Azulfidine: Uses, Active ingredient, and Warnings

What is Azulfidine?

Azulfidine is a brand name of the drug, containing Sulfasalazine as an active ingredient. Sulfasalazine is known to possess anti-inflammatory activity and is thus used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis. It is a prescription-only medication.

Generic name

Sulfasalazine (Drug class: Anti-inflammatory, Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), 5-Aminosalicylic acid derivatives)

Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) available dosage forms

It is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablets

Each tab contains 500mg of Sulfasalazine, to be administered orally.

What is it used for?

Azulfidine (sulfasalazine) is indicated for the treatment of

  • Ulcerative Colitis (Tablets are used to treat mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, as well as as a supplement to other treatments for severe ulcerative colitis. It is also indicated to prolong the remission interval in between acute episodes of ulcerative colitis.)
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

When administer sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) to a patient?

The tablets dosage should be modified according to each person’s response and tolerance.

Monitoring while Azulfidine tablets usage

Complete blood count (CBC) Urinalysis and a renal function test (LFT) should be performed on a regular basis when taking tabs.

How to treat Sulfasalazine overdose?

  • Gastric lavage
  • Emesis and catharsis
  • Urine Alkalinization
  • Dialysis

Is it safe to use Sulfasalazine during pregnancy?

It is a pregnancy category B medication. This medication should only be used during pregnancy if absolutely necessary.

Sulfasalazine drug interactions

When Sulfasalazine is administered concomitantly with folic acid and digoxin a reduction in folic acid and digoxin absorption is observed.

Azulfidine Tablets Contraindications

The tablets are contraindicated in the following conditions

  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Urinary obstruction
  • Porphyria
  • Sulfasalazine, sulfasalazine metabolites, sulfonamides, or salicylates hypersensitivity

Other Market names

Azulfidine medicine is also available in the market under the following brand names

  • Azulfidine-En tabs
  • Salazine
  • Sulfine
  • Salazopyrin

References

https://www.pfizer.com/products/product-detail/azulfidine
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682204.html
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/007073s124lbl.pdf
https://reference.medscape.com/drug/azulfidine-sulfasalazine-343280
https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/sulfasalazine/

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