sfrowasa
Sfrowasa (Mesalamine) is an aminosalicylate used to treat Ulcerative Colitis, Proctitis, Sigmoid Diseases.
Mesalamine · by Mylan Speciality LP
Available as a generic: Mesalamine
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Mesalamine
- Drug class
- Aminosalicylate
- Form
- Enema, Suspension
- Strength
- Mesalamine 4GM/60ML
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- ulcerative colitis, proctitis, sigmoid diseases
- Manufacturer
- Mylan Speciality LP
- Half-life
- about 7 to 9 hours (apparent terminal half-life) (how long it stays in your system)
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$26.72 for 30 — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA019618
What is Sfrowasa?
From the FDA label:The active ingredient in Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema, a disposable (60 mL) unit, is mesalamine, also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). Chemically, mesalamine is 5-amino-2-hydroxybenzoic acid. The empirical formula is C 7 H 7 NO 3 , representing a molecular weight of 153.14. The structural formula is: Each rectal suspension enema unit contains 4 grams of mesalamine. In addition to mesalamine the preparation contains the inactive ingredients carbomer 934P, edetate disodium, potassium acetate, potassium metabisulfite, purified water and xanthan gum. Sodium benzoate is added as a preservative. The disposable unit consists of an applicator tip protected by a polyethylene cover and lubricated with USP white petrolatum. The unit has a one-way valve to prevent back flow of the dispensed product. structure
How to use
Sfrowasa is sold in more than one form (Enema and Suspension), and each is dosed differently. The instructions below come from the FDA label for application NDA019618 — follow the label that came with the product you were actually prescribed.
The recommended adult dosage of Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema in 60 mL units is one rectal instillation (4 grams) once a day, preferably at bedtime, and retained for approximately eight hours. While the effect of Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema may be seen within 3 to 21 days, the usual course of therapy would be from 3 to 6 weeks depending on symptoms and sigmoidoscopic findings. Studies available to date have not assessed if Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema will modify relapse rates after the 6-week short-term treatment. Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema is for rectal use only. Drink an adequate amount of fluids during treatment. Patients should be instructed to shake the bottle well to make sure the suspension is homogeneous. The patient should remove the protective sheath from the applicator tip. Holding the bottle at the neck will not cause any of the medication to be discharged. The position most often used is obtained by lying on the left side (to facilitate migration into the sigmoid colon); with the lower leg extended and the upper right leg flexed forward for balance. An alternative is the knee-chest position. The applicator tip should be gently inserted in the rectum pointing toward the umbilicus. A steady squeezing of the bottle will discharge most of the preparation. The preparation should be taken at bedtime with the objective of retaining it all…
Side effects
Clinical Adverse Experience Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema is usually well tolerated. Most adverse effects have been mild and transient. ADVERSE REACTIONS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN 0.1%OF MESALAMINE RECTAL SUSPENSION TREATED PATIENTS (COMPARISON TO PLACEBO) SYMPTOM Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema N = 815 Placebo N=128 N % N % Abdominal Pain/Cramps/Discomfort 66 8.10 10 7.81 Headache 53 6.50 16 12.50 Gas/Flatulence 50 6.13 5 3.91 Nausea 47 5.77 12 9.38 Flu 43 5.28 1 0.78 Tired/Weak/Malaise/Fatigue 28 3.44 8 6.25 Fever 26 3.19 0 0.00 Rash/Spots 23 2.82 4 3.12 Cold/Sore Throat 19 2.33 9 7.03 Diarrhea 17 2.09 5 3.91 Leg/Joint Pain 17 2.09 1 0.78 Dizziness 15 1.84 3 2.34 Bloating 12 1.47 2 1.56 Back Pain 11 1.35 1 0.78 Pain on Insertion of Enema Tip 11 1.35 1 0.78 Hemorrhoids 11 1.35 0 0.00 Itching 10 1.23 1 0.78 Rectal Pain 10 1.23 0 0.00 Constipation 8 0.98 4 3.12 Hair Loss 7 0.86 0 0.00 Peripheral Edema 5 0.61 11 8.59 UTI/Urinary Burning 5 0.61 4 3.12 Rectal Pain/Soreness/Burning 5 0.61 3 2.34 Asthenia 1 0.12 4 3.12 Insomnia 1 0.12 3 2.34 In addition, the following adverse events have been identified during post-approval use of products which contain (or are metabolized to) mesalamine in clinical practice: nephrotoxicity, pancreatitis, fibrosing alveolitis, elevated liver enzymes, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, intracranial hypertension and nephrolithiasis. Cases of…
Warnings
Important safety information
Hypersensitivity Reactions Sulfite-Related Reactions Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema contains potassium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown but probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic or in atopic nonasthmatic persons. Epinephrine is the preferred treatment for serious allergic or emergency situations even though epinephrine injection contains sodium or potassium metabisulfite with the above-mentioned potential liabilities. The alternatives to using epinephrine in a life-threatening situation may not be satisfactory. The presence of a sulfite(s) in epinephrine injection should not deter the administration of the drug for treatment of serious allergic or other emergency situations. Sulfasalazine-Associated Reactions Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in patients taking sulfasalazine. Some patients may have a similar reaction to Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema or to other compounds that contain or are converted to mesalamine. As with sulfasalazine, mesalamine-induced hypersensitivity reactions may present as internal organ involvement, including myocarditis, pericarditis, nephritis, hepatitis, pneumonitis and hematologic abnormalities. Evaluate patients immediately if signs or symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction are present. Discontinue Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema if an alternative etiology for the signs and symptoms cannot be established. Renal Impairment Renal impairment, including minimal change disease, acute and chronic interstitial nephritis, and renal failure have been reported in patients given products that contain mesalamine or are converted to mesalamine. In animal studies, the kidney was the principal organ of mesalamine toxicity. Evaluate the risks and benefits of using Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema in patients with known renal impairment or a history of renal disease or taking concomitant nephrotoxic drugs. Mesalamine is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Evaluate renal function in all patients prior to initiation and periodically while on Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema therapy. Discontinue Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema if renal function deteriorates while on therapy. Mesalamine-Induced Acute Intolerance Syndrome Mesalamine has been associated with an acute intolerance syndrome that may be difficult to distinguish from a flare of inflammatory bowel disease. Although the exact frequency of occurrence cannot be ascertained, it has occurred in 3% of patients in controlled clinical trials of mesalamine or sulfasalazine. Symptoms include cramping, acute abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, sometimes fever, headache, and rash. Monitor patients for worsening of these symptoms while on treatment. If acute intolerance syndrome is suspected, promptly discontinue treatment with Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema.
