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Pentasa User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

Pentasa has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 from a total of 82 reviews on Drugs.com. 72% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 9% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Pentasa

  • May
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 6, 2017

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I have been taking 4 x Pentasa 500mg twice daily since I was diagnosed with Crohn's in June this year. I haven't noticed any side effects but my stomach cramping, bloating, gas and just general pain has dramatically decreased so I think it is helping! Yay. My specialist has advised that if my symptoms don't totally subside on this medication I've to try a steroid so hopefully it continues to work for me. Thankfully I'm in Scotland as well so I don't need to pay for the prescription."

8 / 10
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23 Report
  • paul
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • September 17, 2020

For Ulcerative Colitis "2yrs ago very bad colitis spent 7 days in hospital drugs xrays etc I responded well to drugs and I am now on 3 pentasa in the morning and 3 at night, with no side affects and I do eat any thing I want. At the time I went to hospital I was 74 years old and it came on over a period of 2 months in the end I lived on the toilet I did see a specialist and he send me straight to the hospital he said I was gravely ill .I am good now."

10 / 10
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14 Report
  • walki...
  • October 27, 2015

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I have started the Pentasa. It has given me the diarrhea and some stomach cramps when taking it. I have to see if after taking it for a week how it will do with the Crohn's or see about getting off of it. I am also getting cramps in the stomach area when taking this medication."

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26 Report
  • Juvy...
  • November 20, 2017

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I'm a Filipina 44 years old and was diagnosed of crohn's in 2014. I've been taking pentasa tabs and suppository as well. My first 6 months was four pentasa 500mg tablets twice a day and 1 suppository before bedtime. There was an improvement I had less diarhea and crampness of stomach. I maintained taking pentasa for 2 years and reduced the dosage until I took two 500mg pentasa a day and 1 suppository. Since I feel better. I decided to stop taking med. Now I'm 3 years with out taking any medicine and starting again with diarrhea with a bloody stool. Maybe I need to start back on pentasa again.."

9 / 10
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20 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 30, 2012

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I was diagnosed in 1990 and for most of the time since, I have been on Pentasa. The only side effects I have had are: 1) slight increase in hair loss - I added extra Folic Acid to my vitamins and the hair loss greatly reduced. 2) I do not have confirmation, but I believe I react to the salicylates -I get a rush of burning red face after I take the medicines and after certain foods. All in all, these are pretty innocuous side effects compared to other options I was given. Thankfully I can stay well maintained on the Pentasa. Just wish it helped with fistulas too!"

9 / 10
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32 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Anonymous
  • March 19, 2011

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I have had Crohns disease for many years and have used many medications. I started using Pentasa in November and did very well until the last month, when I started having chest pains, heart palpitations. I am now off all medications, but continue to feel tired and weak. The past two years I have had reactions to all of the medications we have tried."

6 / 10
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33 Report
  • remco
  • February 17, 2009

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "My Crohn's disease diagnosis followed a routine colonoscopy at age 54. I had unexplained bouts with diarrhea but never thought much of it. Pentasa reduced the frequency from about every three weeks to about every six-eight weeks, and appears to have reduced the inflammation. No obvious side effects, seems to be helping."

8 / 10
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36 Report
  • Gazza...
  • May 4, 2016

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "This drug PENTASA is the worst drug that I have ever taken, I had sever vomiting at least over 20 times in the space of 3 to4 hrs and sever diarrheoa which was even worse this occurred every 20 minutes or less sometimes but NO bloody that I was aware of.....So people be warned this drug is CRAP IT really is ..."

1 / 10
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21 Report
  • Anonymous
  • September 29, 2011

For Ulcerative Colitis, Active "I took Pentasa for ulcerative colitis after Asacol started failing. Asacol had worked for me for seven years, but when P&G started having manufacturers making it in Europe, it no longer worked. The Pentasa worked for my ulcerative colitis at 3 grams per day dosage. The side effects are much worse for Pentasa. I experienced nausea, mild headaches and severe hair loss. "

6 / 10
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29 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 2, 2011

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I am a 25 year old female who was diagnosed with Crohn's almost 2 months ago. Pentasa has helped to relieve the very severe stomach cramping I was experiencing before my diagnosis. This is the first treatment my doctor has given me but after a month of taking 4-250mg capsules 4 times a day (in combination with Budesonide 9m) I finally feel comfortable after eating. I'm not noticing any side effects yet. Maybe I'm lucky though after reading some of these other reviews. I wish I didn't have to take 16 of them each day, but to be able to stand up after a meal is wonderful for someone who used to keel over screaming and crying with a rock hard stomach after eating!"

