Side effects of pentasa

Pentasa is one of the medications from the group of aminosalycilates, which has the potential to decrease or even block the production of certain chemicals in the body that cause the inflammation of the colon. It has to be prescribed and it is one of the licensed medications for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. It can be found in the form of capsule only, and it should be taken exactly as prescribed, and always at the same time of the day, so that its level in the blood would always be the same.

Even though there is probably no medication that does not cause at least some side effects, when it comes to those which can be experienced if Pentasa is used, they generally do not happen frequently, and even when they do occur, they are usually mild and rarely serious. Among the side effects related to gastrointestinal tract are nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach, changes in the appetite, constipation and abnormalities of the stools, while the ones related to nervous system are headache, vertigo, dizziness, and insomnia. Unwanted effects that Pentasa may have on cardiovascular system include pain in the chest, changes in the blood pressure, and tachycardia, though according to the statistics, they have really rarely been reported. Besides these, it is also not excluded that the use of Pentasa may lead to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, leg cramps and gout. The signs that call for immediate medical attention are:signs of allergic reactions such as hives, itching, swelling, and problems with breathing,signs of problems with the functioning of liver,signs indicating that ulcerative colitis is deteriorating, and alsosigns that indicate depression.How to prevent side effects?

Unfortunately, side effects are very hard to predict, because each individual reacts differently to each medication. Unless people have some kind of kidney or liver disease, or some severe allergic reaction to some of the ingredients of this medication, there is no reason why the doctor should not prescribe Pentasa to them. However, before prescribing it, it is important to inform the doctor about every single medication, vitamin or even supplement that the patient might be taking at that time, because Pentasa may cause some serious problems and side effects if combined with some other medications. The doctor will then either adjust the dosage, or prescribe some other mediation instead of Pentasa.