Two medicines, side by side
Mesalamine vs prednisone
Mesalamine and prednisone are both labeled for crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of mesalamine since 1987 and of prednisone since 1955. Pharmacies paid $0.781 per mesalamine DR 1.2 g tablet and $0.0643 per prednisone 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, mesalamine is an aminosalicylate and prednisone a corticosteroid.
Check it at the source: the mesalamine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 27, 2026); the prednisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 22, 2025).
Highlights of the mesalamine record
Mesalamine (Pentasa) · label of August 27, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAPRISO ® is indicated for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis in adults. APRISO is an aminosalicylate indicated for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis in adults.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 24, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 34 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.781 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 6
Highlights of the prednisone record
Prednisone (Meticorten) · label of April 22, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsPrednisone tablets and solutions are indicated in the following conditions: 1. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 21, 1955
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0643 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Mesalamine label of August 27, 2026, Prednisone label of April 22, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do mesalamine and prednisone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, mesalamine is an aminosalicylate and prednisone a corticosteroid.
Generics: mesalamine since 2004; prednisone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Mesalamine | Prednisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Organ transplant rejection |
| Pharmacologic class | Aminosalicylate | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | The mechanism of action of mesalamine (5-ASA) is not fully understood, but appears to be a local anti-inflammatory effect on colonic epithelial cells. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 24, 1987 | February 21, 1955 |
| First generic approved | September 17, 2004 | December 23, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 34 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.781 per tablet (Mesalamine DR 1.2 g tablet) | $0.0643 per tablet (Prednisone 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | -15% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 55,833 | 499,950 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to mesalamine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions