Treating arthritis is a complex, lengthy process. The modern pharmacological industry offers a number of drugs to combat rheumatic and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Two drugs commonly used are sulfasalazine and methotrexate.
These drugs have a pronounced antirheumatic effect. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
To get an idea of the pharmacological effect of sulfasalazine and its general effect on the body, we will carefully study the mechanism of action on organs and systems, understand the indications and undesirable effects.
Sulfasalazine is a complex drug with bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects. Refers to the drugs of choice in the treatment of chronic arthritis.
The drug does not dissolve in water and, therefore, is not absorbed in the stomach and small intestine. A significant part of the active substance passes unchanged through the stomach and small intestine, reaching the colon, where, under the influence of colon flora, it breaks down into its constituent components.
A distinctive property of sulfasalazine is its high ability to bind to body proteins. It is well excreted through the kidneys and bile ducts. The maximum amount of the drug accumulates in the blood plasma 5 hours after administration.
A third of the active substance is excreted through the kidneys with urine, half is excreted with bile into the large intestine. The accumulation of the active substance occurs in the connective tissue, synovial membranes of the joints and pleural fluid.
Researchers have not yet fully answered the question of how sulfasalazine affects the affected joints. A number of experiments have revealed anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. This is due to the suppression of lymphocyte activity in the small intestine.
Mechanisms of action of the drug sulfasalazine on joints:
Sulfasalazine is available in tablets. The tablets are round in shape and yellowish in color. The tablet contains 0.5 grams of active substance and has a film coating. In addition to tablets, the drug is presented on the pharmacological market in the form of a suspension and suppositories for administration into the rectum. To familiarize yourself with the effect of the drug, detailed instructions are attached to each package.
For rheumatoid arthritis, drug treatment is carried out according to doctor's prescriptions. Sulfasalazine should be taken orally after meals.
During the research, the dosage of the drug was determined - 2-3 grams of the active substance, distributed per day.
Doctors recommend starting treatment with 0.5 grams of the drug per day. Gradually increase the dose until it reaches the average therapeutic dose. It will take a month to increase the dose. You will notice the effect of taking the drug no earlier than 1.5 months after starting treatment.
The instructions for use of the drug provide a clear dosage scheme. For treatment with sulfasalazine to be effective, you must adhere to the instructions.
In adults, the maximum dose of the drug should not exceed 16 tablets per day.
In pediatric practice, sulfasalazine is used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The use of the drug has features associated with age-related anatomical and physiological characteristics and the course of the pathological process.
A number of studies have proven that sulfasalazine has shown its best performance in the treatment of single joint lesions in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and multiple joint lesions.
A long course of taking the drug reliably eliminates symptoms and keeps the child’s condition satisfactory for many years when the drug is discontinued.
Taking sulfasalazine suppresses the development of pathological processes in the joints, which can be detected x-ray.
Studies have been conducted on the effects of sulfasalazine and placebo in rheumatoid arthritis. The effectiveness of sulfasalazine exceeds the effect of placebo several times. The effectiveness of the drug exceeds other drugs prescribed for the treatment of articular syndrome. The tolerability of the drug is superior to other pharmacological groups. When compared with basic drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the therapeutic effect is obtained much faster.
Sulfasalazine reduces the risk of hidden hemorrhage and inflammatory processes in the walls of the small intestine - a significant difference from gold or plaquenil drugs.
In patients who were resistant to the prescription of metatrexate, the use of sulfasalazine in the treatment regimen led to an improvement in the condition after 3-4 months.
Treatment with sulfasalazine leads to normalization of peripheral blood parameters, a decrease in the content of C-reactive protein in plasma and a number of immunoglobulins. This is direct evidence of the ability to suppress the inflammatory process.
While taking the pills, morning stiffness due to rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis decreased. The frequency and intensity of pain decreased. There was a significant improvement in the patients' condition.
When using sulfasalazine in the treatment of arthritis, remember that it has side effects.
The appearance of unpleasant effects from use is associated with increased individual sensitivity to the components of the drug. These may be salicylic acid derivatives or sulfapyridine. The instructions for use warn that when the rate of destruction of the active substance decreases, undesirable phenomena occur.
The main contraindication to the prescription is individual intolerance or hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
Sulfasalazine is contraindicated in pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. The active substances pass into women's breast milk; it is not recommended to prescribe it during breastfeeding. Contraindications for use include liver and kidney failure.
Most reviews about its high effectiveness and good tolerability.
