natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol

What is the most important information I should know about Asacol?
• Do not crush, break, or chew the tablets or capsules natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Swallow them whole natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. They are specially formulated to release the medication after they have passedthrough your stomach natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Notify your doctor if you repeatedly find undissolved tablets in yourstool natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

What is Asacol?
• The exact way that Asacol works is unknown, but it is believed to reducethe actions of a substance in the body that causes inflammation, tissue damage,and diarrhea natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Asacol is used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Asacol is also used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Asacol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Asacol?
• Tell your doctor if you have any type of kidney disease natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. You may requirea lower dose or special monitoring during your therapy with Asacol natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Asacol is in the FDA pregnancy category B natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. This means that it is unlikelyto harm an unborn baby natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Do not take Asacol without first talking to your doctorif you are pregnant natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Asacol passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Do nottake Asacol without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding ababy natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

How should I take Asacol?
• Take Asacol exactly as directed by your doctor natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Asacol can be taken with or without food natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Do not crush, break, or chew the tablets or capsules natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Swallow them whole natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. They are specially formulated to release the medication after they have passedthrough your stomach natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Notify your doctor if you repeatedly find undissolved tablets in yourstool natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Try to empty your bowel just before using a rectal form of mesalamine natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Insert the suppositories rectally natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Remove the foil wrapper and inserta suppository into the rectum, pointed end first natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Avoid excessive handling ofthe suppository, because it is designed to melt at body temperature natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Retainthe suppository for one to three hours, or longer, if possible to get the maximumbenefit from this medication natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Shake the rectal suspension well before use natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Remove the protective capfrom the applicator tip natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Hold the bottle at the neck to prevent any of the medicationfrom spilling out natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Gently insert the tip into the rectum, pointing toward thebelly button (umbilicus) natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Squeeze the bottle steadily to discharge most of themedication natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Retain the suspension overnight if possible to get the maximum benefitfrom this medication natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Use caution when applying the suppositories or rectal suspension natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Theseproducts may stain clothing, flooring, painted surfaces, vinyl, enamel, marble,granite, and other surfaces natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• The rectal suspension may darken slightly in color natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Throw away any bottlesthat contain very dark brown liquid natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Store Asacol at room temperature away from moisture and heat natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. However, if it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularlyscheduled dose natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Do not take a double dose of this medication natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Symptoms of a Asacol overdose include ringing in your ears, dizziness,headache, confusion, drowsiness, sweating, hyperventilation, vomiting, and diarrhea natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

What should I avoid while taking Asacol?
• Use caution when applying the suppositories or rectal suspension natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Theseproducts may stain clothing, flooring, painted surfaces, vinyl, enamel, marble,granite, and other surfaces natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• There are no restrictions on foods, beverages, or activities during therapywith Asacol unless your doctor directs otherwise natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

What are the possible side effects of Asacol?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingAsacol and seek emergency medical attention:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· worsening colitis (fever, abdominal pain, cramping, or bloody diarrhea);or
· chest pain or shortness of breath natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Continueto take Asacol and talk to your doctor if you experience
· nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, or belching;
· headache or dizziness;
· chills or sweating; or
· a rash natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

What other drugs will affect Asacol?
• Asacol is not known to interact with other medicines natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines that you take sothat your therapies can be monitored for interactions natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has more information about Asacol written for healthprofessionals that you may read natural alternatives to the prescription drug asacol.

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