mercaptopurine + mesalazine

The combination of mercaptopurine and mesalazine is used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly ulcerative colitis. Mercaptopurine is an antimetabolite antineoplastic agent with immunosuppressant properties that interferes with nucleic acid synthesis by inhibiting purine metabolism. Mesalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug that works topically in the gut to reduce inflammation. When used together, mesalazine has been shown to have synergistic effects on mercaptopurine therapy, enhancing its efficacy by increasing tioguanine (thioguanine) levels and improving the 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotide/tioguanine ratio. This combination may provide better control of IBD symptoms than either medication alone.

Other names

6-MP + mesalazine6-mercaptopurine + mesalazinemercaptopurine + 5-ASA