However, do not take it without consulting your doctor first. Before prescribing sulfasalazine, your doctor will order blood and urine tests.
The instructions for use will explain the rules of use and dosage, interactions with other medicinal substances. Studying the instructions is necessary along with consulting a specialist.
The drug Sulfasalazine has powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The medicine can also be used for diseases of the musculoskeletal system (for example, arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis).
Without strict indications, taking the drug is strictly prohibited: Sulfasalazine can have serious side effects, even with a short course of treatment. Before taking Sulfasalazine, you should always consult your doctor.
The drug Sulfasalazine belongs to the group of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs. It can be used in the treatment of various diseases of the musculoskeletal system (mostly severe).
It is also used for various autoimmune diseases that occur with severe inflammatory phenomena. For example, with nonspecific ulcerative colitis or proctitis, with some forms of arthritis (including rheumatoid).
During treatment with Sulfasalazine, constant monitoring (monitoring) of the patient's condition is required. The fact is that the drug quite often produces unwanted side effects, especially with long-term therapy.
There are two versions of Sulfasalazine: classic and with the prefix “EN”. Both versions of the drug have only one release form: tablets.
Regular Sulfasalazine tablets are film-coated and contain 500 mg of active ingredient. One package contains 50 yellow-brown tablets. The tablets are round, biconvex, and have beveled edges. There may be inclusions on the fracture.
The drug Sulfasalazine-EN 500 mg
Sulfasalazine EH tablets are coated with an enteric soluble coating and contain 500 mg of active ingredient. One package contains 50 yellow-brown or simply yellow tablets. The tablets are round, biconvex, have beveled edges and an unpleasant odor. The mass of the tablet at the break has a brownish-orange or orange color.
The tablets should be stored in their packaging, without removing them from the blisters, out of the reach of children and sunlight. The optimal storage temperature is no more than 25 degrees.
The drug is a combination of sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid with its therapeutic effect and chemical structure. The smallest part of the drug is absorbed from the lumen of the colon and then evenly distributed throughout the connective tissues.
The tablet is coated with a film that dissolves under the influence of normal intestinal microflora. After the tablet film disintegrates, sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid are released.
It is these substances that create a powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. In terms of anti-inflammatory activity, sulfapyridine is much better, since it has better absorption (about 30% of the dose taken is absorbed by the body).
The half-life products of the components are also excreted by the kidneys . This means that people with kidney diseases (including acute nephritis) either cannot take the drug at all or must take it with caution.
You can purchase Sulfasalazine either on specialized medical Internet portals or in pharmacies. The drug is available only with a prescription.
How much does Sulfasalazine cost? A standard package of 50 tablets (500 mg) costs 600-700 rubles. Sulfasalazine EH has a slightly higher cost: on average it is 670-750 rubles.
What can replace Sulfasalazine? There are a huge number of replacement medications, but Mesacol and Methotrexate have proven themselves to be the best. These are the best and most similar in price/effect analogues.
Other analogues of Sulfasalazine:
Methotrexate is one of the best analogues of Sulfasalazine
It is prohibited to independently select Sulfasalazine and replace it with analogues without consulting your doctor. In particular, you cannot replace the drug even in cases where the analogue is a drug with almost identical composition and dosage of use.
It is also impossible to replace the classic Sulfasalazine with a subtype with the prefix “EN” without consulting a doctor.
The use of Sulfasalazine is justified in cases of inflammatory diseases that occur with symptoms of microbial invasion or the risk of infectious complications. Using the product as an analogue of an antibiotic is inappropriate and in some cases extremely dangerous.
Indications for use:
Healthy and arthritic joint
Sulfasalazine can be used in combination with various corticosteroid drugs and some antimicrobials (for example, the drug has good compatibility with Metronidazole).
Using Sulfasalazine correctly means making sure in advance that there are no contraindications. It is almost impossible to do this on your own; a comprehensive examination by doctors is necessary (at least at the level of studying biochemical parameters of blood and urine).
Contraindications to Sulfasalazine:
Even if you follow all the rules for taking Sulfasalazine, the likelihood of side effects still exists. Side effects develop especially often during long-term or intensive therapy with the accumulation of large concentrations of sulfapyridine in the patient’s blood plasma.
Possible side effects:
Sulfasalazine should be taken immediately before meals. The tablet should be taken without chewing with a small amount of water (1 glass is enough). Alcohol should not be used to take pills (it is generally better not to take it during the entire course of treatment).
