Colazal: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking
Colazal® (
balsalazide disodium) if you have:
- Pyloric stenosis (a narrowing of the outlet of the stomach)
- Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
You should also be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Colazal Warnings and Precautions
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking Colazal include:
- The medication may be less effective in people with pyloric stenosis. This condition may delay the release of Colazal into the colon (where it is effective).
- Colazal may cause a worsening of ulcerative colitis in some people. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if your ulcerative colitis symptoms become worse when you start taking the drug.
- Colazal may cause kidney damage. Your healthcare provider should check your kidney function (using a blood test) before you start the medication and periodically thereafter. You should not take Colazal if you have kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure).
- Colazal is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is probably safe for pregnant women, though the full risks of taking this medicine during pregnancy are not known. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using the drug while pregnant (see Colazal and Pregnancy).
- It is not known if Colazal passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare provider before taking the drug (see Colazal and Breastfeeding).
- Colazal can interact with certain other medications (see Colazal Drug Interactions).
