Sulfasalazine

Administration

  • Type: Salicylate
  • Dosage Forms: Tab: 500mg; DR Tab: 500mg
  • Routes of Administration: Oral
  • Common Trade Names: Azulfidine, Azulfidine EN-tabs, Sulfazine

Adult Dosing

Ulcerative Colitis

  • 500 mg PO q6h
    • Max: 6 g/day

Rheumatoid arthritis

  • 1 g PO q12h
    • Max 4 g/day

Crohn's disease

  • 500 mg PO q6h
    • Max 6 g/day

Pediatric Dosing

Ulcerative Colitis

  • 6+ years old
    • 30-70 mg/kg/day PO divided q12h
      • Max: 2 g/day

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

  • 6+ years old
    • 30-50 mg/kg/day PO divided q12h
      • Max: 2 g/day

Special Populations

  • Pregnancy Rating: Category B, benefits outweigh risk during pregnancy; low risk
  • Lactation risk: Caution advised; risk of infant diarrhea

Renal Dosing

  • Adult: Not defined
  • Pediatric: Not defined

Hepatic Dosing

  • Adult: Not defined
  • Pediatric: Not defined

Contraindications

  • Allergy to class/drug
  • Hypersensitivity to salicylates
  • Hypersensitivity to sulfonamides
  • Porphyria
  • GI Obstruction, GU obstruction
  • Febrile viral infection (pts <20 yo)

Adverse Reactions

Serious

Common

Pharmacology

  • Half-life: 7.6 h (Active metabolites 10.4-14.8h)
  • Metabolism: GI tract, liver
  • Excretion: Urine 37% (15% unchanged), feces

Mechanism of Action

  • Blocks cyclooxygenase and inhibits prostaglandin production, producing anti-inflammatory effects

Comments

See Also

References