How does ‘top and tailing’ help me?
The benefits of ‘top and tailing’
Depending on the type of UC you have been diagnosed with, you may be asked to use
a mesalazine enema alongside your oral mesalazine. This is commonly referred to as
‘top and tailing’.
‘Top and tailing’ helps the active ingredient to reach the parts of the colon where it is
needed most. This will increase your chance of a longer remission and of achieving
mucosal healing, compared with either treatment alone. 4,5
Mucosal healing is when the colon is completely free of inflammation and ulcers,
and is an important treatment goal recommended by The British Society of
Gastroenterology. It has been linked with the following benefits: 1,6
Helps to keep you in remission longer
Reduces the chance of you needing surgery (colectomy)
Reduces the risk of you developing colorectal cancer
Improves your quality of life by helping you resume your
usual activities and reducing any anxiety and depression
What will this mean for me?
In a PENTASA clinical study where UC is patients where treated with ether ‘top and
tail’ treatment or just oral treatment alone, the results showed the following benefits
for those receiving ‘top and tail’: 3
Rectal bleeding stopped quicker
More patients achieved mucosal healing
of patients who received PENTASA ‘top and tail’ therapy
said that they found using the treatment acceptable
It is important to remember to take your medication as advised by your
IBD Team. Failing to do so means you may not receive the full therapeutic
benefits of the medication.