How to use CANASA®

Follow your doctor's instructions about how often and how long to use CANASA. Follow these steps to use CANASA:

  1. Have a bowel movement just before using CANASA at bedtime
  2. Detach 1 CANASA suppository from the strip of suppositories
  3. Hold the suppository upright and carefully peel open the plastic at the precut line to remove the suppository
  4. Using gentle pressure, insert the pointed end of the suppository completely into your rectum
  5. Keep (retain) the suppository in your rectum for 1 to 3 hours or longer, if possible

Do not handle the suppository too much because it may begin to melt from the heat of your hands and body. CANASA can cause staining of clothing, other fabrics, and other surfaces.

If you miss a dose of CANASA, use it as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the next dose. Do not use 2 CANASA suppositories at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

Please see Patient Information within the full Prescribing Information for detailed instructions.

IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION

Do not use CANASA if you are:

  • allergic to medicines that contain salicylates, including aspirin.
  • allergic to mesalamine or any of the ingredients in CANASA. See Patient Information in the full Prescribing Information for a complete list of ingredients in CANASA.

    • Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if your medicine is listed.

Before using CANASA, tell your healthcare provider if you:

  • have a history of allergic reaction to the medicine sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).
  • have kidney problems.
  • have ever had inflammation of the sac around your heart (pericarditis).
  • have liver problems.
  • have any other medical conditions.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if CANASA can harm your unborn baby.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. CANASA can pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you use CANASA.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking CANASA with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause kidney problems. Taking CANASA with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine may cause blood problems. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you are taking one of these medicines. Your doctor may do certain tests during treatment with CANASA.

What are the possible side effects of CANASA?

CANASA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Kidney Problems. Your healthcare provider will do certain tests before you start using CANASA and during your treatment.
  • Acute Intolerance Syndrome and Other Allergic Reactions. Some people who use CANASA can have allergic-type reactions, including acute intolerance syndrome. Other allergic reactions can cause heart problems, including an inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis), blood problems, and problems with other organs in the body, including the kidneys, liver, and lungs. When this happens, it is usually in people who have had an allergic reaction to sulfasalazine. Stop using CANASA and tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms: cramps, stomach (abdominal) pain, bloody diarrhea, chest pain, a decrease in the amount of your urine, fever, headache, rash, shortness of breath, eye inflammation, or fatigue.
  • Liver Problems. This can happen in people who have a history of liver problems and have taken other medicines that contain mesalamine. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms while using CANASA: yellowing of your eyes, itchy skin, feeling very tired, flu-like symptoms, nausea, or vomiting.
  • Serious Skin Reactions. Some people who use CANASA can have severe skin reactions. Stop using CANASA and tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of a severe skin reaction, including blisters or peeling of your skin, mouth sores, blisters on your lips or around your mouth or eyes, high fever or flu-like symptoms, enlarged lymph nodes, or skin rash.
  • Sun Sensitivity. CANASA can make your skin sensitive to the sun if you have skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and atopic eczema. Try to limit your time in the sun. You should use sunscreen and wear a hat and clothes that cover your skin if you have to be in the sunlight.
  • Kidney Stones. Drink plenty of fluids when using CANASA to decrease your chance of getting kidney stones. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms: severe pain in your side or your back or blood in your urine.
The most common side effects of CANASA include: dizziness, acne, inflammation of the large intestine (colitis), rectal pain, fever, and rash.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of CANASA.

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

If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/myAbbVieAssist to learn more.

What is CANASA?

CANASA® (mesalamine) 1000 mg rectal suppository is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with active ulcerative proctitis (ulcerative rectal colitis). It is not known if CANASA is safe and effective in children.

Please also see the Patient Information within the full Prescribing Information.

CANASA® and its design are trademarks of Aptalis Pharma Canada ULC, an AbbVie company.

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The health information described in this site is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for discussions with a healthcare provider.