What should I do if I abruptly stopped taking Pentasa?

  • Q: After taking Pentasa for 11 months I quit. Now I hear that it should be tapered off and not stopped suddenly. What should I do?
  • A: Pentasa (mesalamine) is an anti-inflammatory medication that affects substances in the body that cause, tissue damage, and diarrhea. It is used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and proctosigmoiditis. Pentasa can also be used to treat Crohn's disease. Pentasa helps relieve the symptoms of these bowel diseases and can help prevent or delay future attacks. Stopping Pentasa suddenly can trigger an attack and cause a return of symptoms that can make you unwell. Therefore, it should be discontinued under the guidance and supervision of your doctor. If you have already stopped Pentasa and have not experienced an attack or return of symptoms, you may want to consider consulting your doctor anyway. Your doctor is best able to properly evaluate your medical condition and make recommendations based on your specific circumstances. Sarah Lewis, PharmD
This question was answered on May 16, 2011.


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