(bal-SAL-a-zide)
NEWLY DISCOVERED USES (OFF-LABEL)
Treatment of Crohn's disease
ORIGINAL USES (ON-LABEL)
Mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis
BRAND NAME
Colazal
DRUG CLASS
Anti-inflammatory
DESCRIPTION
Balsalazide decreases gastric inflammation by blocking the production certain metabolites topically in the colon.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Headache, insomnia, fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, rectal bleeding, flatulence, upset stomach, cough, anorexia, and respiratory infections.
CAUTIONS
- Notify your doctor if you have an abnormal narrowing or obstruction in the stomach called “pyloric stenosis,” as this may cause balsalazide capsules to be retained in the stomach longer.
- Kidney toxicity has been observed with similar drugs. Notify your doctor if you have had kidney problems in the past.
- May aggravate symptoms of colitis.
- This drug is for use in adults only.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, antibiotics
FOOD INTERACTIONS
Unknown
HERBAL INTERACTIONS
Tamarind, tan-shen
PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING CAUTIONS
FDA Pregnancy Risk Category B. Only a limited amount of this drug is absorbed into the circulation and is rapidly excreted in the urine. It is not known if this drug is excreted in the breast milk.
Use with caution if you are breast-feeding, as an allergic reaction (diarrhea) can occur in the nursing infant.
Please enter a search term to begin your search.