Mezavant XL v Pentassa

Hi all

Does anyone know the difference between Mezavant XL and Pentassa?

I was on 4 x 500 mg of Pentassa per day. 2 tabs in the morning 1 hour before breakfast and 2 tabs at night 1 hour before dinner.

My doc has now changed me to Mezavant XL and told me to take 2 x 1200g tabs a day which can be taken once a day WITH food..

Why can I take the Mezavant with food?  All other 5ASA medicines I have taken were on an empty stomach 1 hour before eating?  Also, why can I take it just once a day? How can the medication stay in my colon for 24 hours, unlike other 5ASA drugs which require 2 or 3 doses per day?

I hope someone can answer these questions. So far, I have had no problems with the Mezavant in the 3 weeks I have been taking it..

  

Mezavant, I noticed, was really heavily coated... Probably the slow release thing is dead on. Pentasa wasn't coated (the one I had anyway), and I noticed if I didn't get it down right away or drink it with a thicker drink, it would start dissolving right away in my mouth and throat... It was gross.

Mezavant did wonders for me for about six months! Good luck.