Dipentum Capsules

• You should start with two capsules twice a day (two in the morning, two in the evening) and over a period of a week increase the dose until benefit is noticed. You must not take more than twelve capsules a day, and not take more than four at a time.

Maintenance treatment:

• Once the flare-up is controlled your doctor may gradually reduce the dose to two capsules taken twice a day at the end of a meal. This is to prevent further flare-ups, and you may be on this treatment for some time.
• If a flare-up is severe you are likely to be given additional medicines.

Could it interact with other tablets?

Please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including those not on prescription. In particular, tell your doctor if are taking or have taken any of the following:

• low molecular weight heparins for thinning the blood and treating and preventing clots.
• warfarin for thinning the blood, preventing clots.
• 6-mercaptopurine or thioguanine
• It is recommended not to give salicylates for six weeks after the varicella vaccine

Herbal products should also only be taken after talking with your doctor.

What are the possible risks or side-effects?

This medicine may cause side effects in some people, including:

• Headache
• gut pain
• upset stomach
• rash, itching
• joint or muscle pain
• watery bowel motions

The watery bowel motions may respond to more care in taking the tablets at the end of a meal, and frequently improve over a few days anyway.
Other reported effects include increased heart rate or awareness of your heartbeat, difficulty breathing, pins and needles, pain in passing urine or blood in the urine, depression and blurred vision.

Very rarely your medicine may affect your blood, reducing the number of re or white blood cells and the platelets. If you have a persistent sore throat, feel “under the weather”, bruise easily or feel tired and feverish you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

• There are no known interactions between alcohol and Dipentum.
• Always ask you doctor or pharmacist however as other medications you are taking may have a bearing on this.

What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?

• Olsalazine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus.
• Unless the benefit of the treatment outweighs the risks, olsalazine should not be taken by breast-feeding women, or patients should be advised to discontinue breastfeeding if using olsalazine.

If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.

References:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=f4858879-0b8b-484a-9742-112c92662e8a&type=display

http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/10523/SPC/Dipentum+250mg+Capsules/

http://www.rxlist.com/dipentum-drug.htm

http://www.drugs.com/uk/dipentum-capsules-250mg-leaflet.html

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/digestive-health/a6586/dipentum-olsalazine/