol HD Delayed-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Canasa Suppositories MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Canasa Prescribing Information (FDA)

Canasa Oral, Rectal Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Pentasa Prescribing Information (FDA)

Rowasa Prescribing Information (FDA)

Rowasa Enema MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Rowasa Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

sfRowasa Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare Lialda with other medications

Ulcerative Colitis, Active

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Lialda.

What does my medication look like?

Mesalamine is available with a prescription under the rand names Apriso, Asacol, Lialda and Pentasa. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about Lialda, especially if it is new to you.

Lialda 1.2g tablets - red-brown ellipsoidal film coated tablets debossed on one side with S476

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.