Olsalazine affects substances in the body that cause inflammation, tissue damage, and
diarrhea.
Olsalazine is used to treat ulcerative colitis.
Olsalazine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking olsalazine?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to olsalazine or to salicylates
such as aspirin, Novasal, Doan's Extra Strength, Salflex, Tricosal, and others.
Before taking olsalazine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
asthma or other allergies;
kidney disease; or
liver disease.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take olsalazine.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Olsalazine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take olsalazine?
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger
amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take olsalazine with a full glass of water.
Store olsalazine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of olsalazine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not
take extra
medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about olsalazine?
Your pharmacist has information about olsalazine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of olsalazine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using olsalazine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects:
worsening colitis (fever, stomach pain, cramping, or bloody
diarrhea);
chest pain, shortness of breath, fast or pounding
heartbeats; or
nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine,
clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
mild stomach discomfort;
nausea, heartburn;
skin rash, itching;
headache;
muscle or joint pain; or
urinating more often than usual.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about olsalazine?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to olsalazine or to salicylates
such as aspirin, Novasal, Doan's Extra Strength, Salflex, Tricosal, and others.
Before taking olsalazine, tell your doctor if you have asthma or other allergies, kidney
disease, or liver disease.
Call your doctor at once if your colitis symptoms get worse, or if you have chest pain,
shortness of breath, fast or pounding heartbeats, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching,
dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
What should I avoid while taking olsalazine?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity
while you are using olsalazine.
Avoid getting a varicella (chickenpox) vaccine within 6 weeks after you stop taking
olsalazine.
What other drugs will affect olsalazine?
The following drugs can interact with olsalazine. Tell your doctor if you are using any of
these:
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
thioguanine; or
mercaptopurine (Purinethol).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with olsalazine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications,
vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new
medication without telling your doctor.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
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a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009