Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Mesalazine may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
for Pharmacotherapeutic group: Aminosalicylic acid and similar agents. Zyduco XL gastro-resistant, prolonged release tablets contain the active substance Mesalazine, which is an anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a disease of the colon (large bowel) and rectum (back passage), where the lining of the gut becomes red and swollen (inflamed) resulting in symptoms of frequent and bloody stools together with stomach cramps. When given for an acute episode of ulcerative colitis, Zyduco XL acts through the entire colon and rectum to treat the inflammation and reduce symptoms. The tablets can also be taken to help prevent recurrence of ulcerative colitis.
e Zyduco XL Do not take Zyduco XL
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Zyduco XL
Zyduco XL
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Children and adolescents Zyduco XL is not recommended to be given to children and adolescents weighing 50 kg or less and not in children below the age of 10 years due to lack of data on safety and efficacy (see section 3). Other medicines and Zyduco XL Studies have shown that Zyduco XL does not interfere with the following antibiotics, used to treat infections: amoxicillin, metronidazole, or sulfamethoxazole. However, Zyduco XL may interact with some other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Zyduco XL Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The recommended dose for adults is 2.4 g to 4.8 g (two to four tablets) taken once a day for an acute episode of ulcerative colitis. If you are taking the highest daily dose of 4.8 g/day, you should be evaluated after 8 weeks treatment. Once your symptoms have cleared and to help prevent recurrence of another episode, your doctor should direct you to take 2.4 g (two tablets) once a day. For an acute episode of ulcerative colitis (first 8 weeks of treatment) in children and adolescents weighing more than 50 kg and age 10 years or older, the recommended dose is 2.4 g to 4.8 g (two to four tablets) taken once a day. To prevent recurrence of another episode of ulcerative colitis in children and adolescents weighing more than 50 kg and age 10 years or older, the recommended dose is 2.4 g (two tablets) taken once a day. Remember to take your tablets at the same time each day with food. The tablets should be swallowed whole and must not be crushed or chewed. Whilst taking this medicine, ensure you drink fluids to remain well hydrated especially after severe or prolonged episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhoea, high fever or heavy sweating. Zyduco XL is not recommended to be given to children and adolescents weighing 50 kg or less and not in children below the age of 10 years due to lack of data on safety and efficacy.
Date : 30.12.2025
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If you take more Zyduco XL than you should If you take too much Zyduco XL, you may have one or more of the following symptoms: tinnitus (ringing in ears), dizziness, headache, confusion, drowsiness, shortness of breath, excess loss of water (associated with sweating, diarrhoea and vomiting), low blood sugar (which can cause light-headedness), rapid breathing, changes in the blood chemistry and increased body temperature. If you do take too many tablets, contact your doctor, pharmacist or hospital casualty department straight away. Take your tablet pack with you.
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If you forget to take Zyduco XL It is important to take your Zyduco XL tablets every day, even when you don't have any symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Always finish the prescribed course. If you forget to take your tablets, then take them as usual the next day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. 4. Possible side effects Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Tell your doctor immediately
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and scarring of the kidney); kidney stones and associated pain (see also section 2); reversible decrease in sperm production. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible
not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via-Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Zyduco XL ● Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. ● Store below 25°C. ● Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture. ● Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the box after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. ● Do not throw away any medicines via waste water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
What Zyduco XL contains
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Zydus Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd Sandretto Building Cavalry Hill Industrial Park Weedon Northampton England NN74PP United Kingdom This leaflet was last revised in Dec-25.
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio format, contact the licence holder at the above address or telephone: 0800 9956034 / email: [email protected]
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Zyduco XL 1200 mg Gastro-Resistant Prolonged-Release Tablets comes as tablet containing 1200mg. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The active substance in Zyduco XL 1200 mg Gastro-Resistant Prolonged-Release Tablets is mesalazine.
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Mezavant XL 1200mg, gastro-resistant, prolonged release tablets. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Zyduco XL 1200 mg Gastro-Resistant Prolonged-Release Tablets, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
Adults, including the elderly {>65 Years).
For the induction and maintenance of clinical and endoscopic remission in patients with mild to moderate, active ulcerative colitis.
Children and adolescents (weighing more than 50 kg and age 10 years or older)
For the induction and maintenance of clinical and endoscopic remission in patients with mild to moderate, active ulcerative colitis.
Mesalazine is intended for once daily, oral administration. The tablets must not be crushed or chewed and should be taken with food.
Adults, including the elderly (>65 years)
For induction of remission: 2.4 g to 4.8 g (two to four tablets) should be taken once daily. The highest dose of 4.8g/day is recommended for patients not responding to lower doses of mesalazine. When using the highest dose (4.8 g/day), the effect of the treatment should be evaluated at 8 weeks.
