Sulfasalazine Delayed-Release: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
- Difficulty passing urine
- An intestinal blockage
- Porphyria (problems with certain enzymes in the body)
- Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
- Liver disease, including liver failure or cirrhosis
- Anemia or any other low blood cell count
- Asthma
- Any allergies, including allergies to sulfa drugs, food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
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 Precautions and Warnings With Sulfasalazine Delayed-Release
Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking
sulfasalazine delayed-release include the following:
- The medication may not be safe to use in people with severe asthma or allergies, kidney disease, liver disease, or anemia (or any other condition with low blood counts). Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these conditions.
- Sulfasalazine delayed-release can cause a low sperm count and infertility in men, although fertility usually returns after the medication is stopped.
- Be sure to drink plenty of fluids while taking sulfasalazine delayed-release, as this will help protect your kidneys and can help prevent kidney stones.
- Your healthcare provider should regularly check your blood counts while you are taking this medication to make sure that you are not developing anemia or other serious problems.
- Sulfasalazine delayed-release is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is probably safe for pregnant women, although the full risks are not known. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using the drug while pregnant (see Azulfidine and Pregnancy).
- Sulfasalazine delayed-release passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider before starting treatment (see Azulfidine and Breastfeeding).
- Sulfasalazine delayed-release can interact with certain medications (see Drug Interactions With Sulfasalazine Delayed-Release).
