Asacol Brand Discontinued in the U.S. and Canada: What Are Your Options?
News May 14, 2021 | CanadaOnlineHealth
Asacol 400mg was discontinued by the manufacturer. If you are worried about having another flare-up because the medication is not available – don’t worry! There are several options still available which we will describe in this article.
What is Asacol?
Asacol was the brand name of mesalamine, also known as mesalazine or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). It is an anti-inflammatory medication that works by direct contact with the intestines. It is used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Why Was Asacol Discontinued?
The original Asacol was a 400mg tablet. It was brought to market by Warner Chilcott PLC-a company bought by Actavis PLC in 2013.
In the spring of 2013, just as the patent was about to expire, Warner Chilcott/Actavis (changed name to Allergan in 2015) discontinued Asacol and came out with Dezicol, followed by Asacol HD 800mg.
The 800mg tablet Asacol HD is still available, but it is very expensive and cannot be cut in half to get the same dose due to the delayed-release technology.
The Allergan's branded Asacol HD costs around $900 for 90 tablets, as of May 12, 2021 (price information sourced from wellrx.com).
What Are Some Less Expensive Options?
Option 1: Brand Name Asacol MR From the United Kingdom (UK)
Both 400mg and 800mg Asacol MR are available from the UK. They are manufactured by Allergan, the same company as in the U.S.
The cost for Asacol MR (as of May 12, 2021) is:
Option 2: Generic Asacol From Various Manufacturers
400mg Strength:
- 5-ASA EC, product of Canada, $103.36 USD for 100 tablets (400mg).
- Mesalazine EC, product of UK, $96.87 USD for 120 tablets (400mg).
800mg Strength:
- Mesalazine (Octasa), product of UK, $127.90 USD for 90 tablets (800mg).
Additional Information on this subject: