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1: Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2001 Oct;15(10):1549-54.Click here to read Links

Review article: balsalazide therapy in ulcerative colitis.

Ragunath K, Williams JG.

Centre for Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA6 6NL, UK. ragunath@doctors.org.uk

Balsalazide is a 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine) pro-drug which has an inert carrier molecule instead of the sulfapyridine moiety of sulfasalazine. It is designed to deliver 5-aminosalicylic acid to the colonic mucosa without the sulfapyridine-associated side-effects encountered with sulfasalazine. Several studies have confirmed the efficacy and patient tolerance of balsalazide. When compared to mesalazine at equivalent doses, it induced symptomatic and complete remission of acute ulcerative colitis in a greater proportion of patients. In particular, patients with resistant left-sided disease were shown to have a higher probability of achieving remission. Balsalazide was beneficial in patients with troublesome nocturnal symptoms. It has a similar efficacy in maintaining remission when compared to sulfasalazine and mesalazine. The advantage of balsalazide over other 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds is its superior patient tolerability with minimal side-effects.

PMID: 11563993 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine® , Azulfidine® EN-tabs® )

    Sulfasalazine is used to treat bowel inflammation, diarrhea (stool frequency), rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain in patients with ulcerative colitis, a condition in which the bowel is inflamed. Sulfasalazine delayed-re...

  • Mesalamine (Asacol® , Canasa® , Pentasa® , ...)

    Mesalamine is used to treat ulcerative colitis (a condition in which part or all of the lining of the colon [large intestine] is swollen or worn away). Mesalamine delayed-release tablets and controlled-release capsules m...

  • Balsalazide (Colazal® )

    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, d...

  • Source: AHFS Consumer Medication Information