Ulcerative Colitis: An Overview

CANASA® is indicated for the treatment of active ulcerative proctitis.

At the time of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) diagnosis, 33%- 50% of patients have disease limited to the rectum (ie, ulcerative proctitis [UP]).4-6

The hallmark symptom of ulcerative colitis (UC) is bloody diarrhea often accompanied by prominent symptoms of rectal urgency and tenesmus1

UC symptoms may impact patients’ work and personal lives1

  • According to the 2010 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) guidelines, the symptoms that are often of greatest concern to patients include “abdominal pain, nocturnal bowel movements, urgency, or the dreadful fear of episodes of fecal incontinence”1
  • Patients with severe UC may have more than 10 urgent bowel movements daily1
  • Anxiety and major depression are more prevalent in patients with UC than in the general population2
  • Patients with active UC disease have more impaired functional status, poorer general well-being, and more restrictions on their lives than those in remission3

UC accounts for a quarter of a million physician visits, 30,000 hospitalizations, and a million lost workdays per year1



Information on this website is not intended to replace the advice of your physician(s). Please consider what you learn here a starting point for a conversation with your physician. All care of ulcerative proctitis and related conditions must be guided by the appropriate healthcare professional. CANASA® is a prescription drug.

References
1.Kornbluth A, Sachar DB; Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology. Ulcerative colitis practice guidelines in adults: American College of Gastroenterology, Practice Parameters Committee. Am J Gastroenterol. 2010;105(3):501-523. 2.Kurina LM, Goldacre MJ, Yeates D, Gill LE. Depression and anxiety in people with inflammatory bowel disease. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2001;55:716-720. 3.Hjortswang H, Stro..m M, Almer S. Health-related quality of life in Swedish patients with ulcerative colitis. Am J Gastroenterol.1998;11:2203-2211. 4.Hanauer S, Good LI, Goodman MW, et al. Long-term use of mesalazine (Rowasa) suppositories in remission maintenance of ulcerative proctitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95(7):1749-1754. 5.Farmer RG, Easley KA, Rankin GB. Clinical patterns, natural history, and progression of ulcerative colitis: a long-term follow-up of 1116 patients. Dig Dis Sci. 1993;38(6):1137-1146. 6.D’Albasio G, Paoluzi P, Campieri M, et al. Maintenance treatment of ulcerative proctitis with mesalazine suppositories: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 1998;93:799-803.

 

CANASA® is available by prescription only.

CANASA® 1000 mg Suppositories are indicated for the treatment of active ulcerative proctitis.

CANASA® is contraindicated in patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity to mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid) or to the suppository vehicle [saturated fatty acid esters (Hard Fat, NF)], or to salicylates (including Aspirin).

As with other mesalamine containing products, less common but possibly serious side effects such as acute intolerance syndrome, pericarditis and pancolitis may occur.

Patients on CANASA® 1000 mg, especially those on concurrent oral products which contain or release mesalamine and those with pre-existing renal disease, should be carefully monitored with urinalysis, BUN and creatinine testing.

Caution should be exercised when CANASA® suppositories are initially used in patients known to be allergic to sulfasalazine.

CANASA® was generally well tolerated in clinical studies. The most common side effects of CANASA® are dizziness (3%), rectal pain (1.8%), fever (1.2%), rash (1.2%), acne (1.2%), and colitis (1.2%).

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.