Salazopyrin 500mg (Sulphasalazine)

Salazopyrin general information

What is Salazopyrin used for?

Salazopyrin tablets 500mg are used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's Disease, which is an autoimmune disease (when the immune system attacks self) that causes inflammation at any point of the gastrointestinal system. Salazopyrin tablets 500mg are also used to treat ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory disease of the intestine usually the large intestine or colon, where inflammation causes ulcers and open sores. Salazopyrin tablets 500mg are used to treat active inflammatory bowel disease, prevent flare-up of symptoms and manage long-term remission of symptoms.

How does Salazopyrin work?

Salazopyrin tablets 500mg contain sulphasalazine, which has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects, working through several different mechanisms. Sulphasalazine in Salazopyrin tablets 500mg inhibits the production, by the walls of the intestine of several chemicals that are known to cause inflammation, including prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These same chemicals are also involved in immune reactions. Sulphasalazine is also thought to influence white cell function and inhibit antibody production, which may help damp down immune reactions. These combined actions help treat active inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as preventing flare-ups of the disease, and relieve symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhoea that often contains blood and mucus.

What does Salazopyrin contain?

Salazopyrin tablets 500mg contain sulphasalazine, used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. They also contain silica, magnesium stearate and maize starch.

What forms of Salazopyrin are available?

Salazopyrin is available as ordinary tablets or as enteric coated tablets, which are tablets coated with a material that controls how the active ingredient is release. The enteric coating prevents the tablet being dissolved in the stomach and the ingredients are then released in the small intestine. Both tablets and enteric coated tablets are available in doses of 500mg and you can buy both online from Inhouse Pharmacy.

Salazopyrin for inflammatory bowel diseases

Salazopyrin tablets 500mg contain sulphasalazine, that is used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's Disease, which is an autoimmune disease (when the immune system attacks self) causing inflammation at any point of the gastrointestinal system; and ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory disease that usually affects the large intestine or colon, where inflammation causes ulcers and open sores. Sulphasalazine in Salazopyrin tablets 500mg has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects, working through several different mechanisms. It is thought to inhibit the production, by the walls of the intestine, of several chemicals that are known to cause inflammation, including prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Sulphasalazine in Salazopyrin tablets 500mg is also thought to influence white cell function and inhibit antibody production, which may help damp down immune reactions. These combined actions help treat active inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as preventing flare-ups of the disease, and relieve symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhoea that often contains blood and mucus.

What are the side effects of Salazopyrin?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Salazopyrin tablets 500mg include: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, anorexia, headache, rash, raised temperature, low sperm count in men.

When should Salazopyrin not be used?

You should not use Salazopyrin if you:

• are allergic to sulphasalazine, its metabolites, sulphonamides including antibacterial medicines and some diabetes medication, salicylates like aspirin, or any other ingredients in Salazopyrin
• have liver or kidney disease
• have any form of blood disorder or porphyria a rare disease of blood pigments
• have intestinal or urinary obstruction
• are taking medication that may interact with Salazopyrin, including anticoagulants like warfarin, methotrexate used for arthritis and some cancers, some diabetic medications like sulphonamides, digoxin for heart failure, the anti-cancer drugs mercaptopurine and azathioprine, antacids for heartburn and indigestion, oxyphenbutazone, phenylbutazone, indomethacin and sulfinpyrazone used to treat arthritis and gout, salicylates like aspirin, antibiotics like oxacillin and penicillins, certain local anaesthetics, urinary acidicifiers

What medications interact with Salazopyrin

Several medications interact with Salazopyrin and should either not be taken while you are taking Salazopyrin or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that increase side effects: methotrexate used for arthritis and some cancers, the anti-cancer drugs mercaptopurine and azathioprine
• Drugs that affect Salazopyrin: urinary acidifiers, oral anticoagulants, phenylbutazone, or oxyphenbutazone, indomethacin, sulphinpyrazone, used to treat arthritis and gout, salicylates like aspirin, antacids for heartburn and indigestion, certain local anaesthetics
• Drugs that are affected by Salazopyrin: digoxin for heart failure, antibiotics like oxacillin and penicillins, some diabetic medications like sulphonamides, methotrexate used for arthritis and some cancers

How should Salazopyrin be taken?

You should take your Salazopyrin tablets 500mg with a glass of water after meals 4 times daily in evenly spaced doses over a 24 hour period, with no more than 8 hours during the night time period. The dose you take and for how long, depends on what you are being treated for and your doctors recommendations.

How long should you take Salazopyrin?

You should continue to take your Salazopyrin tablets 500mg for as long as your doctor recommends.

Missed dose of Salazopyrin

If you miss a dose of Salazopyrin tablets 500mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Salazopyrin be stored?

You should store your Salazopyrin tablets 500mg in their original container in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.