For maintenance of remission: 2.4 g (two tablets) should be taken once daily.
Children and adolescents (weighing more than 50 kg and age 10 years or older)
For induction of remission (initial 8 weeks): 2.4 g to 4.8 g (two to four tablets) should be taken once daily.
For maintenance of remission: 2.4 g (two tablets) should be taken once daily.
Mesalazine 1200-mg tablets should not be used by paediatric patients weighing 50 kg or less and should not be used in paediatric patients below the age of 10 years due to a lack of data on safety and efficacy in these patients.
Hepatic and renal impairment
Specific studies have not been performed to investigate mesalazine in patients with hepatic or renal impairment (see sections 4.3 and 4.4 ).
History of hypersensitivity to salicylates (including mesalazine) or any of the excipients of Mesalazine.
Severe renal impairment (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2) and/or severe hepatic impairment.
Reports of renal impairment, including minimal change nephropathy, acute/chronic interstitial nephritis and renal failure have been associated with preparations containing mesalazine and pro-drugs of mesalazine. Mesalazine should be used with caution in patients with confirmed mild to moderate renal impairment. It is recommended that all patients have an evaluation of renal function prior to initiation of therapy and at least twice a year, while on treatment, based on clinical judgement taking baseline renal function into account. Mesalazine treatment should be discontinued if renal function deteriorates.
Patients with chronic lung function impairment, especially asthma, are at risk of hypersensitivity reactions and should be closely monitored.
Following mesalazine treatment, serious blood dyscrasias have been reported rarely. If the patient develops unexplained bleeding, bruising, purpura, anaemia, fever or sore throat, haematological investigations should be performed. If there is suspicion of blood dyscrasia, treatment should be terminated (see sections 4.5 and 4.8).
Mesalazine induced cardiac hypersensitivity reactions (myo- and pericarditis) have been reported rarely with Mesalazine and with other mesalazine containing preparations. Caution should be used in prescribing this medication to patients with conditions predisposing to the development of myo- or pericarditis. If such hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, products containing mesalazine must not be reintroduced.
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in association with mesalazine treatment. Mesalazine should be discontinued, at the first appearance of signs and symptoms of severe skin reactions, such as skin rash, mucosal lesions, or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
Mesalazine has been associated with an acute intolerance syndrome that may be difficult to distinguish from a flare of inflammatory bowel disease. Although the exact frequency of occurrence has not been determined, it has occurred in 3% of patients in controlled clinical trials of mesalazine or sulphasalazine. Symptoms include cramping, acute abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea, sometimes fever, headache and rash. If acute intolerance syndrome is suspected, prompt withdrawal is required and products containing mesalazine must not be reintroduced.
There have been reports of increased liver enzyme levels in patients taking preparations containing mesalazine. Caution is recommended if mesalazine is administered to patients with hepatic impairment.
Caution should be exercised when treating patients allergic to sulphasalazine due to the potential risk of cross sensitivity reactions between sulphasalazine and mesalazine.
Organic or functional obstruction in the upper gastrointestinal tract may delay onset of action of the product.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) has been reported in patients receiving mesalazine. Patients should be warned for signs and symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, including severe or recurrent headache, visual disturbances or tinnitus. If idiopathic intracranial hypertension occurs, discontinuation of mesalazine should be considered.
Cases of nephrolithiasis have been reported with the use of mesalazine, including stones with a 100% mesalazine content. It is recommended to ensure adequate fluid intake during treatment.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per the maximum recommended dose (4 tablets), that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
Interference with Laboratory Tests
Use of mesalazine may lead to falsely elevated test results when measuring urinary normetanephrine by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, because of the similarity in the chromatograms of normetanephrine and mesalazine's main metabolite, N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid (N-Ac-5-ASA). An alternative, selective assay for normetanephrine should be considered.
Mesalazine may produce red-brown urine discoloration after contact with sodium hypochlorite bleach (e.g. in toilets cleaned with sodium hypochlorite contained in certain bleaches).
Drug-drug interaction studies in healthy adult subjects have been conducted with Mesalazine to investigate any effect of Mesalazine on the pharmacokinetics and safety of three commonly used antibiotics. There were no clinically significant interactions of Mesalazine with amoxicillin, metronidazole or sulfamethoxazole.
However, the following drug-drug interactions have been reported for products containing mesalazine.
• Caution is recommended for the concomitant use of mesalazine with known nephrotoxic agents, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and azathioprine as these may increase the risk of renal adverse reactions.
• Mesalazine inhibits thiopurine methyltransferase. In patients receiving azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine and/or any other active substances known to cause myelotoxicity, caution is recommended for concurrent use of mesalazine as this can increase the potential for blood dyscrasias, bone marrow failure, and associated complications (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).
