home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK03335}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{sulfasalazine}
- $Subject{Azaline Major Azulfidine Pharmacia EN-tabs Rowell
- Sulfonamide anti-inflammatory sulfasalazine inflammatory bowel disease
- regional enteritis ulcerative colitis 5-aminosalicylic acid aspirin-like
- inflammation}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- sulfasalazine
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- Azaline (Major)
- Azulfidine (Pharmacia)
- Azulfidine EN-tabs (Pharmacia)
- S.A.S.-500 (Rowell)
- sulfasalazine (various manufacturers)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Sulfonamide and anti-inflammatory
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- sulfasalazine
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Tablets (500 mg)
- Enteric-coated tablets (500 mg)
- Oral suspension (250 mg per 5-ml spoonful)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Store at room temperature in a tightly closed, light-resistant container.
- This medication should never be frozen.
-
- USES
-
- This medication is used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (regional
- enteritis or ulcerative colitis). In the intestine, sulfasalazine is
- converted to 5-aminosalicylic acid, an aspirin-like drug, which acts to
- relieve inflammation.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- In order to avoid stomach irritation while you are being treated with
- this medication, you should take your doses with a full glass of water, with
- food, or after meals (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- The enteric-coated tablets should be swallowed whole. The enteric
- coating is added to lessen stomach irritation. Chewing, breaking, or crushing
- these tablets destroys the coating.
- The suspension form of this medication should be shaken well just before
- measuring each dose. The contents tend to settle on the bottom of the bottle,
- so it is necessary to shake the container to distribute the ingredients evenly
- and equalize the doses. Each dose should then be measured carefully with a
- specially designed 5-ml measuring spoon. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is not
- accurate enough.
- If you miss a dose of this medication, take the missed dose as soon as
- possible, unless it is almost time for the next dose. In that case, do not
- take the missed dose at all; just return to your regular dosing schedule. Do
- not double the next dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, loss of appetite, mild
- headache, nausea, stomach upset, or vomiting. These should disappear as your
- body adjusts to the drug.
- This medication can increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid
- prolonged exposure to sunlight and sunlamps. Wear protective clothing, and
- use an effective sunscreen. However, a sunscreen containing para-aminobenzoic
- acid (PABA) interferes with this drug and should not be used.
- Sulfasalazine can discolor contact lenses. You may want to stop wearing
- them while taking this medication. Discuss this with your ophthalmologist.
- Sulfasalazine can cause your urine to change to an orange-yellow color.
- This is a harmless effect.
- If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a
- sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- blood in the urine, convulsions, depression, difficulty in swallowing,
- difficult or painful urination, fatigue, fever, hallucinations, hearing loss,
- itching, joint pain, lower back pain, mouth sores, pale skin, rash or peeling
- skin, ringing in the ears, severe headache, sore throat, swelling of the front
- part of the neck, tingling sensations, unusual bleeding or bruising, or
- yellowing of the eyes or skin.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Sulfasalazine interacts with several other types of drugs:
- 1. It can increase the side effects of oral anticoagulants (blood
- thinners, such as warfarin), oral antidiabetic agents, methotrexate, aspirin,
- and phenytoin.
- 2. The blood levels and effectiveness of digoxin and folic acid are
- decreased by concurrent use of sulfasalazine.
- 3. Probenecid, oxyphenbutazone, phenylbutazone, methenamine, and
- sulfinpyrazone can increase the blood levels and side effects of
- sulfasalazine.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking, especially any listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to sulfasalazine, aspirin or other salicylates, or
- any sulfa drug (diuretics, oral antidiabetic medications, sulfonamide
- antibiotics, oral antiglaucoma medication, acetazolamide, sulfoxone, dapsone).
- * Before starting to take this medication, be sure to tell your doctor if
- you now have or if you have ever had blood disorders, blockage of the urinary
- tract or intestine, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency,
- kidney disease, liver disease, or porphyria.
- * To help prevent the formation of kidney stones, try to drink at least
- eight to 12 glasses of water or fruit juice each day while you are taking this
- medication (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- * Before having surgery or other medical or dental treatment, tell your
- doctor or dentist you are taking this drug.
- * If your condition does not improve within a month or two after starting
- to take sulfasalazine, check with your doctor. It may be necessary to change
- your medication.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although
- sulfasalazine appears to be safe during most of pregnancy, extensive studies
- in humans have not been conducted. There is also concern that if this drug is
- taken during the ninth month of pregnancy, it may cause liver or brain
- disorders in the infant. Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an
- infant. Small amounts of sulfasalazine pass into breast milk.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-