The standard dosage for Crohn's disease and nonspecific ulcerative proctitis or colitis is 4 doses of 1-2 grams. The maximum pediatric dosage is 60 mg per kg of body weight per day. For rheumatoid arthritis, 2-3 grams of the drug per day are usually prescribed.
Other dosage rules (including how many tablets per day to take in each individual case) can be found out from your doctor. The doctor also selects the duration of therapy based on the course of the disease, its response to therapy and the dynamics of the disease as a whole.
More detailed instructions for use can be obtained in consultation with your doctor. In addition, only a doctor can change the standard methods of using the drug specified in the manufacturer's annotation.
Arthritis comprises a broad group of diseases that affect the elements of the joints responsible for motor activity. Participants in a congress of rheumatologists recently held in Russia not only paid special attention to the classification of existing types of arthritis, but also comprehensively described rheumatoid arthritis affecting synovial joints.
This disease, having an inflammatory nature, belongs to the category of autoimmune. With rheumatoid arthritis, several groups of joints are simultaneously affected, and the resulting excruciating pain interferes with the patient’s normal course of life.
Developing the correct treatment regimen can significantly alleviate the course of the disease and restore lost functionality to the joints. Let's consider the order of use and dosage of sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis.
Sulfasalazine is a representative of a broad pharmacological group of sulfonamides that has an anti-inflammatory effect, which should be taken into account when prescribing the drug to both adults with rheumatoid arthritis and children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Taking the drug involves long-term treatment - sometimes the course lasts about six months. For rheumatoid arthritis, sulfasalazine is not the only medication - it is used as part of complex treatment, for example, together with physiotherapeutic methods. From the start of taking the drug until the onset of a positive effect, approximately 6-10 weeks pass.
The dose, like the drug itself, should be set by a doctor. When prescribing sulfasalazine and its dose, he is guided primarily by blood tests, as well as the results of studies that allow him to determine the stage of development of the disease. In addition, if the patient has contraindications, only a specialist can always determine and take them into account.
The instructions for sulfasalazine indicate that children (under 16) and adults should take 500 mg daily (once) in the first week. In the second week, the dose increases - patients are recommended to take the same dose twice. In the third week, if necessary, patients take 500 mg of the drug three times daily. The maximum daily dose allowed during therapy is 1.5-3 g.
It is recommended to drink plenty of water while taking sulfasalazine. The dosage for children under 16 years of age is slightly lower; the doctor also determines it individually. If side effects or any other undesirable manifestations occur, you should immediately stop taking the drug.
Taking sulfasalazine in low dosages is allowed during pregnancy (as prescribed by a doctor). When prescribing the drug, it is necessary to take into account the duration of pregnancy and its course.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease caused by bacteria that affect the connective tissue of the joints, causing pain symptoms and gradually deforming them. For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, complex therapy is prescribed, as well as Sulfasalazine.
Sulfasalazine is a drug with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
Sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis in the acute stage, as well as Crohn's disease, is prescribed in combination with other drugs. Available in the form of tablets of 10 pcs. with a dosage of 500 mg.
Analogs of Sulfasalazine include:
But before starting treatment with analogues, it is better to consult with your doctor.
Sulfasalazine has an antimicrobial effect on the following groups of bacteria: Streptococcus spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Escherichia coli.
The drug has shown good results in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, in cases where standard therapy with non-steroidal drugs does not give a good result.
Sulfasalazine should not be used if there is a history of at least one of the diseases such as aplastic anemia, renal and liver failure, porphyria, congenital glucose-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, intestinal and urinary tract obstruction. This drug should also not be taken by children under five years of age, pregnant women and women during the feeding period.
You need to take the drug very carefully if you have bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic diseases.
The drug is prescribed one tablet once a day, after meals during the first week of therapy. From the second week, the dosage is increased to two tablets per day. For the third week I take the drug, one tablet after meals three times a day. Over subsequent weeks of therapy, the dosage is gradually increased to 3 g per day.
A pronounced clinical result in treatment with Sulfasalazine is noticed after some time. The dosage for children is selected directly by the attending physician. Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis can last up to six months.
Throughout the course of treatment, you must be constantly monitored by your doctor to monitor the result and prevent side effects. During the period of taking the drug, periodic monitoring of liver enzymes and blood parameters is prescribed.
Sulfasalazine has a long list of possible side effects. Frequent side effects in patients include headaches, diarrhea or constipation, itching, urticaria, and neuropathy. Sulfasalazine is not recommended to be taken concomitantly with digoxin and folic acid.
In cases of overdose, you should immediately go to the hospital. Storage conditions are standard: away from light, away from children, at normal humidity and temperatures up to +25 C.
