5-Aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine) is one of the basic medicines that are suitable fur mild and moderate ulcerative colitis. The therapeutic effect is due to the direct anti-inflammatory effect on the intestinal mucosa.
There are several dosage forms with different mechanisms of mesalazine release, with the same aim to achieve the highest possible therapeutic effects in the inflammatory segment of the intestine. The results of previous comparative studies are not consistent, however, the pH-dependent form seems to be more effective in the treatment of distant intestinal inflammations, and the form with continuous release is more effective in the treatment of proximal disease extension.