Pentasa Dosage/Direction for Use

Tablet: Ulcerative Colitis: Adults: Individualize dosage, up to mesalazine 4 g daily in divided doses for active disease, up to 2 g daily in divided doses for maintenance treatment.
Children: Usual Dose: 20-30 mg/kg body weight daily in divided doses for active disease and maintenance treatment.
Crohn's Disease: Active Disease and Maintenance Treatment: Adults: Individualize dosage, usually mesalazine 4 g daily in divided doses.
Children: Individualize dosage, usually 20-30 mg/kg body weight daily in divided doses.
Granules: Ulcerative colitis: Adults: Active disease: Individual dosage, up to 4 g mesalazine once daily or divided into 2-4 doses.
Maintenance treatment: Individual dosage. Recommended dosage, 2 g mesalazine once daily.
Pediatric population: The safety and efficacy in children below 6 years of age have not been established. There is only limited documentation for an effect in children (age 6-18 years).
Children 6 years of age and older: Active disease: To be determined individually, starting with 30-50 mg/kg/day in divided doses.
Maximum dose: 75 mg/kg/day in divided doses. The total dose should not exceed 4 g/day (maximum adult dose).
Maintenance treatment: To be determined individually, starting with 15-30 mg/kg/day in divided doses. The total dose should not exceed 2 g/day (recommended adult dose).
It is generally recommended that half the adult dose may be given to children up to a body weight of 40 kg; and the normal adult dose to those above 40 kg.
Crohn's disease: Children 6 years of age and older: Treatment of Active Disease: To be determined individually, starting with 30-50 mg/kg/day in divided doses. Maximum dose: 75 mg/kg/day in divided doses. The total dose should not exceed 4 g/day (maximum adult dose).
Children 6 years of age and older: Maintenance Treatment: To be determined individually, starting with 15-30 mg/kg/day in divided doses. The total dose should not exceed 4 g/day (recommended adult dose).
It is generally recommended that half the adult dose may be given to children up to a body weight of 40 kg; and the normal adult dose to those above 40 kg.
Method of administration: Oral use.
The granules must not be chewed.
The contents of the sachet should be emptied onto the tongue and washed down with some water or orange juice. Alternatively the entire content of the sachet can be taken with yogurt and consumed immediately.
Suppository: Adults: 1 g (1 supp) 1-2 times daily.
Children >2 years: According to physician's instructions.
Administration: Tablet: Pentasa slow-release tablets must not be chewed. In order to facilitate the administration, the tablets can be halved or suspended in water or juice immediately before use.
A visit to the toilet is recommended before inserting a suppository. Open the foilbag at the tear mark. Place one of the enclosed finger protectors on the insertion finger. The suppository is inserted in the rectum until resistance is felt and disappears again. In order to facilitate the administration, the suppository can be moistured with water or moisture cream. If the suppository is discharged within the first 10 min, another can be inserted. Dispose of the foil and the used finger protector.