The information on this site is intended to supplement and enhance, not replace, the advice of a physician who is familiar with your medical history. Decisions about your health should always be made ONLY after detailed conversation with your doctor.
Generic drug name:
sulfasalazine
(sul fa SAL a zeen)
Brand name(s):
AZULFIDINE,
AZULFIDINE EN-TABS
GENERIC:
not available
FAMILY:
Other Gastrointestinal Drugs
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Pregnancy and Breast-feeding Warnings [top]
Sulfasalazine is excreted into breast milk. Because it can cause jaundice in the nursing infant, you should not take this drug while nursing. There have been five reports with limited data that shows that bloody stools or diarrhea occurred in breastfed infants of nursing mothers taking sulfasalazine.
Facts About This Drug [top]
Sulfasalazine is used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases. The two major diseases of this type are ulcerative colitis, which typically affects the colon, and Crohn’s disease, which can occur anywhere in the intestine. Crohn’s disease typically presents in young adulthood with weight loss, abdominal pain, anemia, and malnutrition. Ulcerative colitis typically occurs later in life. Both are associated with increased risk of colon cancer, although the risk is greater for ulcerative colitis....
Sulfasalazine is used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases. The two major diseases of this type are ulcerative colitis, which typically affects the colon, and Crohn’s disease, which can occur anywhere in the intestine. Crohn’s disease typically presents in young adulthood with weight loss, abdominal pain, anemia, and malnutrition. Ulcerative colitis typically occurs later in life. Both are associated with increased risk of colon cancer, although the risk is greater for ulcerative colitis. Sulfasalazine also is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Because of the chronic nature of these conditions, sulfasalazine usually is taken for a long time. If your disease improves enough, you may be able to lower your dose to a maintenance level or even stop using the drug for periods of time. If you have impaired kidney function, you may need to take less than the usual adult dose. Kidney function should be monitored periodically while taking sulfasalazine, and the drug should be discontinued if kidney function deteriorates while using the drug.[1] The drug should not be used in children under the age of 2.[2]
In 2012, the drug product label for sulfasalazine was updated to include information concerning the use of sulfasalazine in nursing mothers. The update stated that there have been five reports with limited data that shows that bloody stools or diarrhea occurred in breastfed infants of nursing mothers taking sulfasalazine.[3]
In 2014, an FDA advisory stated that serious infections, including fatal sepsis and pneumonia, have been reported in patients taking sulfasalazine.[4]
Before You Use This Drug [top]
Do not use if you have or have had:
Tell your doctor if you have or have had:
Tell your doctor about any other drugs you take, including aspirin, herbs, vitamins, and other nonprescription products.
When You Use This Drug [top]
How to Use This Drug [top]
Interactions with Other Drugs [top]
The following drugs, biologics (e.g., vaccines, therapeutic antibodies), or foods are listed in Evaluations of Drug Interactions 2003 as causing “highly clinically significant” or “clinically significant” interactions when used together with any of the drugs in this section. In some sections with multiple drugs, the interaction may have been reported for one but not all drugs in this section, but we include the interaction because the drugs in this section are similar to one another. We have also included potentially serious interactions listed in the drug’s FDA-approved professional package insert or in published medical journal articles. There may be other drugs, especially those in the families of drugs listed below, that also will react with this drug to cause severe adverse effects. Make sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist the drugs you are taking and tell them if you are taking any of these interacting drugs:
digoxin, HIPREX, LANOXICAPS, LANOXIN, methenamine, potassium aminobenzoate, UREX.
Adverse Effects [top]
Call your doctor immediately if you experience:
Call your doctor if these symptoms continue:
Periodic Tests[top]
Ask your doctor which of these tests should be done periodically while you are taking this drug:
last reviewed March 31, 2024
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