8 / 10
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28 Report
  • Ritz...
  • April 26, 2017

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I have been taking Pentasa since 10 years and has relieved all cramps and distentions. I'm able to lead my life comfortably now. Only recently I have developed rashes all over and want to know in case any one else facing same way."

7 / 10
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17 Report
  • OVER...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 18, 2018

For Ulcerative Colitis, Active "I've been taking Pentasa tablets for about 3 weeks- I take two 500mg tablets, 3 times a day. During the 3rd week, diarrhea set in. So far I've gone through 7 straight days of diarrhea. I'll be seeing my doctor next week."

1 / 10
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13 Report
  • ajackie
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • June 20, 2014

For Crohn's Disease "The only reason I gave Pentasa a "9" rating instead of a "10" is due to my having to remember to take 8 capsules a day. This medication has allowed me to live a normal life again...no more excruciating gut pain & no more daily diarrhea. I can actually eat at restaurants now, without worrying when the pain & diarrhea will hit me. I have had no side effects from Pentasa. It has given my life back to me."

9 / 10
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19 Report
  • Scorch
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • September 21, 2018

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I am 65 years old and have had crohns since I was 19. I have tried different meds but over the last 20 years have been very happy with 2 , 500 mg of Pentasa daily. It keeps me out of hospital and maintains my condition to the point I can live with it. However now that I am on medicare and have lost my drug coverage the cost has gone from $400 for a 3 month supply to $1500 for same 3 month supply. I ask my doctor about trying another drug, it calls for 9, 750 mg pills a day so here goes wish me luck."

8 / 10
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12 Report
  • reds_...
  • December 26, 2009

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "My husband has only been taking Pentasa for a few days, but he has had terrible side effects since day one. His Crohn's had become progressively worse over the years so his GI doctor prescribed Pentasa. He has chest pains, headaches, severe nausea and vomiting as well as loss of appetite. I saw that one person had to lower his dose after 3 weeks, and I wonder if that was due to his experience of these effects also. I know Pentasa has great potential, but how long will these effects last?"

5 / 10
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24 Report
  • Busyl...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 30, 2014

For Ulcerative Colitis, Active "Pentasa has changed my life totally. Was going to toilet up to 10 times a day until I was prescribed this. Now I've got my freedom back. Brilliant! No side effects worth worrying about. Take 2 x 500mg slow release tablets twice a day."

9 / 10
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17 Report
  • belly
  • March 31, 2015

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "My main symptoms were diarrhea and bloody mucous stools. Once on pentasa 4g a day the symptoms had stopped. Until a month ago where they began along with a lot of wind. Was using suppositories as well initially 1 then 2 per day. I've stopped taking all medication till I see my specialist so far symptoms are on worse- better if anything no longer running to toilet all day. I've had collitis for less then a year I'm 35"

8 / 10
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16 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • January 22, 2020

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "Hi, I'm a 51 year old Male from Scotland and was diagnosed with Crohn's at 30 . I take 1 sachet of pentasa in the morning and it has been keeping everything at bay. I can have a pint or 2 and can eat what I like with no effects. I can suffer cramps in my back passage through the night which lasts about 15-30 mins, every 2/3 months. Also losing my hair and on blood pressure tablets . This is side effects to Pentasa."

10 / 10
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9 Report
  • Paul
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • January 25, 2022

For Ulcerative Colitis "Stopped smoking 9 years ago, noticed days later l was needing the toilet about 10 times a day lots of blood in the toilet, lost 3 stone, left it for 3 months what a fool, well the doctors thought I'd left it too late and would need a bag, well they where wrong, the strong steroids worked. I'm on pentasa 500 mls in the morning and the same at night, got the powered form the tablets would choke a horse, anyway decided to just have the morning tablets, it worked until last year, when my joint where aching and I couldn't walk, not good when your a landscape gardener, doctor said it inflammatory arthritis, and I will get this if I get a bad colitis flare up so I started steroids. After 5 weeks I'm back to normal, and started taking the pentasa morning and night, as of writing this it looks like I'm going to need another dose of steriods joints are starting to ache again. Ps I've put myself down for a trail new drug at a local hospital in Merseyside, if the drug is better I'll get back on to this forum"

