Asacol Suppositories 500 mg Suppository

ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES contains mesalazine, which is an anti-inflammatory medicine used for:

• The treatment and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis.
• Treatment of mild to moderate proctitis and proctosigmoiditis.

Ulcerative colitis is a disease of the large bowel (colon) and back passage (rectum), in which the lining of the bowel becomes inflamed (red and swollen). ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES act locally in the rectum to reduce this inflammation. They can also be used to prevent further episodes of ulcerative colitis. ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES are particularly useful when the symptoms of ulcerative colitis affect the rectum.

Do not use ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES:

• If you are hypersensitive (allergic) to mesalazine or to the other ingredient of ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES (listed in section 6).
• If you are hypersensitive (allergic) to aspirin or other salicylates.
• If you have had serious kidney or liver problems.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding your infant.
• This medicine should not be used by children.
• If you have bleeding tendencies.
• If you have a cardiac hypersensitivity due to mesalazine.
• Salicylate sensitive asthma.

Warnings and precautions

Take special care with ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES:

Before using the ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES it is important to tell your doctor if any of the conditions listed below apply to you. If they do, you may need check-ups more often or your doctor may decide not to prescribe ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES for you.

• If you have ever developed a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blistering and/or mouth sores after using ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES.
• If you have ever had any kidney problems, especially if you are elderly.
• In elderly patients, ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES is only recommended for use if kidney and liver function is normal and caution should generally be exercised.
• If you have a liver disease.
• If you have blood dyscrasia, a condition in which different constituents of blood, such as white blood or red blood cells and platelets, are either high or too low in counts.
• If you have any lung problems, e.g. asthma.

ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES may interact with other medicines for pain and inflammation (NSAIDS). ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES may interact with other medicines such as, azathioprine (an immunosuppressant), as well as mercaptopurine and thioguanine (medicines to treat cancer) see “Other medicines and ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES”.

If you have ever had allergic reactions of your heart such as inflammation of the heart muscle or heart sac. If you have had previous suspected mesalazine-induced allergic reactions of your heart, then ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES must not be used. ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES can be used with care if you have had a previous allergic reaction of the heart not caused by mesalazine.

Caution is advised in patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions and therapy with ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES should be stopped immediately if symptoms of cramps, abdominal pain, fever, severe headache or rash occur.

If you have ever had any blood disorders, especially while taking medicines such as sulphasalazine. Serious skin reactions including drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported in association with ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES treatment. Stop using ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the symptoms related to these serious skin reactions described in section 4.

Kidney stones may develop with use of ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES. Symptoms may include pain in sides of abdomen and blood in urine. Take care to drink sufficient amount of liquid during treatment with ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES.

Test for your liver, kidney and blood When you start using ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES, your doctor may test your blood from time to time.

As a guideline, follow-up tests are recommended 14 days after commencement of treatment and then every 4 weeks for the following 12 weeks. If the findings are normal, follow-up tests should be carried out every three months. If additional signs appear, these tests should be performed immediately.

If you have an ulcer of the stomach or intestine, you may use ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES with care. Mesalazine as contained in ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES may produce red-brown urine discoloration after contact with sodium hypochlorite bleach in the toilet water. It concerns a chemical reaction between mesalazine and bleach and is harmless.

Children and adolescents

There is little experience and only limited documentation for an effect of ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES in children.

Other medicines and ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES

Always tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medicine. (This includes all complementary or traditional medicines.) Medicines that prevent the formation of blood clots (anticoagulants, e.g., warfarin). ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES may increase the effects of azathioprine, thioguanine and 6-mercaptopurine, (both immunosuppressive medicines). Your doctor may need to do blood tests. NSAIDS (Medicines for pain and inflammation).

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare provider for advice before using ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES.

Driving and using machines

ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES have no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. It is not always possible to predict to what extent ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES may interfere with your daily activities. You should ensure that you do not engage in driving a vehicle or use machines until you are aware of the measure to which ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES affects you.

Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person. Always use ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Do not swallow your suppositories. They should be inserted into the back passage (rectum). The information below tells you how to insert a suppository:

1. Empty your bowels (if necessary) and wash your hands.
2. Remove the plastic wrapping from the suppository.
3. Squat or bend forward.
4. Gently, but firmly, place the suppository – pointed end first, into the back passage. If necessary, grease the tip of the suppository with petroleum jelly.
5. Wash your hands again.
6. Try not to empty your bowels for at least an hour after inserting the suppository.