• Administration with coumarin-type anticoagulants e.g., warfarin, could result in decreased anticoagulant activity. Prothrombin time should be closely monitored if this combination is essential.
Mesalazine is recommended to be administered with food (see sections 4.2 and 5.2).
Pregnancy
There is limited experience with mesalazine in pregnancy. Mesalazine crosses the placental barrier but provides foetal concentrations much lower than those seen with adult therapeutic use. Animal studies do not indicate harmful effects of mesalazine in pregnancy, embryonal/foetal development, parturition or postnatal development. Adverse outcomes (including disturbances in blood counts such as leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anaemia) were reported in infants born to mothers who were exposed to mesalazine during pregnancy. Mesalazine should be used during pregnancy only when the benefits outweigh the risks. Caution should be exercised when using high doses of mesalazine.
Breast-feeding
Mesalazine is excreted in breast milk at low concentration. Acetylated form of mesalazine is excreted in breast milk at higher concentration. Caution should be exercised if using mesalazine while breast-feeding and only if the benefit outweighs the risks. Sporadically acute diarrhoea has been reported in breast fed infants.
Fertility
Data on mesalazine show no sustained effect on male fertility.
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. Mesalazine is considered to have negligible influence on these abilities.
The most frequently reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) within the pooled safety analysis of clinical studies with Mesalazine, including 3,611 patients, were colitis (including ulcerative colitis) 5.8%, abdominal pain 4.9%, headache 4.5%, liver function test abnormal, 2.1%, diarrhoea 2.0%, and nausea 1.9%.
The safety profile in the paediatric population is consistent with the safety profile in adult studies and in post-marketing experience.
Adverse reactions are listed by System Organ Class (see table below). Within each system organ class, adverse reactions are listed under headings of frequency using the categories: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) Associated with Mesalazine
System/Organ Class
Incidence Category
Adverse drug reaction
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Uncommon
Thrombocytopenia*
Rare
Agranulocytosis*
Not known
Aplastic anaemia*, Leukopenia*, Neutropenia*, Pancytopenia*
Immune system disorders
Uncommon
Face oedema
Not known
Hypersensitivity*, Anaphylactic shock, Angioedema.
Nervous system disorders
Common
Headache*
Uncommon
Dizziness, Somnolence, Tremor
Not known
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension*, Neuropathy,
Ear and labyrinth disorders
Uncommon
Ear pain
Cardiac disorders
Uncommon
Tachycardia
Not known
Myocarditis*, Pericarditis*
Vascular disorders
Common
Hypertension
Uncommon
Hypotension
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Uncommon
Pharyngolaryngeal pain*
Not known
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (including interstitial Pneumonitis, allergic alveolitis, eosinophilic pneumonitis), Bronchospasm
Gastrointestinal disorders
Common
Abdominal distension, Abdominal pain*, Colitis, Diarrhoea*, Dyspepsia, Vomiting, Flatulence, Nausea
Uncommon
Pancreatitis, Rectal polyp
Hepatobiliary disorders
Common
Liver Function Test abnormal* (e.g., ALT; AST, Bilirubin)
Not known
Hepatitis, Hepatotoxicity, Cholelithiasis
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Common
Pruritus, Rash*
Uncommon
Acne, Alopecia, Urticaria
Rare
Photosensitivity
Not known
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)*, Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)*, Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Common
Arthralgia, Back pain
Uncommon
Myalgia
Not known
Systemic-lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, Lupus-like syndrome
Renal and urinary disorders
Rare
Renal failure*
Not known
Interstitial nephritis*, Nephrotic syndrome*, Nephrolithiasis*
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Not known
Oligospermia (reversible)
General disorders and administration site conditions
Common
Asthenia, Fatigue, Pyrexia*
*See section 4.4.
Description of selected adverse reactions
Photosensitivity
More severe reactions are reported in patients with pre-existing skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and atopic eczema.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in association with mesalazine treatment (see section 4.4).
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Mesalazine is an aminosalicylate, and signs of salicylate toxicity include tinnitus, vertigo, headache, confusion, drowsiness, pulmonary oedema, dehydration as a result of sweating, diarrhoea and vomiting, hypoglycaemia, hyperventilation, disruption of electrolyte balance and blood-pH and hyperthermia.
Conventional therapy for salicylate toxicity may be beneficial in the event of acute overdosage. Hypoglycaemia, fluid and electrolyte imbalance should be corrected by the administration of appropriate therapy. Adequate renal function should be maintained.
Ask anything about Zyduco XL 1200 mg Gastro-Resistant Prolonged-Release Tablets. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
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