Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease, result in severe inflammation and swelling of the digestive tract. Although any section of the digestive tract can be affected, Crohn's disease most often occurs in the ileum, the lower part of the small intestine, explains the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, which makes treating the disease difficult. Several types of medication may be prescribed by a doctor, including the drug Asacol, a brand name formulation of the drug mesalamine.
Alternate Medication
Asacol is the brand name given one formulation of the drug mesalamine. Although Asacol is not the most commonly prescribed medication to treat Crohn's disease, it is beneficial for patients who do not respond to other medications. The active ingredient in mesalamine is 5-aminosalicylic acid, abbreviated 5-ASA. Many other prescription medications are different formulations of aminosalicylic acid, including the most commonly prescribed mesalamine-containing drug for Crohn's disease, Azulfidine. However, some patients either do not respond to Azulfidine, or the side effects caused by Azulfidine outweigh the benefits. For these patients, other mesalamine-containing drugs are prescribed, such as Asacol.
Targeted Release
One benefit of Asacol is that this formulation of mesalamine is designed to be released specifically in the ileum, the part of the small intestine most commonly affected in Crohn's disease, the Johns Hopkins University Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology reports. Because Asacol and other mesalamine-containing drugs act at the specific location where they are released, it is crucial that the drugs are released in the correct part of the digestive tract. This targeted release is achieved by formulating the medicine to dissolve at a pH of 7.0, the specific pH of the ileum.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect
The primary beneficial effect of Asacol is to reduce inflammation of the digestive tract, explains the Johns Hopkins University Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Asacol also reduces the production of free radicals, highly reactive chemicals that can damage tissue in the digestive tract. Overactive cells of the immune response are also reduced by Asacol, including lymphocytes, plasma cells and monocytes. For patients whose Crohn's disease is primarily affecting the ileum region of the small intestine, Asacol is effective in reducing symptoms and inducing remission, reports an article published in the August 2003 issue of American Family Physician.
References
- Drugs.com: Asacol
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Crohn's Disease
- Johns Hopkins University Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Therapy
- "American Family Physician"; Management of Crohn's Disease---A Practical Approach
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Crohn's disease - Medications