Last fall, an exacerbation occurred for the first time, I could barely walk, the pain was terrible, I couldn’t calm it down with anything, the temperature stayed around 37.5 C and did not fall for a month. After the examination, Sulfasalazine was prescribed. I took it for three months and had no side effects. During the first month, I did not receive the results promised; on the contrary, my joints began to hurt even in places where they had not hurt before. Although it’s true, after 6 weeks I got relief, but the rheumatologist said that it’s not worth stopping the process of cartilage destruction in the first place, and you can’t stop taking the drug just yet. The course of treatment with Sulfasalazine is long and in my case has lasted for a year. There are no serious side effects even now, a little headache after taking the drug and constipation, insomnia, all this is eliminated. The only downside is that Sulfasalazine is difficult to find in pharmacies; you need to run to almost all pharmacies.
“The diagnosis was made of rheumatoid arthritis of the left hand. I suffered from night pain, severe swelling and stiffness in finger movements. All this went away after 6 days of taking it. Bilirubin dropped to 12 units from 28. I have been taking 2 tablets twice a day for three months now. True, there was a bitterness in the mouth and mild nausea in the morning, and I lost my appetite.”
It is well tolerated and works almost immediately. I haven't seen any side effects yet. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis takes a year. Sulfasalazine was prescribed in the spring. I took it for 4 months. She ran around like a horse, she even forgot about her lameness. In August, an exacerbation began; while working, I don’t have time to see a doctor. I started drinking them again on my own. The result is again pleasing, God forbid I jinx it. Recently I was still walking with cancer, even my healthy leg stopped working, the pain was terrible, both the step and the tears. And now I suffer much less. Even the pain in the joints in my hands became almost unnoticeable. Let me emphasize that 90% of all my joints are damaged by arthritis. But sulfa gave me my life before the disease. I plan to go to the doctor for a consultation in the near future and boast about the effect.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes pain in the joints and subsequent deformation. This disease begins to progress after thirty years. Reviews of the drug Sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis are quite mixed: it helps some, while others experience side effects.
If severe pain occurs, you should consult a doctor for qualified help.
Sulfasalazine is used quite often for rheumatoid arthritis, as it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Excipients are:
There are ten tablets in a package.
Sulfasalazine has the following instructions for use in rheumatoid arthritis.
The dose of the drug for an adult per day is two to three grams.
The dose can be gradually increased over one month to one gram two to three times a day.
The effect is noticeable within six to eight weeks from the start of drug therapy.
The use of Sulfasalazine is prescribed not only for rheumatoid arthritis.
The drug can also be recommended for the following pathologies:
What may be contraindications for the use of this drug:
What can replace Sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis? Now it is possible to find cheaper analogues of this drug.
Analog of Sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis:
The cost of the drug Sulfasalazine in Russia ranges from three hundred to four hundred and fifty rubles per package.
Reviews about the drug are quite mixed, as some patients taking this medicine experience side effects. For example, headaches, liver pain, depressed mood, and so on. Some note that they did not notice the effect of taking the medicine, although they did not complete the minimum course of six weeks. Everyone took the drug for three weeks.
“There is practically no pain or stiffness in the morning. I have been taking the medicine for 8 months. The tests are normal."
“I’ve been taking Sulfasalazine for a week. What can I say? The pain in the lower back and hip joint has decreased, and sometimes the pain has gone away completely.”
“Joint stiffness and pain are gone.”
“I’ve been taking 4 tablets a day for about a month now. The pain only got worse, my head hurts constantly, and I have bruises under my eyes. Became more nervous. In general, I don’t recommend it.”
“I have a serious diagnosis - chronic juvenile arthritis. I have been taking Sulfasalazine for five months now. There is no help from him. The disease has developed and continues to do so.”
But sulfasalazine worked for me. After a terrible exacerbation, the doctor prescribed me metorexate and airtal. I said that I won’t take methotrexate because I want to give birth. And she reluctantly prescribed me sulfasalazine, she says that it is weak and may not help you (3 tons a day at first, then 2), well, airtal. And lo and behold, in a month I became a full-fledged person, she was even surprised at how it took me. So it’s probably really all individual. I admit that I took sulfasalazine (I didn’t want to clutter myself with medications) 1 volume per day and Airtal every other day.
200?'200px':"+(this.scrollHeight+5)+'px');"> I have now been banned from playing sports and going to the pool.
