Brand Names

How to Use

Do not give sulfasalazine to infants and children up to 2 years of age , unless otherwise directed by your family doctor. It may cause brain problems.

Sulfasalazine is best taken right after meals or with food to lessen stomach upset. If stomach upset continues or is bothersome, check with your family doctor.

Each dose of sulfasalazine must also be taken with a full glass - 8 ounces of water. Several additional glasses of water must be taken every day , unless otherwise directed by your family doctor. Drinking extra water will help to prevent some unwanted effects of the sulfa drug.

For diseaseds taking the enteric-coated tablet form of this drug:

• Swallow tablets whole. Do not break or crush.

Keep taking this drug for the full time of treat , even if you begin to feel better after a few days Do not miss any doses .

Dosage

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are taking sulfasalazine .

• For prevention or treat of inflammatory bowel disease:
  • For oral dosage forms - tablets, enteric-coated tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers To start, 500 milligrams - mg to 1000 mg - 1 gram every six to eight hours. Your family doctor may then decrease the dose to 500 mg every six hours. Later, your family doctor may change your dose as needed.
    • Children 2 years of age and over Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor.
      • To start, the dose is usually:
        • 6.7 to 10 mg per kilogram - kg - 3.05 to 4.55 mg per pound of body weight every four hours
        • 10 to 15 mg per kg - 4.55 to 6.82 mg per pound of body weight every six hours
        • 13.3 to 20 mg per kg - 6.05 to 9.09 mg per pound of body weight every eight hours.
      • Then, the dose is usually 7.5 mg per kg - 3.41 mg per pound of body weight every six hours.
    • Infants and children up to 2 years of age Use is not recommended.
  • For rectal dosage form - enema:
    • Adults and teenagers 3 grams - 1 unit, using rectally as directed, every night.
    • Children 2 years of age and over Dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Infants and children up to 2 years of age Use is not recommended.
• For treat of rheumatoid arthritis:
  • For oral dosage forms - tablets, enteric-coated tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers To start, 500 mg to 1000 mg - 1 gram daily. Your family doctor may increase your dose as needed, but the dose is generally not more than 3000 mg - 3 grams a day.
    • For children ages 6 and over 30 to 50 mg per kg of body weight daily, divided into two doses. The drug is usually started at a lower amount and gradually increased to the actual amount over a month. Typically the amount that is needed does not exceed 2 grams per day. The dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Infants and children up to 2 years of age Use is not recommended.

Missed dose If you do miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the tablet form of this drug in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Keep the enema form of this drug from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.