7 / 10
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5 Report
  • Gigi
  • February 25, 2010

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "I was diagnosed w/Crohn's in 2005 after having years of severe diarrhea, stomach pain/cramping & nausea. After a few weeks of taking the Pentasa (4 grams daily) I felt unbelievably better. Within the last year I have had lots of break through flares & have had to add other meds (6-MP & Humira shots). I have had an active flare since mid-December w/no relief. I have reduced my Pentasa to 2 grams a day because I had noticed that my nausea & other symptoms were more severe on the 4 grams. Even though I feel better my symptoms have not improved enough & I have to now add Remicade infussion therapy to my long list of meds. I think that these meds are helpful as long as they are adjusted depending on your symptoms."

8 / 10
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20 Report
  • Missing...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • July 24, 2020

For Ulcerative Proctitis "I was diagnosed with UC last year. I was both on Pentasa 8x500mg daily plus daily Salofalk suppositories. I can’t say anything about Pentasa tablets but Salofalk worked very well. Unfortunately Salofalk is not available anymore and I had to switch to Pentasa suppositories which is the worst. I am wondering if any of this drugmakers ever used Pentasa suppositories. I bet they didn’t! It is very hard to use and I prefer bleeding a lot than being mentally depressed by using it (very irritating and very uncomfortable, plus doesn’t dissolve and irritates the area badly) I am missing Salofalk a lot!!"

2 / 10
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7 Report
  • Sarah
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • November 6, 2021

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "500 mg x 4. Took it for duration of disease (30 years). My GI was negligent. Disease was never fully active in her care. Early on, she expressed doubt that I had Crohn’s disease until pathology came back positive. Disease became active after 28 years of mild inflammation. GI dismissed my complaints (only believes colonoscopy, referred back to last colonoscopy as evidence) until new colonoscopy revealed fistula. Referred to new GI who said I had never been treated for Crohn’s disease because Pentasa doesn’t work for fistulizing Crohn’s. Inflammatory polyps were present and removed at every single colonoscopy with the negligent GI. New GI used biologic, zero inflammation at colonoscopy. Pentasa - easy to take. Does nothing for your Crohn’s. Inflammatory polyps should not exist if treatment is working. It isn’t preventing inflammation if you have INFLAMMATION."

1 / 10
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5 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 10, 2017

For Crohn's Disease, Maintenance "Well, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 29... but the doctors thought I had it before then but I was pregnant and it laid dormant for about a year. My intestines burst one year ago and I had to have bowel resection...20 inches and my appendix. After all that, they put me on steroids and pentasa two 500mg, 3 times a day. At first I did ok with it but I'm horrible at taking medicine so I started decreasing the amount that I took. Doctor is not thrilled of course but now that I haven't taken it for a while, I feel no different than when I'm on it. I have diarrhea anytime I eat and occasional gas with pain but that's it... I'm lucky I know and still not sure if I'm making the right choice but meds are $70/mo"

4 / 10
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11 Report
  • Choco...
  • June 3, 2016

For Ulcerative Colitis "I was given pentasa 2mgs in sachets after having a bad flare up of colitis. After few months of taking it I started noticing a regular pattern of not being able to sleep, a bad case of restless legs syndrome (unbearable) always at night and partly causing the not sleeping, irregular heartbeats and having already asthma it got much worse. So after going on forums I realised I wasn't the only one. I halved the dose to 1 gr , the symptoms receded but I still know/feel it's not good to take long term and I will start reducing. It also makes me feel constantly tired. On a positive note it really is effective for what it what design to do, stop the bad effects of colitis... It's finding a good balance in the dosage along with a clean nutrition!"

9 / 10
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11 Report
  • Jack
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 16, 2022

For Ulcerative Colitis "I just was diagnosed with UC recently. My doctor has me on 1g 4 times a day. Everything was going great for the first couple weeks. No immediate need. Normal looking stools and no blood. After the first 2 weeks however the bleeding has come back and I'm using the toilet more than ever. Will be reaching out to my doctor to see if we are over dosing."

6 / 10
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4 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.