What is 5 asa medication?

If you’re reading this article, chances are that you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Fear not, dear reader! I’m here to give you the lowdown on 5-aminosalicylic acid medication, better known as 5-ASA.

A Brief Introduction

So what exactly is it? In a nutshell, 5-ASA medications are used to treat IBDs such as Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis by reducing inflammation in the gut. The medication works by inhibiting certain enzymes involved in the body’s inflammatory response.

But enough with the boring science-y stuff; let’s dive into what actually makes this medication so great!

Different Types of 5-ASAs

First things first – there isn’t just one type of 5-ASA out there. There are several different brands available, each with their own unique name and specific characteristics.

Here are some of the most popular types:

Brand Name Active Ingredient
Asacol Mesalamine
Lialda Mesalamine
Pentasa Mesalamine
Apriso Mesalamine

And those are just for starters!

Each brand may have its quirks, but overall they work similarly when treating mild-to-moderate cases of IBDs. So don’t fret too much over choosing between them – unless your doctor says otherwise.

Delivery Methods

Now that we’ve covered some different brands of medicines… let’s get down to how these little guys can be ingested!

There are a few key methods:

Oral Pills

For many people who take 5-ASAs, oral pills seem to be popular options typically recommended by doctors. They’re easy to swallow, not too intimidating in size, and typically come in a timed-release form for maximum effect.

Plus, the best part is you can take them while watching your favorite Netflix series!

Suppositories

Next up: suppositories. Yes… we said suppositories. This option may seem unpleasant or scary at first – but hear us out!

Suppositories are designed to directly target inflammation in certain areas of your digestive tract better than oral medication ever could. That means if you’re dealing with an issue nearer to your bottom, it might just be the most effective method for delivering 5-ASA.

(Yeah, sorry about that pun.)

But honestly, don’t knock it ’til you try it!

Enemas

This sounds invasive but sometimes enema insertion is needed when 5-ASAs are prescribed to treat IBDs like Ulcerative Colitis or Proctosigmoiditis/Proctitis. An enema uses liquid medication inserted into the rectum via an applicator tip where absorption occurs closest to the inflamed area.

Side Effects Are Possible

No medication comes without side effects. Some common ones related to 5-ASA usage include headaches; nausea; indigestion; diarrhea and abdominal pain (ironic isn’t it?). But keep in mind side effect incidences differ from one patient another, speak with a doctor if experiencing these symptoms persists.

Serious adverse effects from using these drugs are rare (unless overdosed), severe allergic reactions including trouble breathing, dizziness or fainting should never be ignored!

In such cases immediate attention by a healthcare professional would save lives.

Final Note

Overall though, 5-ASAs have proven very effective at reducing painful symptoms caused by inflammatory bowel disease. A brand beloved by many people living with Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis alike is Mesalamine because of its effective outcomes.

So if you’re considering or have already started using a 5-ASA medication, give yourself some grace knowing the journey toward easy bowel motions is back on track!

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