Who should not take Sfrowasa
Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to salicylates, aminosalicylates, sulfites or any other component of this medication.
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
Mesalamine absorption from the colon is limited; however, Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema is an aminosalicylate, and symptoms of salicylate toxicity include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, tachypnea, hyperpnea, tinnitus, and neurologic symptoms (headache, dizziness, confusion, seizures). Severe salicylate intoxication may lead to electrolyte and blood pH imbalance and potentially to other organ (e.g., renal and liver) involvement. There is no specific antidote for mesalamine overdose. Correct fluid and electrolyte imbalance by the administration of appropriate intravenous therapy and maintain adequate renal function.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
How long does Mesalamine stay in your body?
The elimination half-life of mesalamine is about 7 to 9 hours (apparent terminal half-life) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the apparent TERMINAL (elimination) half-life of mesalamine (5-ASA) itself, from the delayed-release tablet label after 2.4 g and 4.8 g doses; the per-dose table gives terminal-phase means of 8.56 h (1.2 g), 7.05 h (2.4 g) and 7.25 h (4.8 g), with very large between-person variability (standard deviations of 5-8 hours). Metabolite: the label reports the apparent terminal half-life of the major metabolite, N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid (N-Ac-5-ASA), as 8 to 12 hours — longer than the parent. Mesalamine suppository labels describe N-Ac-5-ASA as "the active metabolite," so the active material can persist somewhat longer than the parent figure alone suggests. Timing caveat: these are delayed-release oral products designed to release drug in the terminal ileum and colon, so absorption is slow and highly variable (median Tmax ~9-24 h depending on product, longer with a high-fat meal) — plasma drug can still be rising many hours after the dose, and the half-life alone does not describe how long drug is present. Older adults: increased age slows apparent elimination — terminal half-life averaged 5.68 h in subjects 18-35 vs 9.68 h at 65-75 and 8.67 h at 75+, with roughly 2-fold higher Cmax. Kidney impairment: the label states systemic exposure is inversely correlated with renal function (lower creatinine clearance, higher exposure); mesalamine is cleared mainly by the kidney as N-Ac-5-ASA. Liver impairment: this label does not state a hepatic-impairment half-life. Mesalamine is not a prodrug (it is the active moiety; sulfasalazine and balsalazide are prodrugs of it). Not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance.
This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Mesalamine delayed-release tablets — FDA label, 12.3 Pharmacokinetics (DailyMed, Camber Pharmaceuticals, eff. 2024-02-15).
Drug class
How this class works, per Mesalamine (USAN) - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Sfrowasa ranks — best-rated aminosalicylate for:
Dosage forms
Enema and Suspension
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Sfrowasa treat?
- Sfrowasa (Mesalamine) may be used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, sigmoid diseases, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Sfrowasa work?
- Sfrowasa is a aminosalicylate. Aminosalicylates (5-ASA drugs like mesalamine) act directly on the inflamed lining of the colon, where they are thought to calm the local inflammatory response by blocking several inflammation-driving chemicals and mopping up tissue-damaging free radicals, which helps the gut heal in ulcerative colitis.
- How much does Sfrowasa cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $26.72 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Azulfidine En-Tabs — about $5.92 on the same basis.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Sfrowasa?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Sfrowasa. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Sfrowasa?
- Sfrowasa is marketed by Mylan Speciality LP. You can see Mylan Speciality LP's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Sfrowasa a brand-name or generic drug?
- Sfrowasa is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Mesalamine. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Mesalamine are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Sfrowasa available over the counter?
- No. Sfrowasa is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Sfrowasa come in?
- Sfrowasa is currently marketed as enema and suspension, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Sfrowasa?
- Sfrowasa is classified as aminosalicylate, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Sfrowasa FDA-registered?
- Sfrowasa is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA019618. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Sfrowasa safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Sfrowasa. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Sfrowasa?
- Sfrowasa's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: Clinical Adverse Experience Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema is usually well tolerated. Most adverse effects have been mild and transient. ADVERSE REACTIONS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN 0.1%OF MESALAMINE RECTAL SUSPENSION TREATED PATIENTS (COMPARISON TO PLACEBO) SYMPTOM Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enem… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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