Mesalamine Coupons & Prices

Looking for a mesalamine coupon? Because mesalamine is available as a generic, it is often already lower in cost than the brand-name versions, but the cash price can vary a great deal from one pharmacy to the next. That is why it pays to compare before you fill. Rx.com checks prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies so you can find a lower price near you and use a free discount coupon at the counter. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price for mesalamine in your area.

What is mesalamine and how does it work?

Mesalamine, also known as mesalazine or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), is an aminosalicylate that works locally in the gut as an anti-inflammatory. It is FDA-approved to treat mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis and to help keep ulcerative colitis in remission. The right form depends on where the inflammation is: oral delayed-release and extended-release tablets and capsules (such as Lialda, Apriso, Pentasa, Delzicol, and Asacol HD), rectal suppositories for ulcerative proctitis, and rectal enemas for distal or left-sided ulcerative colitis and proctosigmoiditis.

Rather than working throughout the whole body, mesalamine acts directly on the lining of the colon to calm inflammation. Your provider chooses the formulation and dose based on your diagnosis and where the disease is active.

Mesalamine cost without insurance and how to save

Mesalamine is available as a generic, which usually makes it more affordable than the brand-name products. Even so, the cash price without insurance can differ widely between pharmacies for the very same medication, so comparing is worth the few seconds it takes. Rx.com compares prices at more than 60,000 U.S. pharmacies and gives you a free coupon you can show at the pharmacy counter, whether or not you have insurance. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you.

Some brand-name versions of mesalamine also have a manufacturer savings card. Eligibility and terms vary and can change, so check the official manufacturer's website for that brand for current details. For the generic, the discount coupon on this page is often the simplest way to keep the cash price down.

Brands and related medications

Mesalamine is sold under several brand names, each with its own formulation and delivery. Oral options include Lialda, Apriso, Pentasa, Delzicol, and Asacol HD, while Canasa is a suppository and Rowasa/sfRowasa is an enema. They differ mainly in how and where in the gut the medicine is released.

Other aminosalicylates used for ulcerative colitis include sulfasalazine and balsalazide. Which one is right for you depends on your diagnosis, how you respond, and your provider's judgment. You can compare prices for any of these on Rx.com.

Safety and side effects

Mesalamine has no boxed warning, but there are important safety points to know. In some people it can cause an acute intolerance syndrome, with cramping, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, headache, or rash. Because these symptoms can look like a colitis flare, tell your provider promptly, as the medication may need to be stopped. Kidney problems, including interstitial nephritis and, rarely, kidney failure, have been reported, so providers typically check kidney function before and periodically during treatment.

Other cautions include hypersensitivity reactions (people sensitive to sulfasalazine may react to mesalamine too), liver problems in those with pre-existing liver disease, rare but serious skin reactions, and rare blood disorders. Extra care is advised in people with pyloric stenosis and when taking other drugs that affect the kidneys, such as NSAIDs or azathioprine/6-MP. This information is not medical advice; talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your health history and any other medicines you take.