Balsalazide Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Balsalazide Capsule (balsalazide, balsalazide disodium) is a prescription anti-inflammatory medicine in the aminosalicylate class used to treat mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. It helps reduce inflammation in the large intestine and manage symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. It is available as a capsule and should be used exactly as directed by a doctor.

What is Balsalazide Capsule

Balsalazide is a prescription anti-inflammatory medicine used to treat ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the large intestine.

Balsalazide Capsule uses

• Mild to moderate ulcerative colitis
• Active inflammation of the colon
• Ulcerative colitis affecting the large intestine
• Ulcerative colitis with diarrhea
• Ulcerative colitis with rectal bleeding

Benefits of Balsalazide Capsule

• Reduces inflammation in the colon
• Helps reduce diarrhea
• Helps relieve abdominal pain
• May reduce rectal bleeding
• Helps control ulcerative colitis symptoms

How Balsalazide Capsule works

Balsalazide travels to the colon without being broken down earlier in the digestive system. Once there, bacteria split it apart to release mesalamine, the active substance that reduces inflammation in the large intestine.

Balsalazide Capsule dosage

Swallow the capsule whole. Do not chew, cut, or crush it. If you have trouble swallowing the capsule, you can open it and pour the medicine into a small amount of applesauce, stir, and swallow right away without saving it for later. This mixture may stain your teeth or tongue. It can be taken with or without food.

Keep taking this medicine for the full length of treatment, even if you start feeling better after a few days; do not skip doses. Drink extra fluids to help prevent kidney problems such as kidney stones. Do not switch to a different brand without checking with your doctor first.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember; if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one and go back to your regular schedule — do not take double doses.

Available forms and strengths

• Capsule

Side effects of Balsalazide Capsule

Common

• Headache
• Stomach pain or cramps
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Infection in the nose or throat, sore throat, or common cold symptoms
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches
• Stuffy or runny nose

Serious

• Severe allergic reactions, including a reaction called DRESS that can affect the liver, kidneys, and heart
• Severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
• Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
• Kidney problems, including swelling of kidney filters (tubulointerstitial nephritis) and kidney stones
• Worsening of ulcerative colitis symptoms, sometimes called mesalamine-induced acute intolerance syndrome
• Liver problems

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take balsalazide if you are allergic to it, to salicylates or aminosalicylates, or to any of its ingredients.
• Balsalazide can cause serious kidney problems including kidney stones; drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent this.
• Balsalazide can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of severe sunburns, blisters, and swelling. Wear sunscreen and protective clothing in the sun and avoid tanning beds.
• People 65 and older may be at greater risk for certain side effects and should discuss this with their doctor, keeping all follow-up appointments and tests.
• Your urine may turn reddish-brown if it touches bleach-treated toilet water; tell your doctor if it is reddish-brown before touching the toilet water.
• It is not known if or how balsalazide could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care provider if you are or plan to become pregnant.
• Balsalazide passes into breast milk, and studies have shown it can harm a breastfeeding infant. An alternative medicine should be used, or breastfeeding should be stopped while using this medicine.
• Use with caution if you have kidney disease, since the medicine may be removed from the body more slowly and effects may be increased. Balsalazide can also cause kidney problems such as kidney stones or inflammation.
• Use with caution if you have liver disease, as balsalazide may make liver problems worse.
• It is not known if drinking alcohol will affect balsalazide.
• Balsalazide generally does not directly impair driving.

Storage

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light
• Keep from freezing
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed
• Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use
• Balsalazide should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C); it can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods, such as when transporting it; store in a cool, dry place

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help for symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as breathing problems, wheezing, racing heart, hives, swelling of the face or throat, or fainting.
• Stop the medicine and get emergency help if you develop painful, peeling or blistering skin, or red, painful watery eyes, which may be signs of a severe skin reaction.
• Contact your doctor right away for chest pain, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing, which could mean inflammation of the heart muscle.
• Stop taking balsalazide and call your doctor right away if you have signs of kidney problems like changes in how much you urinate, nausea, fever, rash, high blood pressure, confusion, or swelling with weight gain.
• Tell your doctor right away if you develop severe pain in your side or back or notice blood in your urine, which could mean a kidney stone.
• Tell your doctor right away if your ulcerative colitis symptoms get worse, such as stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, fever, headache, or rash.
• If you or someone else takes too much balsalazide, get medical help right away or contact your local poison control center.

Alternatives

• Mesalamine
• Sulfasalazine
• Olsalazine
• Budesonide