balsalazide

What is the most important information I should know about balsalazide?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is balsalazide?

The Colazal brand of balsalazide is used to treat mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis in adults and children who are at least 5 years old.

The Giazo brand of balsalazide is used to treat mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis in men who are at least 18 years old.

Balsalazide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking balsalazide?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease; or
• a stomach condition called pyloric stenosis.

Balsalazide tablets contain sodium. Talk to your doctor before using this form of balsalazide if you are on a low salt diet.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether balsalazide will harm an unborn baby. However, having active ulcerative colitis during pregnancy may cause premature delivery or low birth weight. The benefit of treating ulcerative colitis may outweigh any risks to the baby.

If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor if you notice diarrhea in the nursing baby.

How should I take balsalazide?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Balsalazide can be taken with or without food.

If you cannot swallow a capsule whole, open it and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away. Medicine from the capsule may stain your teeth or tongue yellow/orange when mixed with food. Do not save the mixture for later use.

Balsalazide is usually taken only for a short time (8 to 12 weeks). Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking balsalazide?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of balsalazide?

• pain or burning when you urinate;
• worsening colitis symptoms --fever, stomach pain, cramps, or bloody diarrhea;
• kidney problems --little or no urinating, swelling, rapid weight gain;
• liver problems --upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• low red blood cells (anemia) --pale skin, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet.

Common side effects may include:

• headache;
• mild or occasional nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;
• joint pain;
• fever; or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect balsalazide?

Other drugs may affect balsalazide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about balsalazide.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 5/12/2020.