Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of sulfasalazine tablets and enteric-coated tablets to treat ulcerative colitis in children younger than 2 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 2 years of age.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of sulfasalazine enteric-coated tablets to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 6 years of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of sulfasalazine in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

Studies suggest that this medication may alter milk production or composition. If an alternative to this medication is not prescribed, you should monitor the infant for side effects and adequate milk intake.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Ketorolac
  • Methenamine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Aceclofenac
  • Acemetacin
  • Amoxicillin
  • Amtolmetin Guacil
  • Asciminib
  • Azathioprine
  • Balsalazide
  • Bismuth Subsalicylate
  • Bromfenac
  • Bufexamac
  • Capmatinib
  • Celecoxib
  • Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate
  • Choline Salicylate
  • Clonixin
  • Darolutamide
  • Dexibuprofen
  • Dexketoprofen
  • Diclofenac
  • Diflunisal
  • Dipyrone
  • Droxicam
  • Eltrombopag
  • Enasidenib
  • Encorafenib
  • Etodolac
  • Etofenamate
  • Etoricoxib
  • Felbinac
  • Fenoprofen
  • Fepradinol
  • Feprazone
  • Floctafenine
  • Flufenamic Acid
  • Flurbiprofen
  • Furosemide
  • Ibuprofen
  • Indomethacin
  • Itraconazole
  • Ketoprofen
  • Leflunomide
  • Leniolisib
  • Lornoxicam
  • Loxoprofen
  • Lumiracoxib
  • Magnesium Salicylate
  • Meclofenamate
  • Mefenamic Acid
  • Meloxicam
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Mesalamine
  • Methotrexate
  • Midostaurin
  • Momelotinib
  • Morniflumate
  • Nabumetone
  • Naproxen
  • Nepafenac
  • Niflumic Acid
  • Nimesulide
  • Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
  • Olsalazine
  • Oxaprozin
  • Oxyphenbutazone
  • Parecoxib
  • Phenylbutazone
  • Phenyl Salicylate
  • Piketoprofen
  • Piroxicam
  • Porfimer
  • Proglumetacin
  • Propyphenazone
  • Proquazone
  • Rofecoxib
  • Salicylamide
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Salsalate
  • Sodium Salicylate
  • Sulindac
  • Tafamidis
  • Tenoxicam
  • Teriflunomide
  • Tiaprofenic Acid
  • Tolfenamic Acid
  • Tolmetin
  • Trolamine Salicylate
  • Valdecoxib

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Aminolevulinic Acid
  • Cyclosporine
  • Digoxin
  • Warfarin

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Allergy to sulfa drugs or salicylates or
  • Bowel blockage or
  • Porphyria (enzyme problem) or
  • Urinary bladder blockage—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Blood or bone marrow problems (eg, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia) or
  • Heart disease or
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease or
  • Lung or breathing problems (eg, bronchial asthma)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (a hereditary metabolic disorder affecting red blood cells)—May cause hemolytic anemia (blood disorder) in patients with this condition.
  • Infection—May decrease your body's ability to fight infection.

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Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

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