BOWEL ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES

Bowel anti-inflammatories include mesalazine, olsalazine and sulphasalazine. They belong to a group of drugs called aminosalicylates and are use to control bowel inflammation.

Use

Aminosalicylates are used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) and to maintain remission.

They work by acting locally in the bowel, exhibiting an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect on the gut wall.

Side-effects

Gastrointestinal side-effects are common (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea).

Less common side effects include headache, exacerbation of the colitis, and hypersensitivity reactions.