The usual adult dosage of ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES is: One suppository inserted rectally up to three times a day, with the last dose at bedtime. The pharmacist’s label on your carton will tell you how many suppositories your doctor would like you to use. Please read the label carefully. Do not use more suppositories than your doctor has recommended. ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES are not recommended for children. Keep using your suppositories until the prescribed course is finished. Your symptoms may come back if you stop your treatment too early.

If you have the impression that the effect of ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you use more ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES than you should You should only use as many suppositories as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. In the event of overdosage, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison centre. Take your suppository pack with you. If you have swallowed an ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES by mistake, drink plenty of water and tell your doctor or hospital casualty department straight away. Take your suppository pack with you.

If you forget to use ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES If you forget to insert a suppository at the right time, insert it as soon as you remember. Then go on as before. Do not use more than two suppositories in one hour. Do not use a double dose to make up for forgotten individual doses. If you have any doubts speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while using ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES, please consult your healthcare provider for advice.

If any of the following happens, stop using ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:

• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips and mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing,
• rash or itching,
• fainting,
• If you develop unexplained bruising (without injury), bleeding under your skin, purple spots or patches under your skin, anaemia (feeling tired, weak and looking pale, especially on lips, nails and inside of eyelids), fever (high temperature), sore throat or unusual bleeding (e.g. nose bleeds), reddish non-elevated, target-like or circular patches on the trunk, often with central blisters, skin peeling, ulcers of the mouth, throat, nose, genitals and eyes, widespread rash, fever and enlarged lymph nodes. These serious skin rashes can be preceded by fever and flu-like symptoms.

These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious reaction to ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

Less frequent side effects

• severe reduction in blood cells which can cause weakness, bruising or make infections more likely, low blood cell counts; reduction in blood platelets which increases the risk of bleeding
• an excessive amount of eosinophils (a specific type of white blood cells) that can lead to inflammation and damage in various tissues and organs, depending on where the allergic reaction is occurring e.g., the airways or digestive system
• headache
• dizziness
• inflammation of the heart muscle or the thin saclike membrane surrounding your heart
• nausea (feeling sick)
• diarrhoea
• wind (flatulence)
• stomach pain
• allergic reactions such as rash or skin eruption
• immune system disease that can involve organs and joints
• fever that occurs while taking the medicine and which disappears when the medicine is stopped (drug fever)
• pain in the chest that increases with deep breathing or coughing (symptoms of pericarditis, pleuro-pericarditis) as well as a rash
• ulcerative colitis involving the entire large intestine
• damage to peripheral nerves giving rise to numbness and tingling
• lung disease (scarring of lung tissue, allergic reaction) resulting in difficulty in breathing, cough, wheezing and collection of fluid in the lungs
• inflammation of the lungs
• inflammation of the pancreas
• abnormal liver function tests, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver giving rise to flu-like symptoms and jaundice)
• increased sensitivity of your skin to sun and ultraviolet light (photosensitivity)
• hair loss
• muscle or joint pain
• kidney problems
• inflammation of the spaces between tubules (small tubes) inside the kidney (acute or chronic)
• reduced kidney function
• reversible decrease in sperm production

Unknown frequency

• atypical, widespread rash, which may occur in conjunction with high body temperature and enlarged lymph nodes
• inflammation of the membranes of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs (pleurisy)
• type of lung infection or inflammation that affects the tissue and spaces between the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs
• worsening of symptoms of colitis and include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and pain, and an inability to move the bowels despite the urge to do so
• kidney condition which causes problems with the way they filter waste and excess fluid from the body
• kidney failure (can be reversed once treatment is stopped)
• kidney stones and associated kidney pain (see also section 2)
• intolerance to mesalazine sometimes with worsening symptoms of underlying disease
• local reaction/irritation

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects

If you get side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: https://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of ASACOL SUPPOSITORIES.

• Store at or below 25 ºC in a cool place, protected from light.
• Store all medicines out of reach of children.
• Do not use the suppositories after the expiry date printed on the pack.
• Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist.
• Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains and sewerage systems (e.g., toilets).