And it’s strange about the pool, just during this exacerbation of mine, I went to the pool for water aerobics, the doctor knew, he said to be careful and not to overload too much, and I barely hobbled there, barely licked myself into this pool, but still, it also helped me. I think in our case the main thing is not to overload the joints, and this is even necessary
200?'200px':"+(this.scrollHeight+5)+'px');"> Girls. and you squat down.
Sulfasalazine is a drug with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The chemical structure is a combination of sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid. A smaller portion of sulfazalazine is absorbed from the lumen of the colon, after which it is evenly distributed within the connective tissue. Sulfasalazine is affected by normal intestinal microflora, and as a result, the active substance molecule breaks down into its constituent components: sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid. It is these substances that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. The anti-inflammatory effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid, due to its low absorption capacity, is determined mainly in the walls of the large intestine. Sulfapyridine has mainly a general anti-inflammatory effect due to better absorption (up to 30% of the dose taken).
A significant part of sulfazalazine is subject to enterohepatic recirculation, as a result of which part of the substance again enters the intestine with bile. Sulfasalazine accumulates predominantly in peritoneal and connective tissue, synovial and pleural fluids. Approximately one third of 5-aminosalicylic acid is metabolized by acetylation, and elimination occurs through the kidneys. The remaining two-thirds of the substance is eliminated in the feces. Metabolism of sulfapyridine occurs in the liver, and the rate of metabolic transformations largely depends on the rate of acetylation.
• Preventive therapy to prevent exacerbations of proctitis and ulcerative colitis,
• nonspecific ulcerative colitis,
• nonspecific ulcerative proctitis,
Sulfasalazine is taken before meals, without chewing and with water (in an amount of approximately 250 ml).
An anti-inflammatory drug that also has an antiseptic effect. Used in the treatment of nonspecific ulcerative colitis and proctitis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis. The drug is available in tablet form and is taken orally. It is recommended to take the medicine before meals. The active ingredient is sulfasalazine.
Manufacturer. KRKA, d.d. Slovenia
Int. Name. Sulfasalazine
ATS code. A07EC01
Pharm. group. Anti-inflammatory drugs used for intestinal diseases. Sulfasalazine.
Valid substance. Sulfasalazine
Average price. 254.8 rub.
1. Pharmacological action:
Sulfasalazine is a drug that has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. After oral administration, part of the drug is absorbed from the lumen of the large intestine, after which it is evenly distributed in the connective tissue. The other part of the drug, after enterohepatic recirculation, enters the intestine with bile. Most of the active substance accumulates in synovial fluid, pleural fluid, connective tissue...
2. Indications for use:
Sulfasalazine is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, nonspecific ulcerative proctitis, and Crohn's disease. It is also used as a preventive measure for the development of exacerbation of a nonspecific form of ulcerative colitis and proctitis...
3. Method of application:
Sale: by prescription
Storage: 15-25C (room temperature)
Shelf life: 60 months.
Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent used in gastroenterology and rheumatology. Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) are a pressing problem in gastroenterological practice. However, despite certain successes in the development of new methods for diagnosing and treating these diseases, there is still a lack of knowledge in the field of the etiology of the development of inflammatory processes in the intestine. Thus, one of the issues facing scientists that needs to be addressed is increasing the effectiveness of already known drugs. The principle “the new is the well-forgotten old,” as it turns out, also works in relation to pharmacology. Sulfasalazine is far from new on the pharmaceutical front: it has been used for more than 50 years. This drug was synthesized by linking two substances with a nitrogen group: aminosalicylic acid and sulfapyridine. The pharmacological effect of the drug is based on the properties of both of its structural components. Salicylic acid with an amino group in position 5 has anti-inflammatory activity, inhibits the synthesis of inflammatory mediators prostaglandins and neutralizes the effect of cyclooxygenase. Sulfapyridine, in turn, has an antibacterial (bacteriostatic) effect aimed at streptococci, gonococci, diplococci and Escherichia coli. After taking sulfasalazine tablets, approximately 25% of the dose is absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and due to the portal-biliary circulation of bile acids, more than half of this amount is subsequently returned to the intestine.
Pros: Really helps.
Disadvantages: Individual intolerance. There are contraindications.
Sometimes moments come when you suddenly start to feel bad. Rumbling in the stomach, discomfort. Old diseases make themselves felt, such as gastritis or, even worse, ulcerative colitis. For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, many are competent.
Advantages: effective drug
It so happened that at the age of 24 I developed ulcerative colitis: the pain was terrible, I was even hospitalized. The doctor said that poor nutrition, stress and hereditary predisposition are to blame. They prescribed a lot of different medications, but this was the main drug.
