Balsalazide

Balsalazide is used to treat ulcerative colitis, a condition in which the bowel is inflamed. Balsalazide is an anti-inflammatory drug. It is converted in the body to mesalamine and works by reducing bowel inflammation, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and stomach pain. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Balsalazide comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken three times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take balsalazide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Balsalazide is usually taken for 8 weeks, but it may be taken for up to 12 weeks. Continue to take balsalazide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking balsalazide without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Side effects from balsalazide can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
abdominal pain</li>
<li>
upset stomach</li>
<li>
diarrhea</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
joint pain</li>
<li>
difficulty falling or staying asleep</li>
<li>
tiredness</li>
<li>
gas</li>
<li>
runny nose</li>
<li>
muscle or back pain</li>
<li>
coughing</li>
<li>
loss of appetite</li>
<li>
urinary tract infection</li>
<li>
constipation</li>
<li>
dry mouth</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
<li>
dark urine</li>
<li>
bloating or swelling of the stomach</li>
<li>
increased diarrhea</li>
<li>
rectal bleeding</li>
<li>
fever, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking balsalazide, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to balsalazide, aspirin, choline magnesium trisalicylate (Tricosal, Trilisate), choline salicylate (Arthropan), diflunisal (Dolobid), magnesium salicylate (Nuprin Backache, Mobidin, Extra Strength Doan's, others), mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa), salsalate (Argesic-AS, Disalcid, others), sodium salicylate, sodium thiosalicylate (Rexolate), sulfasalzine (Azulfidine), or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially oral antibiotics and vitamins and herbal products. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease or pyloric stenosis (a condition in which the stomach empties slowly).

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.