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CHEMICAL NAME
SULFASALAZINE.
INDICATIONS
Sulfasalazine is used to treat ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
DIRECTIONS
Follow the directions for using Sulfasalazine Tablets provided by your doctor. Swallow whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing. Take this medicine with food and a full glass of water. Drinking extra fluids while you are taking this medicine is recommended. Check with your doctor or nurse for instructions. Space your doses evenly over each 24 hour period. If possible, try not to space any dose more than 8 hours from the next dose. Store this medicine at room temperature in a tightly-closed container, away from heat and light.
MISSED DOSE:If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
SIDE EFFECTS
Sulfasalazine may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, dizziness or trouble sleeping during the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication. If these symptoms persist or become severe, inform your doctor. May cause urine to be orange-brown in color. This is not harmful and will disappear when the medication is stopped. This medication increases sensitivity to sunlight. Notify your doctor if your condition worsens or you develop: easy bruising. Rarely, this medication can cause serious, even fatal, side effects such as a severe peeling skin rash known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, blood disorders (e.g., agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia), or liver damage. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of the following symptoms: skin rash or blisters, unusual fatigue, persistent sore throat or fever, yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, abdominal pain. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS
Before using Sulfasalazine, tell your doctor your medical history, including: liver or kidney diseases, blood disorders, drug allergies. This medicine may make you more prone to sunburn. Wear protective clothing and a sunscreen when outdoors. Before using this drug, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. This drug is excreted into breast milk and may have an effect on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
OVERDOSAGE
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, and seizures.
INFORMATION
If your symptoms do not improve within a few weeks or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. If using this medicine for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
NOTES
The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician,pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your
healthcare professional before taking the product.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Tell your doctor of all the medicines you may use (both prescription and nonprescription), especially of: warfarin, methotrexate, cyclosporine, certain oral drugs used for diabetes (sulfonylureas), phenytoin, oral PABA, aspirin or aspirin-like drugs (NSAIDs), digoxin, folic acid. This drug may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Discuss using other methods of birth control with your doctor. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
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