Disadvantages: affects the blood
I will say right away that the drug is quite strong - it relieves inflammation in the joints in rheumatoid arthritis well. I took it for several months, 1 tablet (500 mg) 3 times a day. At first everything was fine - symptoms of arthritis.
Disadvantages: children under 6 years old
An excellent remedy for the treatment of exacerbations of ulcerative colitis, when you don’t know what to use just to make the pain and diarrhea go away as quickly as possible. Sulfasalazine has an excellent anti-inflammatory effect on the intestines, excellently suppresses the body's response to pain, and is active in immunosuppression.
Pros: Helps a lot
Disadvantages: Price, 320 rubles, taking into account how much to drink per day and for a period of 3 months, it comes out to a rather large amount
After a wonderful job at Sberbank, my nerves were completely shaken, and at one “wonderful” moment, my stomach hurt terribly. As usual, at first I didn’t think that there could be something serious, and so I walked around.
Advantages: joints stopped hurting
Disadvantages: decreased immunity and poor tests
Instructions for use:
Prices in online pharmacies:
Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat exacerbations of ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease.
The drug Sulfasalazine is produced in the form of yellow-brown film-coated tablets containing 500 mg of the active substance of the same name (azo compound of sulfapyridine with salicylic acid). 10 pieces per pack.
The closest analogues of Sulfasalazine in terms of mode of action include drugs in the dosage form of tablets: Asacol, Mesacol, Samezil, Mezavant, Salofalk, Mesalazine, Pentasa and Kansalazine.
In addition, analogues of Sulfasalazine are produced in other dosage forms. These include:
The active component of Sulfasalazine has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects against pathogens of intestinal diseases.
The use of Sulfasalazine in the treatment of nonspecific colitis is effective due to the ability of the active component of the drug to selectively accumulate in the tissues of the intestinal walls and release acids that have anti-inflammatory activity, as well as have an antimicrobial effect against Streptococcus spp., including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli.
According to the instructions, Sulfasalazine is prescribed for the treatment of:
The use of Sulfasalazine is contraindicated in the following cases:
In addition, according to reviews, Sulfasalazine should be taken with caution when:
According to the instructions, sulfasalazine is recommended to be taken after meals.
Adults and children over 16 years of age in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease:
Maintenance therapy with Sulfasalazine is prescribed after the reduction of acute clinical symptoms at a dosage of 2 g, divided into four doses, lasting at least several months.
The maximum daily dose of Sulfasalazine for adults is 16 tablets per day, for children under 16 years of age - 2 g per day.
In the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, adults and children over 16 years of age are prescribed:
According to this scheme, gradually, over 5-6 weeks of therapy, the dose taken is increased to 1.5-3 g per day. As a rule, a lasting clinical effect appears after several months. The average duration of treatment is from six months.
The dosage of Sulfasalazine for children is calculated by the doctor and depends on age and body weight, but the daily dose should not exceed 40-50 mg/kg body weight or 2 g of the drug.
According to reviews, sulfasalazine can cause disorders in various body systems:
Disorders of the hematopoietic organs when taking Sulfasalazine, according to reviews, most often manifest themselves in the form of leukopenia, macrocytosis, megaloblastic anemia, neutropenia, aplastic, hemolytic and hemolytic anemia, agranulocytosis, methemoglobinemia, hypoprothrombinemia, thrombocytopenia.
The most common allergic reactions when using Sulfasalazine are:
In addition, according to reviews, taking Sulfasalazine can lead to the development of mumps, tinnitus, hyperthermia and hyperbilirubinemia.
Taking large doses of Sulfasalazine, as a rule, leads to an overdose, which is expressed in the form of digestive disorders (vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain) and dizziness. The use of sulfasalazine in very high doses most often causes crystalluria, anuria, convulsions and hematuria.
The simultaneous use of Sulfasalazine with anticoagulants, antiepileptic and oral hypoglycemic drugs enhances the effect of the latter.
The risk of developing myelosuppression increases with simultaneous use with drugs that inhibit bone marrow hematopoiesis.
Increased severity of side effects is possible when sulfasalazine is used together with cytostatics, immunosuppressants and nephrotoxic drugs.
The effectiveness of Sulfasalazine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis is reduced by antimicrobial drugs, which is associated with an inhibitory effect on the intestinal microflora.
Sulfasalazine according to the instructions is dispensed with a doctor's prescription. The shelf life, subject to temperature conditions (up to 25°C), should not exceed five years.