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?Balsalazide affects a substance in the body that causes inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhea. 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?You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to balsalazide or mesalamine, or to aspirin or other salicylates (such as Nuprin Backache Caplet, Kaopectate, KneeRelief, Pamprin Cramp Formula, Pepto-Bismol, Tricosal, Trilisate, and others). To make sure balsalazide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: - kidney disease;
- liver disease;
- 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. FDA pregnancy category B. Balsalazide is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether balsalazide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Balsalazide capsules should not be given to a child younger than 5 years old. Balsalazide tablets should not be given to anyone under 18 years old. How should I take balsalazide?Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Balsalazide can be taken with or without food. To make swallowing easier, you may open the balsalazide capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow right away. Do not save the mixture for later use. The yellow-orange medicine from the capsule may stain your teeth or tongue when you use this method. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using balsalazide. Balsalazide is usually taken only for a short time (8 to 12 weeks). Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose?Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose?Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. 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?Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: - 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);
- pain or burning when you urinate; or
- anemia (low red blood cells) --pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating.
Common side effects may include: - headache;
- mild or occasional nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;
- joint pain; 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 drug's will affect balsalazide?Other drugs may interact with balsalazide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now 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 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision date: 8/13/2013.
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Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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