Oral and rectal 5-aminosalicylate therapy for maintenance therapy of ulcerative colitis in adults

Once clinical remission of ulcerative colitis is achieved, the rate of relapse is significantly reduced (by approximately 50%) by maintenance therapy with a 5-aminosalicylate, with or without an immunomodulatory drug.

For oral 5-aminosalicylate therapy, use:

1mesalazine 1 to 3 g orally, daily in a single dose or 2 divided doses (see Oral 5-aminosalicylate preparations and dosages for ulcerative colitis in adults for formulations) mesalazine mesalazine mesalazine

OR

2sulfasalazine 1 to 2 g orally, daily in a single dose or 2 divided doses (see Oral 5-aminosalicylate preparations and dosages for ulcerative colitis in adults for formulations) sulfasalazinesulfasalazine sulfasalazine

OR

3balsalazide 3 g orally, daily in a single dose or 2 divided doses (see Oral 5-aminosalicylate preparations and dosages for ulcerative colitis in adults for formulations) balsalazide balsalazide balsalazide

OR

3olsalazine 1 to 2 g orally, daily in a single dose or 2 divided doses (see Oral 5-aminosalicylate preparations and dosages for ulcerative colitis in adults for formulations). olsalazine olsalazine olsalazine

If a larger dose of oral aminosalicylates was required to induce remission, the same dose may be used for maintenance therapy.

Ideally, patients who responded to rectal mesalazine should continue it as maintenance therapy, but at a reduced frequency. Use:

mesalazine 1 to 4 g rectally, 2 or 3 times per week (see Rectal mesalazine preparations and dosages for ulcerative colitis in adults for formulations). mesalazine mesalazine mesalazine