Research Notes on Aminosalicylates
Aminosalicylates, also known as 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), is a bowel-specific anti inflammatory that is commonly prescribed to patients who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. 1 It's metabolized in the bowel, specifically targeting the commensal bacteria in the bowel (good bacteria) which reduces inflammation. 2
Fast Facts:
- 5-Aminosalicylates: mesalamine, balsalazide, mesalamine, olsalazine, sulfasalazine 3
- Sulfasalazine is the first widely used aminosalicylate but has bad side effects 1
- Ninety percent who cannot tolerate sulfasalazine are able to take the other 5-ASAs 4
- Dose types: Oral, suppositories, enema formulations and local (topical) 4
- Each aminosalicylate has differing side effects, the most common amongst all are: constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, flatulence, headache, nausea and vomiting 3
5 Great Resources on Aminosalicylates
- iVillage: Digestive Medications - Aminosalicylates
- UpToDate: Sulfasalazine And The 5-Aminosalicylates
- Virtual Medical Centre: Aminosalicylates
- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Of America (CCFA): Aminosalicylates
- Drugs.com: 5-Aminosalicylates
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Latest Headlines on Aminosalicylates
What is Aminosalicylates?
- Wikipedia: Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis - Aminosalicylates
- DrugDigest: Treatment Options - Aminosalicylates
- About.com: 5-Aminosalicylates (Asacol, Rowasa, etc)
What Are The Uses for Aminosalicylates?
- eMedicine: Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Medication
- WomensHealth.gov: What Medicines Are Used To Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?
- CCFA: Treating Children And Adolescents - Aminosalicylates
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC): What Is The Treatment For Ulcerative Colitis - Drug Therapy
- WrongDiagnosis: Treatments For Collagenous Colitis | Treatments For Rectal Bleeding
What Are The Side Effects, Interactions and Precautions for Aminosalicylates?
- Wolters Kluwer Health (via Drugs.com): Possible Side Effects Of Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets | Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets Drug Interactions | Balsalazide Disodium - What Side Effects May Occur? | Balsalazide Drug Interactions
- RxList: Dipentum Side Effects & Drug Interactions | Dipentum Warnings & Precautions | Azulfidine EN-Tabs Side Effects & Drug Interactions | Azulfidine EN-Tabs Warnings & Precautions
What are the Alternatives to Aminosalicylates?
- Organized Wisdom: Metronidazole
- Organized Wisdom: Ciprofloxacin
- Organized Wisdom: Dexamethasone
- Organized Wisdom: Prednisolone
- Organized Wisdom: Triamcinolone
- WebMD Health News: Parasitic Worms Ease IBD (Sept. 23, 2003)
What are the Holistic Alternatives to Aminosalicylates?
- Acupuncture.com: Crohn's Disease - Nutritional And Herbal Therapy For Crohn's Disease
| Holistic Healing With Traditional Chinese Medicine: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- GrannyMed: Say Goodbye To IBS
- rVita: Zinc | Soy | Slippery Elm | Saccharomyces Boulardii
Wisdom, Blogs and Message Boards about Aminosalicylates
- DailyStrength: Aminosalicylates Discussions
- Google Groups: What Is The Difference Between All The Aminosalicylates?
- Healthwise (via Revolution Health): Aminosalicylates For Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Oct. 24, 2006)
- MedscapeToday: Evolutionary Advances In The Delivery Of Aminosalicylates For The Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis (Aug. 11, 2006)
Clinical Trials for Aminosalicylates
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Aminosalicylates Clinical Trials
- CenterWatch: Aminosalicylates Clinical Trials
Abuse of Aminosalicylates
- DailyMed: Asacol (Mesalamine) Tablet, Delayed Release For Oral Use - Overdosage | Colazal (Balsalazide Disodium) Capsule For Oral Use - Overdosage | Dipentum (Olsalazine Sodium) Capsule - Overdosage | Sulfasalazine Tablet
- American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (via Consumer Reports Health): Mesalamine - What Should I Do In Case Of Overdose? | Balsalazide - What Should I Do In Case Of Overdose? | Sulfasalazine - What Should I Do In Case Of Overdose?
Scientific and Medical Journal Articles on Aminosalicylates
- PubMed Central: Aminosalicylates Articles
- JAMA: Archives Of Aminosalicylates Articles
- Google Scholar: Articles On Aminosalicylates
Research Notes References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 iVillage: Digestive Medications - Aminosalicylates
- ↑ Virtual Medical Centre: Aminosalicylates
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Drugs.com: 5-Aminosalicylates
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Of America (CCFA): Aminosalicylates
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About this WisdomCard
- Contributor: Carolyn DeLucas
- Reviewer: Chris Miller
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Last update: Oct. 1, 2008
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