Chances are, if you or someone you care about is suffering from Ulcerative Colitis, you have come across or have been prescribed some dosage of Asacol. Asacol is a brand name version of Mesalamine, a commonly and successfully prescribed medication used to treat and maintain Ulcerative Colitis. It is an anti-inflamatory drug that helps reduce and prevent flares experience by many UC patients.
Mesalamine can be found under many different brand names but at the time of this article, it does not seem to be available as a reliable generic. the costs and possibly the side effects and efficacy of different formulations can vary from patient to patient. This could possibly be due to different capsule formulas used by the manufacturers.
Medispan has published a list of various forms of Mesalamine and a cost comparison for Vermont prescribers. It is based on Apriso® and includes Asacol, Delzicol®, Lialda® and several other names that range from $1.71 to over $860. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Asacol distribution in the US was discontinued in April 2013 and Asacol was replaced by Delzicol.
Some insurance companies may cover one version of mesalamine but not others so it is important to know your options and discuss them with your doctor so you can get the best choice for your needs and budget.