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1: Rev Gastroenterol Disord. 2004 Spring;4(2):86-91.Click here to read Links

The short- and long-term safety of 5-aminosalicylate products in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Baker DE, Kane S.

College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA.

5-aminosalicylic acid agents are effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Balsalazide, mesalamine, and olsalazine are alternative formulations to sulfasalazine for the delivery of 5-aminosalicylic acid. The newer compounds might be better tolerated than sulfasalazine in some patients, as long as the intolerance is not due to hypersensitivity to 5-aminosalicylic acid. Adverse events requiring the withdrawal of therapy seem to occur less frequently with balsalazide, mesalamine, and olsalazine compared with sulfasalazine. If patients are unable to tolerate any one of these three 5-aminosalicylic acid-releasing preparations, they might be able to tolerate one of the others, as long as the intolerance is not due to hypersensitivity to 5-aminosalicylic acid.

PMID: 15185719 [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...

  • Olsalazine (Dipentum® )

    Olsalazine, an anti-inflammatory medicine, is used to treat ulcerative colitis, a condition in which the bowel is inflamed. Olsalazine reduces the bowel inflammation, diarrhea (stool frequency), rectal bleeding, and abdo...

  • » See all 4 drug reports ...
  • Source: AHFS Consumer Medication Information